OXNARD, Calif. — It won’t be a Joe Namath-type assure of profitable a Tremendous Bowl, however Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott did assure one factor for 2023 when he met with the media for the primary time in coaching camp Thursday.
“I’m going to reduce my interception numbers,” Prescott mentioned. “That may be a assure.”
There was some confusion final month when it was reported that Prescott mentioned from his youth soccer camp that he wouldn’t have 10 interceptions this season, when in actual fact he mentioned he wouldn’t have the tipped interceptions.
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Final yr, Prescott tied for the league lead in interceptions with 15, regardless of lacking 5 video games with a damaged thumb. Within the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he was picked off two extra instances. His interceptions have been a relentless matter of dialogue all through the offseason.
“I am not going to cease being aggressive,” Prescott mentioned.
By way of two coaching camp practices, Prescott has been intercepted twice, as soon as on a tipped ball. His first on Wednesday got here on a go that went by way of the fingers of vast receiver Simi Fehoko. On Thursday, cornerback Nahshon Wright got here down with a deep ball supposed for Jalen Tolbert.
“We’re attempting to achieve chemistry right here, and we’re attempting to be aggressive,” Prescott mentioned. “That is who our coach is, and that is who I’m. That is the arrogance I’ve gained in myself, and I’ve labored so exhausting to have the ability to have this confidence and make the throws that I am making. That is simply two, proper? If it continues then, yeah, come again to me and it would change my temper a bit of bit.”
The Cowboys say they don’t seem to be frightened the interceptions will proceed to be an issue for Prescott. Earlier than final yr, he by no means had greater than 13 interceptions in a season. His profession interception charge was by no means increased than 2.7% earlier than reaching 3.8% final yr.
Mike McCarthy’s historical past is one more reason the Cowboys imagine Prescott will in the reduction of on the picks. Brett Favre went from a league-high 29 interceptions in 2005 to 19 in McCarthy’s first yr as coach of the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers had double-digit interceptions simply twice in his time with McCarthy as coach.
McCarthy will name performs for the Cowboys this season.
“I believe what I anticipate just isn’t the sudden,” proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones mentioned. “What final yr represented was, relative to turnovers, sudden … What we anticipate from Dak is do not flip the ball over and be protecting of the ball, which is what he actually – after I consider Dak – that is the very first thing that involves my thoughts. That is what he does good.”
