5 reasons why Dak Prescott and the Buccaneers are a perfect match
By Rob Leeds
“Dak Prescott is only good because he has Zeke and a good offensive line” is the worst argument ever and has no place in logical sports discussions
Ezekiel Elliott is one of the best running backs in the NFL, but to pretend that he is the reason why Prescott is good boggles the mind. If this were true, the other teams with good running backs should also have great quarterbacks.
Saquon Barkley made Daniel Jones a top-ten quarterback, right? Sam Darnold made his first Pro Bowl on the back of Le’Veon Bell. Patrick Mahomes struggled with replaceable running back Damien Williams. Oh, wait. None of that happened. Perhaps a quarterback’s ability to succeed in the NFL is not as closely tied to the running back’s success as people would try to argue.
If this were true, Jameis Winston’s best season should have been alongside Doug Martin running wild over the NFL. Statistically speaking, this was one of Winston’s weakest years. Baker Mayfield should have dominated alongside Nick Chubb in 2019, yet there was a step back from his dominant rookie year.
Having Zeke or another top-tier running back may help a quarterback, but arguing that 80% of the NFL could replace Prescott and still put together the same statistical year as Dak did in 2019 is mostly unfounded.
When looking at the offensive line, it is another scenario where it may help, but it is certainly not the end all be all.
Dak has a career sack rate of 6.2%, the same as Jameis Winston, yet the quality of their offensive lines are entirely different, allegedly. Russell Wilson, one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now, has a higher sack rate than Winston and Prescott, yet he is still able to retain his top status.
Tom Brady had a far lower sack rate than Prescott in 2019, yet Prescott was still able to blow Brady’s stats out of the water.
This is just another scenario where it may help in certain ways, but having a great offensive line doesn’t lead to quarterback success.