BTB: Why The Cowboys Backup QB Situation Is Not As Bad As You Think

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think when you face top defenses in this league you better bring more than a knife to a gun fight. You may get by vs some lesser teams but when facing some of the top defenses being one dimensional is not going to win you the games.

Yep.

 

[Nightman]

I'm all for getting creative on Offense.

I just don't think Dak will be quite ready this year.

We still need a QB2 if Romo gets hurt........KMoore isn't nearly good enough....19.3 QBR

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree. Players need to do their part to be successful. However, the real issue, at least to me, is that you can not just accept that your QB is out and run a basic Vanilla Offense week after week until you reach the end of the season. If it's an unexpected thing, then I can see you being in a position where you just have to play through it but does anybody look at the QB situation in Dallas and think to them selves, "Man, Tony going down was really unexpected." If we are not prepared for that contingency, that's entirely on Coaching and Management because we've seen Tony injured and on the shelf a lot in the past few seasons. I do realize you can't just order up a good QB but that is the same for other teams as well and they managed to win games. We were just embarrassing.

I agree but when most teams lose their QB it means a lot of people both sides of the ball must step up. Backup can do so much and last year add to the mix that your #1 WR was out and when in games was not close to being 100%. Myself I don't expect the backup QB to carry the team I expect them to help and others to step up their games.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I agree but when most teams lose their QB it means a lot of people both sides of the ball must step up. Backup can do so much and last year add to the mix that your #1 WR was out and when in games was not close to being 100%. Myself I don't expect the backup QB to carry the team I expect them to help and others to step up their games.

Agreed, and I think I said that earlier but I have to be honest, I just didn't see that we tried very hard last year and when I say this, I mean the Coaching Staff. I feel like they were content to just try and tread water until Tony came back with some ridiculous idea that he would just be able to step in and save the day. I just never saw that and I couldn't believe what I saw every week. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

For one thing: The addition of Zeke means we can be a run-oriented, ball-control team. That lessens the chance of a Romo injury. Second: There's a big difference between Romo going down 1-3 games versus most of the season like last year. 1-3 games with Prescott, Moore, or whoever and you might weather the storm, even winning one or two of those games. Romo out for most of the year and the season is shot. The run game would not be enough to make up for that. Then we get another high draft pick and try again.

While I somewhat agree with you. I hate that Jason Garrett and "traditional" football thinking with regards to losing your starting QB......gets a free pass in Dallas. I hate that Romo being lost for a season means we cannot put a product on the field that is "watchable" Because last year....was not "watchable".

When Tom Brady went down...the Pats STILL won 10 - 11 games. Jason Garrett is being highly compensated to construct a 53 man roster, come up with a gameplan, and create a culture....that results in winning. Too often last year we could not even get first downs....let alone touchdowns....let alone wins. Like I said...it was unwatchable.

This "it takes 5 years to build a winner"....."it takes Pro Bowlers at every position to build a winner"...."it takes a 2000 yard RB to be a winner" all 11 men on the field have to be superior to the 11 men lined up across from them etc...this line of thinking is just a way for Jerry and Jason to keep stringing this fanbase along. Of course I want us to be at full strength on Sundays...but regardless of WHO we have on the field....put together a gameplan...have a solid week of practice...and show some guts on gameday to give this team and fanbase some confidence that you deserve to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Enough with all of this hand wringing over the BACKUP QB in Dallas. The amount of energy we expend discussing whether or not the success of the upcoming season will be determined by the backup QB on the roster....probably means we are WAY to reliant on the starting QB. This front office, coaching staff and other players on this roster besides Romo need to do their job. If Romo goes down....and we have ZERO chance on a week to week basis...then this whole entire operation is a farce!

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed, and I think I said that earlier but I have to be honest, I just didn't see that we tried very hard last year and when I say this, I mean the Coaching Staff. I feel like they were content to just try and tread water until Tony came back with some ridiculous idea that he would just be able to step in and save the day. I just never saw that and I couldn't believe what I saw every week. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

I agree the mind set seemed to be only x number of games and Tony will be back and when Tony returned vs Miami things looked like it may turn around then of course Carolina game came and Romo had a rough day and was again knocked out of the game and the season. I do think Garrett made a big mistake in calendar watching instead of taking what we had and working with it. In the end as many others said it was more than just Romo being out, the defense just was unable to get their jobs done with measly 11 turnovers is just not going to cut it when your franchise QB is out

 

[Nightman]

While I somewhat agree with you. I hate that Jason Garrett and "traditional" football thinking with regards to losing your starting QB......gets a free pass in Dallas. I hate that Romo being lost for a season means we cannot put a product on the field that is "watchable" Because last year....was not "watchable".

When Tom Brady went down...the Pats STILL won 10 - 11 games. Jason Garrett is being highly compensated to construct a 53 man roster, come up with a gameplan, and create a culture....that results in winning. Too often last year we could not even get first downs....let alone touchdowns....let alone wins. Like I said...it was unwatchable.

