Backup Quarterback.

[Baileyneverfailey]

I always find it interesting how teams want badly to keep a proven veteran as a backup QB, when if their starter got hurt their season is over anyway. Case in point, our Dallas Cowboys. Ideally we'd only keep two QBs, because of the injuries and the fact we run a 3-4 D and have to keep more LBs on the roster.

You don't want to cut Mcgee because we drafted him and they really want him to become Tony's backup. However, he doesn't look ready to play so they keep Kitna around. My problem with this is if Romo gets hurt for any decent amount of time, we're done. Whether Kitna, Mcgee, or Vinny Testaverde is playing, we're going to miss the playoffs.

Sure, there are those times when a Trent Green gets hurt and a Kurt Warner explodes onto the scene, but Jon Kitna is not going to do that sort of thing. If anything, a young unproven QB has a better chance of surprising people than the 38 year old journeyman.

I don't mean to say I think we should cut Kitna, because I understand from a GM/coaching perspective you can't say "If we lose Romo our season is over," but it's pretty much the truth, and it just kind of sucks that keeping 3 QBs very well may mean cutting somebody who has some real developmental potential.

 

[Doomsday101]

I always find it interesting how teams want badly to keep a proven veteran as a backup QB, when if their starter got hurt their season is over anyway. Case in point, our Dallas Cowboys. Ideally we'd only keep two QBs, because of the injuries and the fact we run a 3-4 D and have to keep more LBs on the roster.

You don't want to cut Mcgee because we drafted him and they really want him to become Tony's backup. However, he doesn't look ready to play so they keep Kitna around. My problem with this is if Romo gets hurt for any decent amount of time, we're done. Whether Kitna, Mcgee, or Vinny Testaverde is playing, we're going to miss the playoffs.

Sure, there are those times when a Trent Green gets hurt and a Kurt Warner explodes onto the scene, but Jon Kitna is not going to do that sort of thing. If anything, a young unproven QB has a better chance of surprising people than the 38 year old journeyman.

I don't mean to say I think we should cut Kitna, because I understand from a GM/coaching perspective you can't say "If we lose Romo our season is over," but it's pretty much the truth, and it just kind of sucks that keeping 3 QBs very well may mean cutting somebody who has some real developmental potential.

Normally it depends on a team’s situation. I think unless you have a young QB sitting behind a vet much like Rodgers did with Farve teams will tend to go with vet QB's as backup main reason is the backup is not going to get many reps during the season and the experience they have help overcome the lack of reps more so than a inexperienced player.

 

[The Quest for Six]

I always find it interesting how teams want badly to keep a proven veteran as a backup QB, when if their starter got hurt their season is over anyway. Case in point, our Dallas Cowboys. Ideally we'd only keep two QBs, because of the injuries and the fact we run a 3-4 D and have to keep more LBs on the roster.

You don't want to cut Mcgee because we drafted him and they really want him to become Tony's backup. However, he doesn't look ready to play so they keep Kitna around. My problem with this is if Romo gets hurt for any decent amount of time, we're done. Whether Kitna, Mcgee, or Vinny Testaverde is playing, we're going to miss the playoffs.

Sure, there are those times when a Trent Green gets hurt and a Kurt Warner explodes onto the scene, but Jon Kitna is not going to do that sort of thing. If anything, a young unproven QB has a better chance of surprising people than the 38 year old journeyman.

I don't mean to say I think we should cut Kitna, because I understand from a GM/coaching perspective you can't say "If we lose Romo our season is over," but it's pretty much the truth, and it just kind of sucks that keeping 3 QBs very well may mean cutting somebody who has some real developmental potential.

have you watched McGee thus far in the last two years, he's not ready to be a backup, not even close, if he was, Kitna would proabbaly be cut, and if Moore wasn't cut to try to sneak him on the practice squad two years ago, we'd probably have our long term backup and future Romo replacement in place in Moore right now. Quarterbacks need three years to develop

Kurt Warner played in NFL europe, which was great for him to get that experience he needed, that's why there wasn't a huge jump for him when he had to come in to start when Green was lost for the season.

You remember tony Romo, that was pure luck, because if quincy Carter didn't test positive, Tony Romo would of been cut that year. Sometimes luck falls into place, but Dallas isn't going into a season where they think they have a chance to compete for a superbowl with a rookie or untested qb backing up. Kitna can get you through those two or three games if Romo is out with an injury, McGee can't...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Not all injuries are season-ending. If Tony sprained a knee and was out for a month, maybe Kitna could go 2-2 where a guy like McGee would go 0-4 or 1-3 at best. And those one or two games could make all the difference in making the playoffs.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Not all injuries are season-ending. If Tony sprained a knee and was out for a month, maybe Kitna could go 2-2 where a guy like McGee would go 0-4 or 1-3 at best. And those one or two games could make all the difference in making the playoffs.

