BEREA — Martin Emerson Jr. is 23 and didn't show up at Mississippi State until 2019. Dak Prescott is 31 and left Starkville in 2016.
That hasn't prevented the third-year Browns cornerback and the ninth-year Dallas Cowboys quarterback from crossing paths. The first time it happened was in Emerson's first year in college.
"In my freshman year, I worked at a camp for him," Emerson told the Beacon Journal. "I had 15 kids, that was my group, and it was like a 7 on 7 deal, and me and Dak, we was there with the kids. It was a fun moment."
The times when Emerson has run across Prescott in Starkville over the years since then have always been friendly. As Emerson says, "it's all respect."
That changes Sunday, when the two former Mississippi State Bulldogs square off in the season opener between the Browns and the Cowboys. It'll be on Emerson to help keep Prescott, one of the NFL's most accurate and successful quarterbacks, from spoiling Cleveland's opener.
Acquaintanceship aside, Emerson knows what he's seen just watching Prescott over the years.
"He can throw in tight windows and give the receivers a chance to catch the ball, even if you're there," Emerson said. "So even if we're in tight coverage, just expect the ball to always come to you because he's a good quarterback. He can make certain throws. But, yeah, he's a veteran quarterback and he's been doing it for a while and it shows on tape."
It shows in the stats as well. Prescott is coming off a season in which his 69.5% completion percentage ranked second to the Cincinnati Bengals' Jake Browning (70.4%), and he led the league in passing touchdowns (36) and completions (410).
It's not just last season, though. It's been throughout Prescott's career, as his 67% completion percentage is a Cowboys all-time record.
"As far as how he plays, he’s another guy who's gotten better every year, throws a beautiful ball," said Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper, who played with Prescott in Dallas from 2018-21. "That's one of the things I noticed and I loved about him when I first started playing with him. He's gotten better IQ-wise at the position as far as getting the ball out quicker and sooner, understanding the position."
That understanding translates directly to the way Prescott plays against specific defensive matchups. That's especially true of matchups that would apply to the Browns.
The Browns are a heavy man-to-man coverage team, with Emerson, Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II all central to that coverage. According to TruMedia, they played man coverage on 233 dropbacks during the regular season last year, with opposing quarterbacks completing 45.5% of their passes and posting an 81.3 passer rating while being sacked 22 times.
Prescott, though, has excelled against man coverage. Last season, he led the league with a 66% completion percentage against it, throwing 23 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had a league-best 128.9 passer rating against that coverage.
"You know, all the stats across the board — high completion percentage and yards," defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said this week of Prescott. "He can make something out of nothing when it comes to plays breaking down, using his legs — doesn’t run quite as much as he used to, but he’s mainly running with a purpose now. …
"It’s a tough matchup right off the bat. One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. So, we have to play our very best when you’re competing against a quarterback like Dak Prescott.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns defense know Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott 'can throw in tight windows'
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