This "it takes 5 years to build a winner"....."it takes Pro Bowlers at every position to build a winner"...."it takes a 2000 yard RB to be a winner" all 11 men on the field have to be superior to the 11 men lined up across from them etc...this line of thinking is just a way for Jerry and Jason to keep stringing this fanbase along. Of course I want us to be at full strength on Sundays...but regardless of WHO we have on the field....put together a gameplan...have a solid week of practice...and show some guts on gameday to give this team and fanbase some confidence that you deserve to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Enough with all of this hand wringing over the BACKUP QB in Dallas. The amount of energy we expend discussing whether or not the success of the upcoming season will be determined by the backup QB on the roster....probably means we are WAY to reliant on the starting QB. This front office, coaching staff and other players on this roster besides Romo need to do their job. If Romo goes down....and we have ZERO chance on a week to week basis...then this whole entire operation is a farce!

Exactly....everyone though last year was worse case scenario but Tony got injured so early we got the 4th pick out of it..... worst case is if we are 9-4 looking at a bye and Tony gets hurt...we then go 0-3 and back into the playoffs and lose in the first round

We need a quality QB2.....not a 4th round rookie or a 5th year Rudy

 

[Doomsday101]

While I somewhat agree with you. I hate that Jason Garrett and "traditional" football thinking with regards to losing your starting QB......gets a free pass in Dallas. I hate that Romo being lost for a season means we cannot put a product on the field that is "watchable" Because last year....was not "watchable".

When Tom Brady went down...the Pats STILL won 10 - 11 games. Jason Garrett is being highly compensated to construct a 53 man roster, come up with a gameplan, and create a culture....that results in winning. Too often last year we could not even get first downs....let alone touchdowns....let alone wins. Like I said...it was unwatchable.

This "it takes 5 years to build a winner"....."it takes Pro Bowlers at every position to build a winner"...."it takes a 2000 yard RB to be a winner" all 11 men on the field have to be superior to the 11 men lined up across from them etc...this line of thinking is just a way for Jerry and Jason to keep stringing this fanbase along. Of course I want us to be at full strength on Sundays...but regardless of WHO we have on the field....put together a gameplan...have a solid week of practice...and show some guts on gameday to give this team and fanbase some confidence that you deserve to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Enough with all of this hand wringing over the BACKUP QB in Dallas. The amount of energy we expend discussing whether or not the success of the upcoming season will be determined by the backup QB on the roster....probably means we are WAY to reliant on the starting QB. This front office, coaching staff and other players on this roster besides Romo need to do their job. If Romo goes down....and we have ZERO chance on a week to week basis...then this whole entire operation is a farce!

True Brady went down for the season after 1 game but NE defense was ranked top 10 they allowed 19 points a game and that went a long way in helping to overcome the loss of Brady.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I am not saying playing Dak will get you anything this year except an evaluation.
I would play him in both traditional role for evaluation and let him play like he was in college with superior OL dez and zeke.
May be we get a pleasant surprise...

If he shows something, then we may a good option, though still draft more QBs.
Of course we would not be going anywhere.
I dont think we are allowed to just forfeit the remaining games.

I think of Moore as more of a replacement if Romo gets his bell rung to salvage the game.
Why give him development time when Dak has a 25% chance to be a starter IMO and Moore may only have a 10% chance.

I dont really care what they do if Romo goes down to be honest. It would be nice to see both guys.

 

[waldoputty]

While I somewhat agree with you. I hate that Jason Garrett and "traditional" football thinking with regards to losing your starting QB......gets a free pass in Dallas. I hate that Romo being lost for a season means we cannot put a product on the field that is "watchable" Because last year....was not "watchable".

When Tom Brady went down...the Pats STILL won 10 - 11 games. Jason Garrett is being highly compensated to construct a 53 man roster, come up with a gameplan, and create a culture....that results in winning. Too often last year we could not even get first downs....let alone touchdowns....let alone wins. Like I said...it was unwatchable.

This "it takes 5 years to build a winner"....."it takes Pro Bowlers at every position to build a winner"...."it takes a 2000 yard RB to be a winner" all 11 men on the field have to be superior to the 11 men lined up across from them etc...this line of thinking is just a way for Jerry and Jason to keep stringing this fanbase along. Of course I want us to be at full strength on Sundays...but regardless of WHO we have on the field....put together a gameplan...have a solid week of practice...and show some guts on gameday to give this team and fanbase some confidence that you deserve to be the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Enough with all of this hand wringing over the BACKUP QB in Dallas. The amount of energy we expend discussing whether or not the success of the upcoming season will be determined by the backup QB on the roster....probably means we are WAY to reliant on the starting QB. This front office, coaching staff and other players on this roster besides Romo need to do their job. If Romo goes down....and we have ZERO chance on a week to week basis...then this whole entire operation is a farce!

If Romo is healthy, then lets go for it all.
If Romo gets hurt, then we get a top pick that can be a QB, DE or even a shutdown corner.
With 4, we got Zeke this year, which is pretty sweet, but could have gotten a QB if we lost a couple more games.

