Dak Prescott presses back on necessity for 'new voice'

With Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling and Kellen Moore joining the Chargers, the offense is in for a lot of offseason change.

McCarthy’s choice to send away Moore was seen as an indictment on Dak Prescott’s development. However, the former Packers head coach explained last week that he simply believes the starting quarterback needs a “new voice.”

The team promoted consultant Brian Schottenheimer to the OC role and Scott Tolzien to QB coach to give Prescott those new voices.

Presumably not wanting to throw dirt on his former coordinator and QB coach, Prescott pushed back on the necessity for a “new voice” in his ear.

“Kellen’s voice was great,” Prescott said. “Nussmeier’s voice was amazing. It’s not like I haven’t been coached by Mike. He’s always coached me, that’s not going to be new. I can’t say that’s a proper statement.”

McCarthy: ‘We all can use a new voice’

The Cowboys skipper has gone in-depth about the philosophical differences that put a strain on his connection with Moore. However, he took it a step further when he suggested Prescott needed a “challenge.”

“We all can use a new voice,” McCarthy said. “We all can use a sense of motivation and challenge and so forth. This is a new challenge for (Dak), his words. He’s very excited about it.”

Asked what the former Seahawks coordinator brings to the table, McCarthy credited Schottenheimer’s people skills.

“Brian Schottenheimer brings a tremendous amount,” McCarthy said. “When you put together a staff, everybody’s style is different, I think he has incredible people skills. The football part of it, it’s been fun. We worked together 25 or so years ago.”

All of the Cowboys’ changes this offseason come with risk. They were already a playoff contender before sending Kellen Moore and seven other key staffers away. With McCarthy taking on even more responsibility, he’s placing his job security in jeopardy should they fail to meet expectations in 2023.

Coming off of a career-high year for interceptions, Dak Prescott has a lot to work on with his “new voice.” Dallas is staying committed – and potentially even re-upping on his contract before the season.

“He’s got some things that he can work on and be more effective,” Jerry Jones said this week. “Let me put it like this: Dak is a born mistake eliminator. I would rather start with him as raw material than anyone I’ve been around at that position.”