FRISCO, Texas — There's one thing Dak Prescott and Forrest Gump may never have in common. While Gump had no particular reason to take off and run, Prescott has opted to wave off that ability whenever opportunities present themselves in 2024, to the point it's now a growing topic of discussion regarding the Dallas Cowboys.
More accurately, it's now blown past simply being a discussion and, at this point, has become a full-blown concern that, based on the numbers, is wildly unnerving.
"It's bad, it's bad," the All-Pro quarterback admitted when asked the subject following Thursday's practice, with the Atlanta Falcons awaiting Prescott and the Cowboys in Week 9.
The first step is admitting there's a problem, so that box is now checked.
The second step? Fixing it.
"When you're weighing that risk — it's when I've got the ball in my hands, it's not just about that play," he explained. "It's about the team. the game, the momentum of it, and I've just gotta be better."
Historically speaking, Prescott and the Cowboys' offense have always performed better when the former uses his legs to help keep opposing defenses guessing and off-balance. Not doing so by way of improvisations, or even designed runs, completely deletes an aspect of potential production and makes life that much easier for defenses.
With zero threat of Prescott pulling a Gump, all teams have to do is continue stopping the Cowboys' run (and they have been) while also making life difficult in the passing game (and they have been).
"For sure, I mean, just off the top of my head, I know I haven't been running," he said. "Whether it's been the scrambles or not, a couple of play calls that could potentially be that way, just haven't had the read. Hell, I did it one time and it wasn't the read so, in that sense, it just happens from within the pocket [during] in the game.
"I think that's to my point is the risk versus reward [as far as] I'm pulling some of these things down, being better in the pocket and then getting out and making something happen."
Prescott has verbally touched on this subject at several points throughout September and October but, as the calendar flips to November, there's been no action tied to the words.
He did, however, put to bed any notion that it's not his surgically-repaired ankle that's preventing him from scrambling, that injury having occurred nearly a half-decade ago. When asked if he's physically able to get back to becoming at least some semblance of a dual-threat quarterback, the three-time Pro Bowler was unequivocal.
"For sure, 1000 percent," he said.
The sooner he proves that to be true, and particularly as the offensive line battles to improve its pass protection, the sooner the Cowboys' offense will likely climb out of the roadside ditch it's been stuck in for weeks now — a quarter or three notwithstanding.
Run Forrest Dak, run.
