Kellen Moore and his pedigree

[robjay04]

I see a lot of chatter about our backup QB situation and some of it is justified.

First, please look at the backup QBs that have hit the open market(not resigned by their team, followed a coach or signed with a team to compete to start) over the last two years. How many would've been a significant upgrade over Moore? Really, take a second to look at the options and I promise you will realize that a "veteran backup" doesn't really exist anymore. These players usually resign with their teams, follow a coach or they perform above average and sign with a team to compete to start.

The draft was the only option, the team wasn't going to trade their future to move up two spots and we had real interest in Lynch and Cook. It didn't work out, we have Dak and I'm hoping for the best but the team did prioritize it, within reason, during the draft.

Lastly, what is so wrong with Kellen Moore? I watched the same games as you last season. I saw a guy come in and make mistakes but he did move the football and make some plays. Really, what did you expect from a young player starting his first couple games without a team around him? I'm glad we didn't throw a young Romo Out there in a similar situation, we would've run him out of town and signed Brad Johnson to backup Drew Bledsoe. If Moore had a chance to start a game with Zeke Elliott and Dez Bryant mid season, do you think he would be an upgrade over Weeden/Cassell? Based on his play, I do.

I believe his draft status and his pedigree is the main reason so many people are upset that Moore is our backup. If he was a drafted, we would all be intrigued by his play. If Romo goes down, Moore is the best option considering the other realistic options (or lack of) we have had over the course of the last two years. If called upon, Moore is going to come on the field hungry, prepared and ready to prove he can start in this league so he can sign somewhere for a bunch of money when his contract is up. Really, what more can you hope for from a backup QB?

 

[KingintheNorth]

Romo wasn't drafted.

I don't think it's that at all (his pedigree). He is the winningest college quarterback of all time.

It's the fact that he isn't very good.

 

[robjay04]

Romo wasn't drafted.

I don't think it's that at all (his pedigree). He is the winningest college quarterback of all time.

It's the fact that he isn't very good.

Based on his play with us when the best players for our team were sitting out and we had nothing to play for.

I don't think he performs better regardless of skill level in those circumstances. I wish the coaching staff doesn't stick with Cassell for so long.

 

[Zekeats]

Kellen Moore with a running game featuring Zeke is better than anyone else out there with the same running game.
Nobody was winning ball games last year with this team, not even Romo.
We got a gift the first week, beat a horrible team in Philly the second week and then got destroyed by Carolina on thanksgiving with Romo. Romo is not the savior of our team. The running game is and helps Romo out more than anyone. Moore will be just fine if needed for a game or two.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

So, living in Boise and having watched Kellen in person, I may be a bit biased, but he is an ideal #2 IMO. You dont get to be the most winningest QB in college football history and lead your second-tier D1 team to the precipice of a #1 overall ranking and national championship contention without having talent and smarts. In his couple of starts last year, he made some mistakes, no doubt. But he did move the team far better than Weeden and Cassell. Weeden had two training camps under his belt and Cassell multiple weeks. Moore was thrown into the fire with very limited reps with his Dallas teammates. And while he knew Linehan's system from Detroit, that is similar but not the same as Garrett's system in Dallas. Given a full training camp of reps with guys he might actually be throwing to, Kellen can start and win a couple games as well as any #2 QB in the league. He'll never be a #1, bu he's a great #2 and I'm happy we have him to bridge the gap to Prescott (maybe).

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Agree with the premise of the original post.

So many have posted "Jerry said they (Cowboys) were going to fix the backup QB spot– and they didn't."

Other than Colt McCoy, who chose to stay with the Commanders, who was available that's a clear upgrade over Moore?

Moore outlasted two guys who are going to be backups for other teams this season.

 

[Ken]

In his 2nd start of his career...threw for 435 yards and 3 TDs at a 68% clip.

I am fine rolling with him as #2 until Dak is ready.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I agree. The market for backup quarterbacks is usually barren.

Matt Cassel got a deal with the Titans on the first day of free agency. I have no idea what Cassel did last year to earn that, but it deserves mention.

 

[unionjack8]

Agree with the premise of the original post.

So many have posted "Jerry said they (Cowboys) were going to fix the backup QB spot– and they didn't."

Other than Colt McCoy, who chose to stay with the Commanders, who was available that's a clear upgrade over Moore?

Moore outlasted two guys who are going to be backups for other teams this season.

Brian Hoyer ?

 

[robjay04]

Brian Hoyer ?

