Remodeling Dak Prescott: Avoiding Turnovers
As the most accomplished quarterback in school history prepares to take the field for the 2015 season, Dak Prescott has two goals. The first is to lead Mississippi State to a win in every game he plays. The second is to improve his stock for the NFL Draft. This series will take a look at five areas I believe Prescott needs to change to make both of those dreams a reality.
Part 1: Remodeling Dak Prescott: Running the Ball
Part 2: Remodeling Dak Prescott: Accuracy
Part 3: Remodeling Dak Prescott: From Running to Mobile Quarterback
Turnovers weren’t really a big issue for Dak Prescott in 2014. But when they happened, they seemed to be at times when the Bulldogs could least afford it.
Turnovers are never good. But we all know every turnover isn’t created equally. Throwing an interception when your team is up 28-0 late in the fourth quarter is worthy of a ho-hum. Throwing an interception when your team is in a dog fight is another story.
Dak Prescott played mostly turnover free football the first five games of the season. Against Auburn, Prescott threw 2 interceptions. The first was when the Bulldogs were up 21-0, and it wasn’t so bad. The second came after Auburn was trying to chip away at the lead. Both were the result of Prescott trying to make a play that wasn’t there.
Against Kentucky, Prescott was showing the effects of a possible injury he suffered against Auburn. The interception wasn’t completely his fault, as he was hit as he was throwing the ball and it went up like a wounded duck. But he has to get better about sensing the pressure that is coming.
In the Arkansas game, the two interceptions were at times the Bulldogs needed to establish control. Part of the reasons the Bulldogs had a hard time dispatching the Hogs is because the offense couldn’t get into a rhythm due to those turnovers. Both were the results of bad decisions, not bad throws.
The most critical interceptions came against Alabama. You could easily make the argument the reason Mississippi State lost the Alabama game was because of those turnovers. The same theme could be said of these picks. Dak Prescott made a bad decision and didn’t make a bad throw.
On Tuesday, I said Prescott needs to get more accurate, but it wouldn’t be greatly reflected in his completion percentage. It needs to go up a few points, but one of the reasons NFL scouts don’t get that hung up on it is because they want to see quarterbacks make good decisions with the football. Prescott’s mobility will allow him to keep plays alive that other quarterbacks can’t. He also has a ton of talent, and that makes him want to make a game changing play every time he touches the football. Dak Prescott must do better about simply throwing the ball away when a play has nothing going for it. It’s not easy for elite level players to do, but no gain on an incomplete pass is much better than giving the ball to the opposition.
Next: Remodeling Dak Prescott: From Running to Mobile Quarterback