Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's performance during Wednesday’s practice didn’t match the rhetoric of Mike McCarthy’s praise later in the afternoon. The Cowboys conducted their final open practice for the media before training camp later this summer.
Mike McCarthy said Prescott is looking good at OTAs
Per the Cowboys’ website, McCarthy said Prescott was having his best offseason:
“I think Dak is having his best offseason program that we’ve had,” McCarthy said. “This atmosphere that we’ve practiced in with the quarterback and receivers has really hit the mark. I’ve been very impressed with the quality of work…
“With the quarterback, when the connection is there in the perimeter realm — and that’s been the majority of our physical activity — the connection is better,” McCarthy said. “The receivers are playing with more urgency, more reps. The timing is better. The real test will be when we get to training camp.”
Prescott threw a gift to the Cowboys' defense
However, per observations at Cowboys practice Wednesday by Saad Yousuf with The Athletic, Prescott wasn’t as sharp as McCarthy let on. Prescott had a difficult time completing deep passes before settling for short throws during the team’s 7-on-7 drill:
"The final half hour of practice was the most intense, and it began with this period of seven-on-seven. Prescott’s period began quietly, with deep incompletions intended for Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin before a tame completion to Jalen Tolbert in the flat.
The next time Prescott was up, things got a little more exciting. He completed a 10-yard curl to Cooks before hitting Elliott for a short gain across the middle and finishing off with a pass to Jake Ferguson at the 2-yard line."
Following a completion from Trey Lance to Cam Johnson, Prescott talked trash to the defense, even getting in one defender’s face. On Prescott’s next passing attempt, he threw an interception. Fortunately, he followed that up with a couple of touchdown passes:
"The celebration was short-lived. With Prescott in command on the next rep, his pass intended for Jalen Brooks was tipped by linebacker Eric Kendricksand picked off by safety Donovan Wilson. The defense popped off as Prescott regrouped the offense. On the next play, Prescott hit Tolbert for a touchdown in the middle of the field."
Prescott finished the day with a failure
Prescott was able to lead the offense to a score during the final session of the day, but they were unable to convert a two-point conversion to beat the defense:
"Prescott threw a touchdown to a wide open Tolbert. It set up the offense to tie the game with a two-point conversion, but Prescott’s pass to Brooks fell incomplete in the end zone."
Prescott will head into the summer break on the losing side, much like he did in January. Hopefully, he will have Lamb in action for practice in July and August. Lamb has not participated in practice during OTAs as he negotiates for a new deal.
Prescott showed some good things on Thursday but made terrible decisions and could not lead his unit past the defense to win the day. Like the playoffs, Prescott must prove he can win in crunch time if he wants a new deal in Dallas.
