DMN: Machota: QB Jameill Showers intriguing, has some attributes that will make it hard to let him

[jobberone]

Machota: QB Jameill Showers intriguing, has some attributes that will make it hard to let him go

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/incoming/20150814-ns_13cowboys58sp_45464851.jpg.ece/BINARY/w940/NS_13COWBOYS58SP_45464851.JPG
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant waves to a TV camera after a 17-7 loss to the San Diego Chargers in an NFL preseason football game at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

jmachota@***BANNED-URL*** Staff Writer Published: 15 August 2015 11:57 PM

SportsDay's Jon Machota answered questions in a chat Friday. Here are some highlights.

Question: What did you think of Dustin Vaughan's outing vs. Chargers?

Jon Machota: I really liked the TD drive. He was able to overcome some adversity, Converting on a third and very long. He was also much more mobile than I expected. He's been shaky during camp, so I think last night's showing will help give him some confidence. Like Gus Johnson, it's obvious that some of these players would look a lot better if they had the starters around them. But they have to show they're worthy of those opportunities. Vaughan will play a lot over these next three preseason games and his performance will determine if it's worth keeping him on the 53 again.

Question: Is McFadden still on track to hit practice field on Saturday?

Jon Machota: Yes, sir. He was on the sideline yesterday during the game in street clothes. During the last couple of practices he's been working on his cutting with the athletic trainers and he looks healthy. He hasn't had a setback since camp started, so there's no reason he shouldn't be out there tomorrow. That's been the target return date for a while.

Question: What did you think of Showers? Looked like he threw pretty well in some tight windows and he definitely can make plays with his legs

Jon Machota: I think his ability to make plays with his legs is what intrigues most. He was solid last night, but he was playing with and against many guys who won't make 53-man rosters. The huge positive for him is his special teams play. He had an impressive open-field tackle last night. It's odd to see a QB contributing in that way, but that could make it difficult on the coaching staff when they start trimming the roster. Showers isn't ready to be an NFL QB right now, but he has some interesting attributes that will make it tough to let him go.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CHAT

 

[CATCH17]

Still early but you can tell he has really good feet.

I didn't see enough to know how accurate he can be passing but his footwork is prototypical.

 

[dcowboysfan76]

slash

 

[Bleu Star]

Interesting lil 1 on 1. I'm intrigued too. Hmm.

 

[xwalker]

Jon Machota: I really liked the TD drive. He was able to overcome some adversity, Converting on a third and very long. He was also much more mobile than I expected. He's been shaky during camp, so I think last night's showing will help give him some confidence. Like Gus Johnson, it's obvious that some of these players would look a lot better if they had the starters around them. But they have to show they're worthy of those opportunities. Vaughan will play a lot over these next three preseason games and his performance will determine if it's worth keeping him on the 53 again.

Question: What did you think of Showers? Looked like he threw pretty well in some tight windows and he definitely can make plays with his legs

Jon Machota: I think his ability to make plays with his legs is what intrigues most. He was solid last night, but he was playing with and against many guys who won't make 53-man rosters. The huge positive for him is his special teams play. He had an impressive open-field tackle last night. It's odd to see a QB contributing in that way, but that could make it difficult on the coaching staff when they start trimming the roster. Showers isn't ready to be an NFL QB right now, but he has some interesting attributes that will make it tough to let him go.

I think either Vaughan or Showers would make it to the practice squad.

Any team could have signed Shower a couple of months ago if they really wanted him.

Another team would have to cut a QB that they've been developing in their scheme in order to sign one of these guys to their 53.

 

[jobberone]

I think either Vaughan or Showers would make it to the practice squad.

Any team could have signed Shower a couple of months ago if they really wanted him.

Another team would have to cut a QB that they've been developing in their scheme in order to sign one of these guys to their 53.

They'd have to cut one player at any position to take someone off our PS.

Not sure they want to go with 4 QBs where two are developmental players in a year we are a SB contender that needs to make the D a good bit better and even the O some better. That would be my bottom line.

If you have all the players you want on D then maybe you carry four. I doubt that happens and even if so my guess is Vaughn will be the emergency QB with us carrying two QBs on the active roster and they will put both Vaughn and Showers on the PS.

 

[Muhast]

I think either Vaughan or Showers would make it to the practice squad.

Any team could have signed Shower a couple of months ago if they really wanted him.

Another team would have to cut a QB that they've been developing in their scheme in order to sign one of these guys to their 53.

"Any team could have signed Showers a couple of months ago if they really wanted him"

True, but that was before they saw reports of him looking like an intriguing prospect with an actual NFL team. And before they got 3-4 chances to see him in live action agaisnt NFL players.

