Milton looked like a far different player than a year ago, and he made quite the revelation post-game about where he has grown.
One of the more interesting things to watch in the Dallas Cowboys' preseason opener was the backup quarterback position, and in the 17-7 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Joe Milton looked like a completely different player compared to a year ago.
We know Joe's athletic ability is nearly unmatched, but was his ability to play the quarterback position properly that left a lot to be desired. Last year in the preseason, he was up and down, missing passes, rifling in balls to his receivers from five yards away that would fall incomplete.
There was a lot of work to do.
But a year on against Seattle? It was a different Joe.
He was poised and ran the offense efficiently. When a play was there to be made, such as the crossing routes to Anthony Smith and Camden Brown, he hit them in stride to pick up nice gains. No mistakes.
Milton would finish his outing in Seattle going 12-of-15 for 107 yards and a touchdown, completing 80 percent of his passes, while rushing 10 yards on seven carries.
Joe looked confident running the offense like a proper quarterback and kept the unit moving downfield.
When asked how he feels about where he is now as a player compared to a year ago, Joe dropped an eyebrow-raising truth.
"A lot different," Milton said. "I went through a whole year of game-planning with these coaches, so, I'm able to game plan the right way now, get an understanding of what they're thinking. Shoot, I was able to fix a play, and last year I don't think I would have be able to do that. So, it's great."
Hold up, Joe.
You couldn't 'fix' a play last offseason? Meaning he couldn't recognize that the offense was in the wrong play and couldn't audible out of it?
Well, that is a big jump in terms of his development if that is the case.
There is no denying that Milton seemed at ease inside Lumen Field, as he orchestrated an 18-play, 98-yard TD drive in the third quarter, plus, being able to get the ball back with 6:32 left in the game, and not allow the Seahawks to get the ball.
That's big. Going 63 yards in 18 plays that ended with Milton kneeling to end the game- that is what will impress the coaching staff.
But does Joe feel like he is more confident in his abilities now?
"Absolutely, I feel more confident, but I also just feel just me, I feel like Joe," he said. "Shout-out to the coaches that was able to put me in the right position."
The backup quarterback role is one that looks like it will go down to the wire, with both Milton and Howell seeing their stock trending upward.
But with Milton the most confident he's been since arriving in Dallas, maybe he's ready to assume the lead in the race to back up Dak Prescott.
