‘Put One In The End Zone’: Dak Prescott Plans To Voice In-Game Aggression To Brian Schottenheimer
FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott said Thursday that when he wants the Dallas Cowboys to be more aggressive during a game, he plans to say so to Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer in the moment.
Prescott said after Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals that the drive after Dallas recovered an onside kick was the one he wanted back. Schottenheimer said Wednesday that he will never apologize for wanting to be balanced.
Getting the mix right, for Prescott, starts with speaking up.
“Yeah, I guess for me to just speak up about it when I want it,” Prescott said. “I’m just saying more particularly during the game at certain times to just, when I really feel it and I want it, to make sure that it’s known and it’s understood.”
That is not a complaint about play calls, Prescott said. Those conversations already happen.
“No, I mean, I think it’s something I’ve done. I don’t think it’s not happening by any means. I was just more answering the being aggressive question more than, like, plays aren’t getting called that I want. No, none of that,” Prescott explained. “What I take from the game, what I said I want back was that series. And my point is maybe before that, whether it be just some encouragement, but, hey, let’s go put these guys away. Let’s go put one in the end zone. That maybe could go a long way.”
Dak Prescott Points Back To The Drive After The Onside Kick
Ryan Flournoy recovered Arizona’s onside kick with 2:11 left and Dallas leading 27-24, and an illegal touch penalty moved the Cowboys to the Arizona 20. Javonte Williams was stopped for no gain, Prescott was sacked for a 6-yard loss, and Williams ran for 3 yards before Brandon Aubrey kicked a 41-yard field goal.
Arizona then went 80 yards in eight plays to tie the game with 6 seconds left and won it in overtime. Prescott named that drive after the game Sunday.
“Maybe the drive after the onside kick. Just that drive in general. Wanting to be aggressive, understanding,” Prescott said Sunday. “Now knowing what was going to come afterwards, right? That 6 points wasn’t enough. And that would probably be the main moment, yeah.”
Brian Schottenheimer Says Balance Makes Dallas Hardest To Defend
Schottenheimer said Wednesday that complementary football is how teams win in the league, and that Prescott is an MVP-caliber player.
“I’m never going to apologize for trying to be balanced. That’s what we want to be. Dak Prescott’s an MVP caliber player. We’ve got weapons. We’ve got good running backs,” Schottenheimer said. “But at the end of the day, balance is real in football. And so whether it’s you win the game by scoring enough points, running or throwing, it doesn’t matter to us. We want to be balanced because that makes us the most difficult to defend.”
Prescott finished second in NFL MVP voting in 2023, Schottenheimer’s first season as Dallas’ offensive coordinator. The Cowboys visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at noon CT on FOX.