That's a fair point. With the schedule we have, I don't like Kitna's chances of even going 2-2 during a month if Tony was out, but I do agree that McGee doesn't even look close to ready to play. Really I just can't wait until we have a good enough backup that we can get rid of Kitna. I've disliked him ever since he was running his mouth about Bradie and TNew when he was still a scrubby Lion. :laugh2:

 

[Doomsday101]

That's a fair point. With the schedule we have, I don't like Kitna's chances of even going 2-2 during a month if Tony was out, but I do agree that McGee doesn't even look close to ready to play. Really I just can't wait until we have a good enough backup that we can get rid of Kitna. I've disliked him ever since he was running his mouth about Bradie and TNew when he was still a scrubby Lion. :laugh2:

That is the problem with FA, yesterday’s jerk who you hated ends up on the team tomorrow.

 

[VACowboy]

That's a fair point. With the schedule we have, I don't like Kitna's chances of even going 2-2 during a month if Tony was out, but I do agree that McGee doesn't even look close to ready to play. Really I just can't wait until we have a good enough backup that we can get rid of Kitna. I've disliked him ever since he was running his mouth about Bradie and TNew when he was still a scrubby Lion. :laugh2:

I think Kitna would do better than you believe he would. The team still has a great defense and a ton of offensive talent. Plus, I think Kitna is still a pretty decent bus driver.

As far as what he did in his past life, I don't care. He's a Cowboy now and has my full support.

 

[AbeBeta]

Kurt Warner played in NFL europe, which was great for him to get that experience he needed, that's why there wasn't a huge jump for him when he had to come in to start when Green was lost for the season.

Are you really going to cite Warner who is a complete and total anomaly as evidence? NFL Europe was terrible. Warner was a total fluke. You could have 100 QBs taking the same path and falling flat in the NFL

 

[DanTanna]

I think we are way a head of other teams in the league with Kitna as our #2. He's a gunslinger who made RW.00011 and Mike Furay look good!!!

 

[Stautner]

I always find it interesting how teams want badly to keep a proven veteran as a backup QB, when if their starter got hurt their season is over anyway. Case in point, our Dallas Cowboys. Ideally we'd only keep two QBs, because of the injuries and the fact we run a 3-4 D and have to keep more LBs on the roster.

You don't want to cut Mcgee because we drafted him and they really want him to become Tony's backup. However, he doesn't look ready to play so they keep Kitna around. My problem with this is if Romo gets hurt for any decent amount of time, we're done. Whether Kitna, Mcgee, or Vinny Testaverde is playing, we're going to miss the playoffs.

Sure, there are those times when a Trent Green gets hurt and a Kurt Warner explodes onto the scene, but Jon Kitna is not going to do that sort of thing. If anything, a young unproven QB has a better chance of surprising people than the 38 year old journeyman.

I don't mean to say I think we should cut Kitna, because I understand from a GM/coaching perspective you can't say "If we lose Romo our season is over," but it's pretty much the truth, and it just kind of sucks that keeping 3 QBs very well may mean cutting somebody who has some real developmental potential.

Apparently you don't remember the 1990's. Steve Beuerlein was our QB for a significant number of games and kept the team winning. He was even the QB in a playoff win.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

I watched Kitna play enough in Cincinnati and Detroit to know he's not as good as some of you guys think he is. Our defense was not good enough to win us games without Romo doing his thing last year, and unless they triple their forced turnovers that won't be the case this year either.

I know he's a Cowboy, but Kitna is not even a good QB. I am a homer most of the time, but he is what he is.

 

[Nightshade]

Are you really going to cite Warner who is a complete and total anomaly as evidence? NFL Europe was terrible. Warner was a total fluke. You could have 100 QBs taking the same path and falling flat in the NFL

Jake Delhomme

 

[Doomsday101]

I watched Kitna play enough in Cincinnati and Detroit to know he's not as good as some of you guys think he is. Our defense was not good enough to win us games without Romo doing his thing last year, and unless they triple their forced turnovers that won't be the case this year either.

I know he's a Cowboy, but Kitna is not even a good QB. I am a homer most of the time, but he is what he is.

I don't think he is a pro bowl QB but he has played some good games over his career and with some bad team. I'm not looking for him to play 16 games but if he has to come in and take over a few games he still has a good arm and can make some plays. I think he is much better than Brad Johnson or Bollinger

 

[Stautner]

I watched Kitna play enough in Cincinnati and Detroit to know he's not as good as some of you guys think he is. Our defense was not good enough to win us games without Romo doing his thing last year, and unless they triple their forced turnovers that won't be the case this year either.

I know he's a Cowboy, but Kitna is not even a good QB. I am a homer most of the time, but he is what he is.