Teams they may have been iffy on him, may change their mind if he looks good for the remainder of Preseason.

 

[Bullflop]

If Showers keeps showing the kind of progress that he's made until now, I'm not altogether too sure I'd feel comfortable assigning him to the practice squad and leaving him vulnerable to claim. We'll see how he does in the preseason games that remain. He seems to have far better sense of an impending passrush than anything Vaughn had displayed thus far. It's quite a fearful feeling seeing Vaughn fade back into a disintegrating pocket.

 

[DandyDon52]

Well this is one odd thing about the order they play these guys.
If I wanted to evaluate showers I would play him first, with 1st teamers for us and opposing team, then you can see how he would do .
They dont need to evaluate wheedon, I think they keep him no matter what, and he might do better playing against lesser defense later in game.
They dont need to evaluate romo, he just needs practice and it doesnt matter when he plays as long as starting linemen play with him.

I liked showers ability to run and his passing was ok, but hard to evaluate when he is playing late in game.
So that is a flaw to me.

 

[Nightman]

The fact he is covering kicks on STs shows they don't value him very highly as a QB.

A STer that could fill in at QB could be an asset, I guess.

 

[jobberone]

Well this is one odd thing about the order they play these guys.
If I wanted to evaluate showers I would play him first, with 1st teamers for us and opposing team, then you can see how he would do .
They dont need to evaluate wheedon, I think they keep him no matter what, and he might do better playing against lesser defense later in game.
They dont need to evaluate romo, he just needs practice and it doesnt matter when he plays as long as starting linemen play with him.

I liked showers ability to run and his passing was ok, but hard to evaluate when he is playing late in game.
So that is a flaw to me.

I think they will have to play Weeden more this next game and do so with the first team. He's the incumbent backup. Now if they have lost confidence in him then they might go with Vaughn early or even first. It will be hard for them to play Showers with the first unless they split a quarter+ with Vaughn and Showers.

They might even want to let Showers stand with Romo and learn from there which might hide the guy from the rest of the league.

They could put Vaughn on the PS and keep Showers on the 53.

Tough decisions to make.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I think either Vaughan or Showers would make it to the practice squad.

Any team could have signed Shower a couple of months ago if they really wanted him.

Another team would have to cut a QB that they've been developing in their scheme in order to sign one of these guys to their 53.

This is the part that most people just don't get. Unless he shows enough that another team believes he can turn into a starter down the road or at least one of the better back up QBs in the league, they just aren't going to bring in a QB who spent no time learning their system during the offseason, after the 53 cut down. Projects like Showers and Vaughan are on several teams, and while either could turn into something, neither has shown anything close to what a team would want to see in order to make room on their 53 man roster.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

"Any team could have signed Showers a couple of months ago if they really wanted him"

True, but that was before they saw reports of him looking like an intriguing prospect with an actual NFL team. And before they got 3-4 chances to see him in live action agaisnt NFL players.

Teams they may have been iffy on him, may change their mind if he looks good for the remainder of Preseason.

Yea, if he plays lights out during the next 3 games sure, but if he plays similar to what he did in the first game, no team is claiming him.

 

[Alexander]

The fact he is covering kicks on STs shows they don't value him very highly as a QB.

A STer that could fill in at QB could be an asset, I guess.

Is he better than McCray covering kicks? If so, train him at safety. Probably would be about the same doing that as a novice as McCray is now.

 

[Alexander]

This is the part that most people just don't get. Unless he shows enough that another team believes he can turn into a starter down the road or at least one of the better back up QBs in the league, they just aren't going to bring in a QB who spent no time learning their system during the offseason, after the 53 cut down. Projects like Showers and Vaughan are on several teams, and while either could turn into something, neither has shown anything close to what a team would want to see in order to make room on their 53 man roster.

People are still sensitive because of the Matt Moore situation.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

People are still sensitive because of the Matt Moore situation.

In the end, did we really miss out on that much?

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Showers and Lucky are two UDFA I would love to see on the 53. Think both have a chance too

 

[Nightman]

In the end, did we really miss out on that much?

Much ado about nothing

 

[conner01]

We aren't carrying 4 qb's
We aren't cutting Weeden
And I suspect showers is going to the ps
Still games to make a decision but as of now Vaughn is still the 3rd QB and its his job to lose
Showers is going to get even less playing time these next couple games

 

[Proximo]

I don't have any special insight or analysis on his play, but if he's a QB who's willing to contribute on special teams (other than holding for the kicker), then I like his attitude.

Obviously he'll need more than attitude to make it, but you can't quantify the value of intangibles. Seems like this kid might know that already.