Orton and the Cowboys Future Beyond Romo

[CowboyMcCoy]

Am I serious? A future without Romo? Well, yes, and no. I think Romo has a good 4-7 years left in his tank. I awed when I saw his potential in the pocket. Off the bat, he reminded me off Brett Favre in some ways. To me it was his psyche. There was something about the way he wanted to win, the cockiness, the swagger--the moxie. Not many knew much of Romo. He didn't come from a big school nor did he have Manning genetics. What he did have was work ethic, confidence and a little patience.

We could all use a little patience.

Romo waited until the right time and really just came in and turned on his game. The teams hasn't looked back much since.

Rightfully so.

Romo isn't without fault. He has his share of doubters. In the modern days we call them haters/trolls. But perhaps the fact he isn't super human is why I am asking this question.

One, how much faith do you have in Orton if Romo goes out for the rest of the season. 3 games? 6 games? et cetera.

Two, what do you see the Cowboys doing, and when, about our future without my beloved Romo?

I know. I know. It's a bit premature, but it's the off-season. Just trying to stir up discussion before the season.

The place has been a ghost town for discussions. I'd like to hear thoughts on this.

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I, too, am a great admirer of Romo's game

and I think if he goes down, it's Orton and we pick up his backup (I hope we do not keep 3 QBs on our roster)--down the road (maybe in 3 or 4 years we will need to draft a QB in the first or second round, especially if one is reachable (to trade up for) we really like

 

[Ren]

7 years is a reach, he might still be playing in 7 years but i doubt he's any good at that point. Depending on whether or not he survives our OL this season i'd say he has 2 to 4 good years left. Within the next few seasons we should try to get his successor inn here so we don't end up in a post Aikman situation again

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

7 years is a reach, he might still be playing in 7 years but i doubt he's any good at that point. Depending on whether or not he survives our OL this season i'd say he has 2 to 4 good years left. Within the next few seasons we should try to get his successor inn here so we don't end up in a post Aikman situation again

7 years might be a reach. Who knows? I do know he has a lot left. And in this day in age players are aging a lot better.

 

[erod]

Romo doesn't have the build that is long for this world NFL wise. I don't see him playing into his late 30s.

I'm a fan of the Green Bay way. Draft a quarterback somewhere in the draft every year, and turn the ones you hit on into high draft picks if you can. Then, when you need one, you'll have one in waiting.

Look at the Packers drafted backups during the Brett Farve era: Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, Matt Hasselbach, Ty Detmer, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn.

Ron Wolf traded those guys for high draft picks except for Rodgers.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Romo doesn't have the build that is long for this world NFL wise. I don't see him playing into his late 30s.

I'm a fan of the Green Bay way. Draft a quarterback somewhere in the draft every year, and turn the ones you hit on into high draft picks if you can. Then, when you need one, you'll have one in waiting.

Look at the Packers drafted backups during the Brett Farve era: Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, Matt Hasselbach, Ty Detmer, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn.

Ron Wolf traded those guys for high draft picks except for Rodgers.

Nice argument, but that's just one team. If every team did that, it'd be a waste of picks. Every position is important. Obviously, quarterback is more important but that goes without saying.

 

[DFWJC]

I'm a fan of the Green Bay way. Draft a quarterback somewhere in the draft every year, and turn the ones you hit on into high draft picks if you can. Then, when you need one, you'll have one in waiting.
.

But not every year, right?
I don't think they do it that way as much any more. They've drafted just 1 in the last 4 years, and that was a 7th rounder.

as for the OP:

I have more confidence in our backup than I do in almost any other in the league. Not long term, but certainly in a 1/2 year or so emergency.
I do not think Orton would be the solution to replace Romo after his days or over though...maybe at most as the final, very short, bridge to the next guy.

 

[RS12]

Orton - two or three games. As far as a replacement, this is a QB rich draft, would not suprise to see one drafted 2013. For those who say they have bigger needs I agree, but QB is the most important position in sports, and you cant depend on a franchise guy being there anytime you want to draft one.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Romo's body has never been great but it hasn't hindered him....he isn't exceptionally fast or quick, yet he has great body control and awareness that allows him to avoid bigger, faster guys and at times make them look silly.

The one physical tool he has that is probably better than 90% of the QB's in the league is his release. He can get rid of the ball as fast as anyone in the game.

 

[AZ_Cowboys_Fan]

Orton is in my opinion the best backup QB in the league. I have total faith in Orton's abilities should Romo go down. No worries there.

I believe we're still 2-3 years away from investing a high draft pick on Romo's replacement. I am perfectly fine drafting someone in the 4th round or later to develop. It appears that McGee is on the way out so we should strongly consider doing that in next year's draft. I wanted Kirk Cousins BADLY in this year's draft and I believe I heard the team had their eye on him as well.