Brian Hoyer was a UDFA as well, take a look at Hoyers career numbers. I believe Moore couple easily duplicate that at a fraction of the price.

 

[jnday]

They might as well stick with Moore. This team has been made so Romo dependent that they can not win with anybody else. It is a poor way to build a team snd it is entirely the coaches fault. This is a fragile football team.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Kellen Moore with a running game featuring Zeke is better than anyone else out there with the same running game.
Nobody was winning ball games last year with this team, not even Romo.
We got a gift the first week, beat a horrible team in Philly the second week and then got destroyed by Carolina on thanksgiving with Romo. Romo is not the savior of our team. The running game is and helps Romo out more than anyone. Moore will be just fine if needed for a game or two.

What about the Miami game. ....Romo was gifted that one

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Brian Hoyer ?

No... I don't think so.

I've seen Hoyer "blow-up" several times.

I don't see any improvement there.

 

[Idgit]

I like Moore. But we needed to bring in someone to push him in camp and not just hand him the starting job.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

They might as well stick with Moore. This team has been made so Romo dependent that they can not win with anybody else. It is a poor way to build a team snd it is entirely the coaches fault. This is a fragile football team.

I understand your point, but I think last year's plummet had more to do with how awful the backups were; not so much as the team is "Romo dependent". I think if they went with Kellen Moore from the time Romo got hurt, he would have grown into his post. Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel were never going to lead this team to where they wanted to go. Moore knows the system better. I believe Moore would have led the Cowboys to at least a few more wins.

Having said that, yes, Romo is the key. But many teams are over-reliant on their starter. We saw the 2014 Cardinals fall apart without Carson Palmer. The 2013 Packers went 2-4-1 without Aaron Rodgers. It's a quarterback driven league, so it's hard to fault the Cowboys for losing without the most important player on the team (and Dez for a long stretch, too).

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I like Moore. But we needed to bring in someone to push him in camp and not just hand him the starting job.

The challenge is who?

And then you have the issue of splitting snaps...

I think one of Moore's main problems was he came in late and had to split snaps with Weeden/Cassell.

Of all the guys last season not named Romo, Moore made the offense look the best.

I think if he's getting a share of the #1 snaps with Romo this offseason, I think Moore will be that much better.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I understand your point, but I think last year's plummet had more to do with how awful the backups were; not so much as the team is "Romo dependent". I think if they went with Kellen Moore from the time Romo got hurt, he would have grown into his post. Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel were never going to lead this team to where they wanted to go. Moore knows the system better. I believe Moore would have led the Cowboys to at least a few more wins.

Having said that, yes, Romo is the key. But many teams are over-reliant on their starter. We saw the 2014 Cardinals fall apart without Carson Palmer. The 2013 Packers went 2-4-1 without Aaron Rodgers. It's a quarterback driven league, so it's hard to fault the Cowboys for losing without the most important player on the team (and Dez for a long stretch, too).

And what about missing Bryant?

Is this offense too "Bryant dependent"?

Put a healthy Bryant out there and you'll have a better offense no matter who the QB is.

 

[Nightman]

KMoore has gotten the most out of his limited skills......He is a great student of the game but that isn't enough......there is a reason he has been a 3rd stringer his whole career......coaches like JGarrett love him because of his brain and moxie but this the NFL and not the movie Rudy.....if we rely on KMoore as any kind of long-term back-up we are doomed....

In his 2nd start of his career...threw for 435 yards and 3 TDs at a 68% clip.

I am fine rolling with him as #2 until Dak is ready.

We also were losing that game 24-0 against WAS's back-ups and Kellen had 3 more turnovers and 4 sacks....his late TD might have made the 34-23 whooping seem a little closer....

 

[BARRYRAY]

What I see is that other than Romo we are getting younger all over.Romo is like a giant pay day loan that we cannot get rid of.But someday soon we will get a new qb from the two young ones or somewhere.We may have to pay a ransome for them in picks.

My real gripe with the Cowboys is we should draft one say 3 or 4th round every year.The study I read today says overall draft is like lottery and the more picks you have the better your chances.Why not draft one every year until we hit on one.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

And what about missing Bryant?

Is this offense too "Bryant dependent"?

Put a healthy Bryant out there and you'll have a better offense no matter who the QB is.

Right you are, sir. Take the top players off any offense in this league and bad stuff happens.

All I know is, in 2015 we had Matt Cassel, Darren McFadden, and Terrance Williams carrying the offense. This year it's Tony Romo, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dez Bryant. I am stoked for this reason alone.