Dak Prescott is seeing a whole new side of the Cowboys this offseason.
After the 2022 campaign, Dallas saw offensive coordinator Kellen Moore leave for the Chargers which led to head coach Mike McCarthy’s decision to take on the play-calling role.
To Prescott, who is entering his eighth season wearing the blue and silver, the change has been positive.
“Just crazy amount of details,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports. “Guys are on the same page, just being very open and communicating. That has been a world of difference.”
The Cowboys look to start 2023 on a better note than how the 2022 season ended.
Dallas, which posted a 12-5 regular-season record last year, lost to the 49ers in the NFC Divisional round, 19-12, with the game ending on a puzzling play featuring running back Ezekiel Elliott at center.
It was the Cowboys’ 12th playoff appearance in a row without reaching the conference championship round, which is the longest such streak in NFL history, according to CBS Sports.
Prescott believes this year will be different with McCarthy returning to his roots, when he called plays as the offensive coordinator for six seasons, first with the Saints (2000-2004) and then the 49ers (2005).
He also called many for Aaron Rodgers throughout his 13 seasons at the helm of the Packers from 2006 to 2018.
The newly formed offense called “Texas Coast” by Prescott is a combination of the Cowboys’ current playbook and McCarthy’s West Coast offense plays.
“I keep saying ‘aggressive nature,’ but it’s aggressive in the play calls with a great purpose in it,” Prescott said. “‘Hey, if that’s not there, you know the reads, just get down to it. Very clear and concise about getting to a play that I feel most comfortable with. If I don’t like that look, whether it’s a run play or a pass play, I have so many plays and things in my back pocket that I’m almost obligated to get to because I know what he’s looking for in his plays. If the [expected look] is not the defense that I get, I’ll feel comfortable and know: ‘Hey, I need to get to this play because it’s better for everybody.’”
“It’s really cool to see Mike in that role,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said in June at the Cowboys minicamp. “It looks, from my opinion, like he’s having a blast. Sometimes as a head coach, when you’re not the play-caller, you are yearning for it. I’ve seen that with him, the energy he has for it, and it just looks like he’s having a blast. He sets the whole menu and the table for us, and we’re having a good offseason, but him specifically, I’ve felt some happiness and some joy for him going out there, and you can see his competitive juices going. We’ll have some good battles [at training camp]. I’ve coached against Mike for a long time, he’s one of the very best.”
McCarthy, beginning his fourth season with the Cowboys, is 30-20 since arriving in Dallas.