Prescott getting better on deep throws

Aug 19, 2017 - 1:20 AM FRISCO, Tex. -- Quarterback Dak Prescott was one of the stars of training camp, according to Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

"He has gotten better every day," Linehan said. "You look from the start of camp to the finish. He has had a great camp. He has showed physical improvements. The anticipation and his arm strength looks better and it was good to begin with. I see him improve, but not just in his intangible stuff which is so great but his physical stuff things."

One area specifically that Prescott has gotten better with is throwing the deep ball. He has made a point to challenge himself and take more chances in that area and it has paid off in training camp.

Last year in camp, Linehan said he got maybe 10 plays with starters in practice during camp so it was hard to develop the chemistry that is necessary to throw down the field.

Linehan said Prescott has hit more deep balls in camp this year than the team has in previous camps he's coached since he's been with the Cowboys and that includes a few years with Tony Romo.

"The outside part of the field, he does a really good job of that," Linehan said. "We get a lot of respect with our running game. Being able to do that, especially not just one-on-one throws but down field, I think we improved our ability to do that in a lot of ways. We've hit a lot more deep balls this camp than we have in previous camps in my opinion, so that's a good sign.

"He threw a back-shoulder (pass) to Cole Beasley (Wednesday), probably the best throw I've seen him make in a long time. You have to throw that one place and you have to have a guy like Cole who can adjust and keep his feet in. That's pro football right there, and I'm not sure he would have tried that last year. Those are a couple of examples. The best thing he does is we call the plays, he runs the plays and executes the plays. That's what the quarterbacks who win in this league do, and that's how we do it here."

--Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett closed camp Thursday with positive reviews of his team. He said the players came in with the right attitude and laid a good foundation for the season.

"I thought guys came in, they were ready to practice, they did a good job preparing themselves in the time that we had off before camp and we got right to work," Garrett said. "To me, having the opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame Game was really good for our team. I thought just a chance to see a lot of young guys in a game-type environment has been good for us. I think it's helped their development and growth throughout camp. Now to have three more games to get some of the more veteran players ready and to get our entire football team evaluated the way we need to, it's a great opportunity for us. Guys came to work every day, we laid a really good foundation for our team, we're excited to get back to Dallas and continue our work."

Although the Cowboys started camp early because of the extra preseason game and the trip to Canton for owner Jerry Jones' induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Garrett said their time in California appeared to go by fast because everybody was so passionate and focused on their work in camp.

He expects the same attitude and production when the team resumes practice at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Monday following Saturday's preseason home opener against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys will have six practices open to fans at the Ford Center.

"I think it will be a great experience for our team," Garrett said. "Most of those practices will be inside. That's an environment that we've practiced in really throughout the season last year, and our guys go in there and we come to work. We're still in a training camp mode. The schedule for next week is certainly going to feel like what's it's been out here for the last four weeks. We're in that training camp mentality. We have to continue to lay the foundation for our team. No better place to do than at The Star."