Previously considered a “game manager,” Dak Prescott exploded for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns to 11 interceptions under Kellen Moore in 2019. Expecting yet another step forward may seem foolhardy for last year’s Fantasy QB2… yet new HC Mike McCarthy may just be the right guy to lift Dak’s ceiling even further.
That’s because, after his brilliant work with an aging Brett Favre and a young Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy has earned a reputation as a QB guru. Specifically, he stresses the fundamentals, especially in regards to footwork, as seen in his QB school.
Every year around March, McCarthy invites his QBs back to the facility for a two-week camp where he reviews every play from the previous year with his QBs while honing in on the finer details: arm angle, head positioning and footwork that enable effective play from the QB position. He pores over every detail with a fine toothed comb in a process Rodgers described as “breaking that thing (QB play) down to a science… It really gives you a good feel for what you need to work on.”
Though he only played two years under McCarthy, Favre was similarly effusive in his praise, specifically in McCarthy’s ability to scheme and craft around his QBs strengths:
“I think any young quarterback would like him,” Favre said of McCarthy on Friday on SiriusXM’s NFL Radio. “I do think he brings a level of toughness, but also a confidence that as a player, as a quarterback for him, you feel confident that he’s going to call plays that cater more to your ability rather than maybe a previous guy he had. So I think he’s a simple but yet confidence-building and technique-driven coach.”
While Prescott undoubtedly took many strides in 2019, he still has plenty of mechanics and lazy habits to fine tune (outlined here). The detail-oriented McCarthy should undoubtedly clean this up, and help Prescott continue building upon his wildly successful 2019.
The new HC has already expressed his excitement and firm belief in his new signal-caller:
“I’ve always been impressed with him,” McCarthy said of Prescott. “You’re going to able to run the whole offense and then some. I think he has an incredible foundation to build off of. And our offensive system will be built around making the quarterback successful. That’s the way I’ve learned it. That’s the way I believe you play offense. We have a great one here to work with.”
Rodgers heaved 40+ TDs on multiple occasions under McCarthy, and that outcome isn’t out of the question for Prescott should he take to his new HC’s tutelage, especially if the “McCarthy Project” truly advanced his scheme. Plus, retaining Moore, whom Prescott already thrived under, and preserving this continuity, only helps. Prescott has already risen to my QB3, behind only Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.