If we lose Romo, then losing is good.
If we get the QB, we are set for 10 years.
If we get a major D piece, we would only have a couple holes to fill in the next few drafts/free agency - QB and one more D piece.

 

[waldoputty]

True Brady went down for the season after 1 game but NE defense was ranked top 10 they allowed 19 points a game and that went a long way in helping to overcome the loss of Brady.

And that caused them to get a much worse 1st round pick.
Without Brady, it is moot.

 

[waldoputty]

I dont really care what they do if Romo goes down to be honest. It would be nice to see both guys.

With that, we are in total agreement.

 

[CowboyRoy]

With that, we are in total agreement.

I am honestly ready for the next era. The Romo/Garrett era couldnt go fast enough for me.

 

[Doomsday101]

And that caused them to get a much worse 1st round pick.
Without Brady, it is moot.

Yes because they were still playing to win not to get better 1st rd pick. Should tell you something that no organization is going to tank a season just to get better 1st rd pick. It is not something any coach is wanting to teach his team.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

If Romo is healthy, then lets go for it all.
If Romo gets hurt, then we get a top pick that can be a QB, DE or even a shutdown corner.
With 4, we got Zeke this year, which is pretty sweet, but could have gotten a QB if we lost a couple more games.

If we lose Romo, then losing is good.
If we get the QB, we are set for 10 years.
If we get a major D piece, we would only have a couple holes to fill in the next few drafts/free agency - QB and one more D piece.

So how many years does it take to build a consistent winner? I shake my head at all the people who made fun of Chip Kelly. He certainly had his warts....but all I know is that he stepped in the NFL...used multiple QBs and STILL found a way to win 10 games his FIRST 2 years in the NFL. The year he did not have double digit wins...he was gone.

We have a coaching regime...that has been here 5 years...with ONE....ONE....winning season. And we are STILL talking about "we need to fill this hole"....and "we need to fill that hole". So how much time is enough time?

 

[waldoputty]

Yes because they were still playing to win not to get better 1st rd pick. Should tell you something that no organization is going to tank a season just to get better 1st rd pick. It is not something any coach is wanting to teach his team.

The team needs to entertain.
If Romo goes down, I would keep fan interest by putting up some crazy gadget formations.
That includes the playground double QB formation where both are threats to pass and scramble.
It probably will not work, and we would lose a lot of games.
At least it will generate some buzz to keep the poor sport writers busy.

The long term goal is many many superbowls.
Tanking is the best chance to get the next franchise QB everyone is talking about.

 

[chicago JK]

I hope the Cowboys are right in their evaluation. This is the same group in large part who said the same things about Brad Johnson and Brandon Weeden previously. Having the backup QB cripple the season again would be a mistake only this front office could make.

If the Boys are sitting at 7-4 and Romo gets hurt and needs to miss 3-4 games can the Cowboys backup keep us above water during that stretch. That is the question Dallas needs to feel comfortable with.

 

[waldoputty]

So how many years does it take to build a consistent winner? I shake my head at all the people who made fun of Chip Kelly. He certainly had his warts....but all I know is that he stepped in the NFL...used multiple QBs and STILL found a way to win 10 games his FIRST 2 years in the NFL. The year he did not have double digit wins...he was gone.

We have a coaching regime...that has been here 5 years...with ONE....ONE....winning season. And we are STILL talking about "we need to fill this hole"....and "we need to fill that hole". So how much time is enough time?

Well we may place 8 O players in the next pro bowl, so that is a pretty big achievement.
8 comes from 4OL, QB, WR, RB and TE.

If Romo is healthy, IMO we just need a couple D probowl level players.
We only had 1 probowler in Lee for the D - and he barely made it.
If Jaylon works out, one RDE that could be had in the next draft or free agency unless Gregory works out (unlikely).

If Romo goes down, we need a QB and couple D players.
1-2 more drafts plus free agency will give us a good shot.

 

[Doomsday101]

The team needs to entertain.
If Romo goes down, I would keep fan interest by putting up some crazy gadget formations.
That includes the playground double QB formation where both are threats to pass and scramble.
It probably will not work, and we would lose a lot of games.
At least it will generate some buzz to keep the poor sport writers busy.

The long term goal is many many superbowls.
Tanking is the best chance to get the next franchise QB everyone is talking about.

Team needs to win that is what they are all out there trying to do. As for sports writers who cares. Every team has the same goals but no team is out there tanking it and those who do are not winning SB Belicheck is not going to have his team tank a season nor will any coach worth a damn

 

[waldoputty]

Team needs to win that is what they are all out there trying to do. As for sports writers who cares. Every team has the same goals but no team is out there tanking it and those who do are not winning SB Belicheck is not going to have his team tank a season nor will any coach worth a damn

Right, no coach wants to tank.
So the FO can force (intentionally?) the coach to tank by undercutting his contingency QB options.
If Romo goes down, we are essentially tanking because backups will lose (unless Dak really really surprises).

That is a good reason NOT to have a good backup QB because we need our next franchise QB.
If Dak really really surprises, then we already have our next QB with a late 4th!