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With California camp over, Cowboys notice Dak Prescott's improvement

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OXNARD, Calif. -- The California portion of training camp has ended, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott feels good about the work he has put in to get ready for the regular season.

"I know as an offense we've gotten better," Prescott said. "We've made some strides, not only me but everybody, the run game, the pass game, we've all got a great chemistry. As I said, I'm looking forward to go and put it in a game this week."

Prescott will make his preseason debut Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium. How much he plays has not been determined, but if coach Jason Garrett holds to his typical plan, Prescott could participate in a couple of series with the starters.

Prescott entered this training camp in a much different place than the summer of 2016. Then, he was the Cowboys' third quarterback behind Tony Romo and Kellen Moore. Now, he is the unquestioned leader of the team.

"He just gets better daily," offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "Develops chemistry with all his teammates, not just his offensive teammates. He seems to touch every group. I think I've seen some real physical growth from him even. I think his arm strength has gotten better since he's been here, his anticipation. I've seen some of those physical things, but probably his demeanor and his daily approach [have been great]. It's pretty darn good now for a young guy, but he really works at that."

In 14 padded practices in Oxnard, Prescott completed 159 of 220 passes in team and 7-on-7 drills, with six interceptions.

One two-play stretch Monday demonstrated Prescott's top trait. In 11-on-11 work, he did not get enough air under a back-shoulder throw to Dez Bryant, allowing Nolan Carroll to get an interception. On the next play, with Byron Jones lined up on Bryant, Prescott went deep again and completed the pass.

"One of his great traits is just being in the moment and focusing on what he needs to do," Garrett said. "He prepares very well and I believe he has confidence in himself and the people around him. So to be unaffected by what happened the play before, if it's success you throw a touchdown or if it's adversity you throw an interception, you just keep coming back. I think he demonstrates that in how he lives his life and certainly how he plays the position. That's what you need at the quarterback position. You need it throughout your whole team."

Prescott said he was looking forward to playing Saturday, his first live action at AT&T Stadium since the Cowboys' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

"Preseason is a game regardless if it counts or doesn't," Prescott said. "It's a game, it's a time, it's an opportunity to present myself, present this team, this offense, and I mean it doesn't matter if it's preseason or if it goes down on the record, it's still something that we have to go out there and play our best and have our best showing."