He has started a hell of a lot of NFL games and thrown for a hell of a lot of NFL yards. I think you and others are unrealistic about what a backup is. I would agree that Kitna is not a quality NFL starter at this point, and really never was a stellar NFL starter, although he had a few pretty high level seasons. And he is not the ideal guy to run a team. but that's why he isn't a starter anymore. It's why all veteran backups aren't starters. The best you can hope for in a veteran backup is a guy that has proven to be capable of moving an NFL offense and scoring points, but you can't expect him to do it as well as a quality NFL starter would.

 

[AbeBeta]

Jake Delhomme

He played in Europe, sure. But he didn't come up through the AFL etc. like Warner. Jake was with a team that assigned him to Europe to get work. He didn't come out of college and play multiple years in the AFL

 

[Nightshade]

He played in Europe, sure. But he didn't come up through the AFL etc. like Warner. Jake was with a team that assigned him to Europe to get work. He didn't come out of college and play multiple years in the AFL

I like Mcgee. He's a Texan and he's got the makings of a great leader and team player. He really hasn't had enough snaps so he holds on to the ball too long. In his college experience he didn't get enough snaps to help him here and he certainly isn't getting enough snaps here to help as much as he needs.

NFL Europe may have been a crappy league but it helped Delhomme and Warner and it would really help McGee develop faster so he could better impress some of the naysayers on this board long enough to get his 3rd year with the Cowboys.

(...yeah I know Henson went there and failed anyway )

 

[Yeagermeister]

Is Bernie Kosar available?

 

[Chuck 54]

I think most teams in the NFL, the Cowboys included, miss the boat on this topic.

Unless you can manage to have a proven former starter as backup QB, like Steve Buerline backing up Aikman, Earl Morrell backing up Unitas, or even Byron Leftwich backing up Roethlisberger, I think you are much better off with a very athletic, mobile backup QB in today's game.

If you have a kid who can feel the pressure, run bootlegs, and take off and get first downs with his legs, then you have a pretty good chance when your QB goes down. Obviously the backup QB can pass a little or he wouldn't be in the NFL...you can manage the guy during a game, but a veteran backup QB who is a Pocket-Passer had better still be near the top of his game or he's not going to do much for you...which is why he's a backup.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for developing a future prospect at QB to take over when your franchise or near-franchise guy (certainly a longtime starter) hits his mid-30's), and if you are developing a quality QB who can read it, feel it, and throw it, I don't care if he's mobile or not........but the immediate backup QB to your certain starter, assuming you have one, should either be 1) a definite starting caliber QB who still has most of the skills but no team (very rare in the NFL); or he should be an athletic QB who can take off at the first hint of pressure and drive defenses crazy running for first downs and chunks of yardage in passing situations...that type of guy can help you win games and will slow down all the blitzing that the aged pocket passer encounters when forced onto the field due to injury.

That's why I don't have a problem with McGee...he looks like he has a strong arm if given the time to throw, and he can definitely take off running, and he should be encouraged to do so at the first hint of pressure. A backup QB can make you pay for bringing the heat by reading it and being in sync with his receivers and hitting the big play...but he can also make you pay by running for first down after first down if he's athletic enough.

Personally, I think in today's game, especially in college, there are more athletic QBs than there are true future Aikman type QBs, and I would think it wouldn't be too hard to pick one up in the 4-5 round area as a backup QB. I love what Pittsburgh is doing with Dennis Dixon...he has the potential to become a legit passing QB, but he's not there, which is why he wasn't drafted early, but he's already a guy who can take off and make plays in the NFL.

 

[Chuck 54]

have you watched McGee thus far in the last two years, he's not ready to be a backup, not even close, if he was, Kitna would proabbaly be cut, and if Moore wasn't cut to try to sneak him on the practice squad two years ago, we'd probably have our long term backup and future Romo replacement in place in Moore right now. Quarterbacks need three years to develop

Kurt Warner played in NFL europe, which was great for him to get that experience he needed, that's why there wasn't a huge jump for him when he had to come in to start when Green was lost for the season.

You remember tony Romo, that was pure luck, because if quincy Carter didn't test positive, Tony Romo would of been cut that year. Sometimes luck falls into place, but Dallas isn't going into a season where they think they have a chance to compete for a superbowl with a rookie or untested qb backing up. Kitna can get you through those two or three games if Romo is out with an injury, McGee can't...

Matt Moore isn't much younger than Romo...an unlikely future replacement, and Kurt Warner developed his skills in the fast-paced Arena League, I believe.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Matt Moore isn't much younger than Romo...an unlikely future replacement, and Kurt Warner developed his skills in the fast-paced Arena League, I believe.

And if Moore was that good he wouldn't stay around as a backup. He'd want out so he could be a starter.