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Should Cooper Rush be the Cowboys QB2?
Another preseason game, another solid outing from the rookie Cooper Rush.
After last week’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, it was becoming clear that undrafted rookie Cooper Rush should be Dak Prescott’s primary backup in 2017. The former Central Michigan star put together a solid performance in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the same venue in which Dak first showed the world that he can become a star on the NFL level. While Rush’s performance wasn’t as quite as brilliant as Prescott’s was in L.A., it was still impressive nonetheless.
Rush completed nine of his eleven attempts for over 100 yards and a beautiful touchdown pass to tight end Rico Gathers:
Cooper Rush drops a dime to Rico Gathers for the TD! #DALvsLAR pic.twitter.com/99KI1yetAp
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 13, 2017
While it was against a preseason defense and a team that didn’t make the postseason last year, Rush still looked more confident and poised than the veteran Kellen Moore did earlier in the same game. As soon as number 7 entered for the Cowboys, the team looked to play with more swagger than with Moore behind center. His confidence rubs off on his teammates.
Rush continued his impressive preseason play against the Colts on Saturday night.
Dak started the game off by doing Dak things. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year completed seven of his eight attempts for more than 100 yards and a touchdown toss to Dez Bryant, posting a 158.3 passer rating on the night. When Moore entered the game, though, the offense looked dead. Sure, it’s hard to move the offense in the same way the face of the franchise does, but still, Moore could not get anything going.
Our own RJ Ochoa, among many other Cowboys fans, was pleading for Cooper Rush to enter the game for the Cowboys:
As soon as Cooper Rush entered the game, the offense regained some swagger. Rush completed his first five attempts and looked to be playing with the same confidence that has led him to have a great preseason thus far. He takes over of the offense in a way that Moore simply cannot. Our own Tom Ryle makes a great point that makes Rush a more attractive option than the former Boise State star:
Most basic factor of the Rush/Moore debate: Team struggles to move with Kellen, just glides down the field with Cooper.
— Tom Ryle (@TomRyleBTB) August 20, 2017
Ryle expanded on his thoughts after the game concluded, noting that Rush elevated the players around him:
The Dallas staff may feel Kellen Moore is a better backup for Prescott, but it is hard to make any rational argument that he is a better on-field quarterback and leader than Rush. Rush seems to have the quality (that he also shares with Prescott) of elevating the players around him. If Rush continues putting together games like this one, the Cowboys will likely want to keep him around - and have to really worry about who else may covet his skills. The argument for Dallas to keep three QBs is growing more convincing with every preseason game.
This doesn’t exactly look good for Moore, either:
In Kellen Moore's last 14 led drives in the preseason, the Cowboys have accumulated just six points.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) August 20, 2017
With Kellen Moore in behind center, the offense hits a speed bump. With Rush, though, the offense is able to move the chains and even reach the end zone. Rush led the Cowboys on a scoring drive as soon as he hit the field. He finds seventh-round selection Noah Brown for six here:
Cooper Rush to Noah Brown for the TD! #INDvsDAL pic.twitter.com/lbwyjCqAlD
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 20, 2017
Later, he found receiver Lance Lenoir for another touchdown against the Colts:
Cooper Rush to Lance Lenoir for the TD! pic.twitter.com/ES8A0z0a8W
— DemBoyzNation (@DemBoyzNation) August 20, 2017
Cooper Rush finished his third preseason contest by completing eight of nine passes, throwing for 92 yards, and tossing two touchdowns. His performance throughout the night was very good, and Cowboys Blitz’s Bobby Belt made a humorous comment during the game:
The most exciting thing about Rush is the prospect of having an unknown backup that some desperate team may one day unload a 5th for.
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) August 20, 2017
Yes, his snaps are against players that likely won’t be on the 53-man squad this fall, but the Central Michigan product brings more to the Cowboys offense than the current QB2 on the roster. Throughout this preseason, Rush has been making a strong argument to be the Dallas Cowboys’ primary backup quarterback this fall.
He may just turn out to be another preseason star, but Cooper Rush looks to be the Dallas Cowboys best option on the roster if something were to happen to Dak Prescott. Cooper Rush’s potential, combined with Kellen Moore’s limitations, makes the undrafted rookie an intriguing option behind Dak.
Who does the BTB community think the QB2 should be this season?
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