Adrian Fedkiw
The rivalry between Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott is just commencing, but it was Prescott who won Offensive Rookie of the Year and got the first taste of the postseason in 2016.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson appeared on the Doomsday Podcast with Ed Werder and Matt Mosley Monday and explained why the fourth-round pick “didn’t have to win games” for the Dallas Cowboys last season.
He knew that he had a good defense, a tremendous offensive line, a great runner, he had some veteran players that he could rely on and he learned that early. As soon as he had the opportunity to play and that was early, from Day 1.
While some may look at the “didn’t have to win games” line and think that Pederson might be taking a shot at the Mississipi State product, he’s actually giving him a compliment.
That’s something that a young quarterback, sometimes it takes them a while to figure out the game that way. That’s the impressive thing, that he learned how to handle that business that well, utilize the people around him and understand that he didn’t have to go win the game.
Prescott had the help around him, Wentz didn’t.
Wentz had to deal with the likes of Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham at wide receiver, an inconsistent offensive line following the Lane Johnson suspension and an injury-prone running back in Ryan Mathews. Prescott, meanwhile, has the best offensive line in the NFL, had the league’s leading rusher last year in Ezekiel Elliott and a No. 1 target in Dez Bryant.
We needed some leadership, some veteran presence there (at wide receiver) and we went out and got that with Torrey and Alshon. We still want to build through the draft, we still want to acquire young talent. LeGarrette Blount now is a guy that gives us that big back, running back, that can come in and compete and hopefully he does everything he did at New England the last couple of seasons.
It’s certainly no surprise why the Eagles went out and signed a pair of veteran wide receivers in Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith and added LeGarrette Blount at running back. So Wentz has some weapons now, we’ll see what happens in year two.
You can listen to the podcast below.