Am I serious? A future without Romo? Well, yes, and no. I think Romo has a good 4-7 years left in his tank. I awed when I saw his potential in the pocket. Off the bat, he reminded me off Brett Favre in some ways. To me it was his psyche. There was something about the way he wanted to win, the cockiness, the swagger--the moxie. Not many knew much of Romo. He didn't come from a big school nor did he have Manning genetics. What he did have was work ethic, confidence and a little patience.

We could all use a little patience.

Romo waited until the right time and really just came in and turned on his game. The teams hasn't looked back much since.

Rightfully so.

Romo isn't without fault. He has his share of doubters. In the modern days we call them haters/trolls. But perhaps the fact he isn't super human is why I am asking this question.

One, how much faith do you have in Orton if Romo goes out for the rest of the season. 3 games? 6 games? et cetera.

Two, what do you see the Cowboys doing, and when, about our future without my beloved Romo?

I know. I know. It's a bit premature, but it's the off-season. Just trying to stir up discussion before the season.

The place has been a ghost town for discussions. I'd like to hear thoughts on this.

 

[Fletch]

I would like to see the team start looking towards the future at QB in the next two seasons. Let him sit for a couple seasons and learn.

 

[koolaid]

If Orton starts more than 3 games for us we will not make the playoffs

The guy is a solid backup but has been let walk from multiple teams for a reason, he turns the ball over way too much.

I would be ok with Orton as our backup for the next year or two, but we need to develop someone with some upside at some point.

 

[KJJ]

7 years might be a reach. Who knows? I do know he has a lot left. And in this day in age players are aging a lot better.

In 7 years Romo won't have the mobility he has now and being able to move around and escape defenders has been a big part of his effectiveness. He's never been a great pocket passer he's a playmaker and for him to be successful he has to be able to move outside the pocket and avoid defenders.

We won't be seeing those Houdini like moves from Romo in 7 years. In 7 years it's unlikely he'll still be the QB of the Cowboys. The team needs to find a solid young prospect to groom for the future because things can change very quickly in 2-3 years.

 

[burmafrd]

anyone thinking Orton is an acceptable starter must have loved Bledsoe.

Orton is not that bad but not a lot better then Bledsoe was his first year here.

 

[DFWJC]

I would like to see the team start looking towards the future at QB in the next two seasons. Let him sit for a couple seasons and learn.

Probably so.

At this point it may be a sliding scale on how high a draft pick you would invest: starting with a later round pick soon and getting earlier as we approach Tony's end days.
It'd be hard to burn a 1st or 2nd rounder on someone sure to sit for his first contract.

 

[Dino]

if we pick early I go with

Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee or
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

other wise I use a 3 rd pick on

Alex Carder, QB, Western Michigan
Height: 6-2. Weight: 224.
Carder has been a prolific passer for Western Michigan and was a 2011 Second-Team All-MAC performer as a junior. He lit up Purdue in his bowl game completing 31-of-57 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns. Carder played well against Illinois and Michigan as well. Against Connecticut, He completed 37-of-51 passes for 479 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions, carrying the Broncos to a road win over the Huskies.

Carder completed 3,873 yards with 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2011. He has a nice arm and is a good decision maker. His senior season will be more difficult without star wide receiver Jordan White.

Carder completed 63 percent of his throws for 3,334 yards with 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He has been extremely efficient for Western Michigan.

 

[KB1122]

The question is, why should you want a good backup? If your quarterback goes down for three games, you soldier through with a running game and hopefully go 2-1 or 1-2. If the quarterback is gone for eight games, you're finished, anyway. You should want to lose and get the higher draft pick at that point. It just seems like a waste of resources, tying into a guy who doesn't contribute most of the time.

 

[Red Dragon]

If your quarterback goes down for three games, you soldier through with a running game and hopefully go 2-1 or 1-2. If the quarterback is gone for eight games, you're finished, anyway.

The 2001 Patriots lost starting QB Drew Bledsoe to injury. Backup QB Tom Brady then led them much of the rest of the way to a Super Bowl title.

The question is, why should you want a good backup?

Would you feel better knowing that your team had a bad backup QB? This question just sounds odd.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Romo has at least five years left IMO. I think we need to draft a QB in 2015.

 

[gimmesix]

If Orton starts more than 3 games for us we will not make the playoffs

The guy is a solid backup but has been let walk from multiple teams for a reason, he turns the ball over way too much.

I would be ok with Orton as our backup for the next year or two, but we need to develop someone with some upside at some point.

I disagree on Orton turning the ball over too much. Other than his rookie season, his interception and fumble numbers have not been bad, so he does a good job of protecting the ball.

However, I do agree that it isn't likely Dallas can succeed for long with him at quarterback. (He's QB rating hovers in the 70s and 80s.) The only way is if the team is strong enough to allow him to simply be a bus driver, and last year, this team showed it wasn't strong enough to support top-notch QB play.