News: BTB: Taking Moore Chances: The Logic And Risks Of The Cowboys' Approach To Backup Quarterback

[NewsBot]

Getting a better backup for Tony Romo was supposed to be a priority for Dallas this offseason. Is Kellen Moore really the answer?

One of the top priorities for the Dallas Cowboys was making sure they have a better situation at backup quarterback for 2016 than they did during the Great Debacle of 2015. But at this point, the team seems content to roll with still unproven former free agent Kellen Moore, who has never quarterbacked an NFL win, fourth-round compensatory pick Dak Prescott, and former UDFA Jameill Showers, who spent his rookie year as a scout team jack-of-all-trades, and is just now devoting himself full time to the quarterback situation. This seems a very questionable way to approach this season. Tony Romo appears to be fully healthy and in better shape from the start of OTAs than he has in years. Still, his recent injury history raises a very real question of whether the Cowboys are setting themselves up for another disappointment.

Why in the world would the brain trust of the team feel this was a good way to go?

There are several reasons. We will have to see how the season plays out to judge if this was a valid approach, but here are what seem to be the driving factors that led us to this.


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[jobberone]

Decent read. I'm sure opinions will be all over the place.

 

[waldoputty]

Scenario 1: Tony out 1-2 games during the season and we are marginal playoff team - we are better off losing and getting better draft pick (for QB?)
Scenario 2: Tony out 1-2 games and we are a serious contender - This probably means the running game is dominant. If we are for real, losing 1-2 games should not make a difference in getting to playoffs. It would make a difference to playoff byes, but we should get in and have a chance.
Scenario 3: Tony out 1-2 games and we are not good - Given improvements to running game, Tony is probably not good any more. So better draft pick for a QB or some other critical need.
Scenario 4: Tony out a long time (more than 4 games), we are probably better off tanking for better draft pick.
Scenario 5: Tony out 3-4 game and running game is only great but not good enough to carry the day - this is the only scenario where a better backup QB makes sense. This would probably some type of sprain or bad concussion. Not collarbone or probably not back.

So 1 out of 5 injury scenarios is relevant for a better backup QB.

 

[jnday]

If Romo is out for any length of time, the season will be bad, really bad. The current backups are not capable of winning games. The offense has been made so "Romo friendly" that no other QB can win. It is a very bad decision to have an offense so dependent on one player.

 

[jobberone]

If _______ is out (starting QB) the ___________________ (insert any NFL team) will have difficulty winning.

 

[Nightman]

If Romo is out for any length of time, the season will be bad, really bad. The current backups are not capable of winning games. The offense has been made so "Romo friendly" that no other QB can win. It is a very bad decision to have an offense so dependent on one player.

I don't think it Romo friendly so much as it is so bad that only Romo can make anything out of it with his improvising.....I see other Offenses get mismatches that we don't even dream of........everything we do is so hard earned...

 

[LocimusPrime]

Scenario 1: Tony out 1-2 games during the season and we are marginal playoff team - we are better off losing and getting better draft pick (for QB?)
Scenario 2: Tony out 1-2 games and we are a serious contender - This probably means the running game is dominant. If we are for real, losing 1-2 games should not make a difference in getting to playoffs. It would make a difference to playoff byes, but we should get in and have a chance.
Scenario 3: Tony out 1-2 games and we are not good - Given improvements to running game, Tony is probably not good any more. So better draft pick for a QB or some other critical need.
Scenario 4: Tony out a long time (more than 4 games), we are probably better off tanking for better draft pick.
Scenario 5: Tony out 3-4 game and running game is only great but not good enough to carry the day - this is the only scenario where a better backup QB makes sense. This would probably some type of sprain or bad concussion. Not collarbone or probably not back.

So 1 out of 5 injury scenarios is relevant for a better backup QB.

Scenario 6. We have bye in the playoffs and Romo is injured for the next game. The playoff team we are playing has lost their starting qb. Romo will be back by the NFC championship game.

Scenario 7. We are a quality playoff team ( not marginal but not heavily favorited) we are in a tight race with a division rival to win the NFC east. The loser will not get the wildcard. Romo is out 2 games. The other team is on a hot streak and we are only 1 game ahead of them in the standing w 3 games to play.

 

[jnday]

I don't think it Romo friendly so much as it is so bad that only Romo can make anything out of it with his improvising.....I see other Offenses get mismatches that we don't even dream of........everything we do is so hard earned...

If that is the case, and I believe it is, a change in offense is much needed. Truly great teams does l not depend on one player . It is not good for the team and it brings the question up " what happens Romo retires?".

 

[waldoputty]

Scenario 6. We have bye in the playoffs and Romo is injured for the next game. The playoff team we are playing has lost their starting qb. Romo will be back by the NFC championship game.

Scenario 7. We are a quality playoff team ( not marginal but not heavily favorited) we are in a tight race with a division rival to win the NFC east. The loser will not get the wildcard. Romo is out 2 games. The other team is on a hot streak and we are only 1 game ahead of them in the standing w 3 games to play.

Your scenario 6 is possible and it would suck. However, it is a small subset of scenario 2 (1 out of 16 chance) ared to the other scenarios because Romo is as likely to get hurt in the 1st 15 games as the 16th game. So I guess i can live with this one.

Your scenario 7 is quite possible. If the team even has trouble getting out of the relatively weak NFC East, the team would not have much chance to go far. So I can definitely live with with scenario.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I'd opt for a running QB attack for a short term solution (like Romo out just a few games). Dak Prescott should be good for a couple of wins against the teams we have on our schedule...

 

[KB1122]

At backup, I want a guy who is either going to surprise everybody and do super well or who is going to suck. No in between. No 3-5.

 

[cowboyblue22]

you don't have to worry if tony misses another season it will be bad very bad again like 3 or 4 wins. if tony is not there this team loses its will to compete they have no direction.