Joe Milton III, a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, is quickly making a name for himself during his second year in the NFL. Milton was an underrated performer for the New England Patriots last season. He finished 22 of 29 with 241 yards and one touchdown, and proved himself the potential to wow players and coaches alike.
Milton’s journey in the league is backed by the support of Dak Prescott, who has taken on the role of mentor. Prescott’s guidance has been crucial in helping Milton learn the intricacies of the Cowboys’ offense. Their relationship has only deepened over the course of NFL training camps. Here’s me pushing Milton to play like every practice rep is a game down.
In the last couple training camps, Milton impressed with “wow” plays that excited the coaches and fans. In the first of two joint practices against the Los Angeles Rams, Milton connected with Jalen Brooks on a touchdown that had everyone buzzing. He was brutalized at times, including a 60-yard deep ball jammed back into his face, which resulted in an Alijah Clark interception.
Acknowledging the rollercoaster nature of these aforementioned highs and lows, Milton is undeterred in his pursuit to become a better player. And his new quarterback coach, Steve Shimko, exhaustively preaches the need to play fast and make decisions.
“It’s easy as a quarterback when you have that red jersey on at practice to sit there and go through your reads, be comfortable the whole time,” – Steve Shimko
Milton’s stats from his last full season really hammer home what he could do under center. He tossed 20 touchdown passes to just 10 INTs on his way to a 9-5 record as a starter. His resilience shone through even in his final game with the Patriots, further cementing Brady’s belief in his skills as a clutch passer.
“[That game] allowed me to accept the fact that I’m here and that I can play in this league,” – Joe Milton III
Keenly aware of what he needs to do to further acclimate to the rigors of professional football, Milton cites one simple objective for himself. His goal, he says, “to inspire them to just be the best version of myself, that’s my goal every day.” No doubt his commitment to improvement shows in how he goes about practices and games.
Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, has expressed confidence in Milton’s abilities to step up when needed.
“I think we have faith in Joe already,” – Brian Schottenheimer
Though Milton’s work ethic has developed an impressive professional touch, his hot start to training camp hasn’t come without its physical mishaps. Previously, Jackson just returned from a thumb injury sustained during joint practices with the Rams. Luckily, he said, that’s no longer the case and it doesn’t affect his ability to perform.
Beyond his physical tools, Milton’s mental approach to the game is getting more and more advanced. When it comes to time management during plays, he understands the importance, that shows a willingness to learn and adjust.
“He wants me to have a time clock in my head,” – Joe Milton III
Dak Prescott has long preached the value of treating every snap like it’s your last. Milton will need to run with this advice to stand out on a loaded Cowboys roster. His capacity to accomplish this more than anything else will determine his growth and success.
“Something I push him [to do] is just playing every play and every snap like it’s a real game,” – Dak Prescott
As training camps continue and in the face of preseason games, all eyes will be watching Milton. His past successes have laid the groundwork for his present development. Under the mentorship of Prescott and Shimko, he certainly emerges as an underrated future asset for the Cowboys moving forward.
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