Question for those old enough to remember Staubach's rookie year (compared to Henson)

[TruBlueCowboy]

I guess you'd have to be in your mid-50's to have been old enough to fully appreciate Staubach's career from day one, and I'm sure we have some lifelong Cowboys fans here who can claim that.

I was just wondering, seeing as how Staubach had a similar path as Henson, how rusty did Staubach look the first few years? I know Staubach had a chance to play in a few Cowboys training camps, but wasn't he also out of football longer than Henson? Staubach also had a coach who was as tough on his QBs as Parcells.

The stats show Staubach as not really picking up significant numbers until his 3rd year, and boy was it a whopper!

Is it unfair to compare Henson to Staubach? I know Captain Comeback is a one in a million player who also had more college experience, but the big reason for spending a 3rd on Henson was that he was allegedly a candidate for a #1 overall pick at one point in his college career which in my opinion, would place him up there with a Heisman winner like Staubach. Should we expect Henson to progress at a rate similar to Staubach? For you longtime Cowboys fans, did Staubach, at one point, look as hopeless as Henson?

 

[cobra]

Well, Staubach is the best ever. So its hard to compare. But for the sake of discussion, I think the difference is what occurred in his layoff. Henson played baseball, which may have adversely effected his throwing motion. It might take Henson more time to re-adjust because he has to re-train his twitch muscles.

That is my completely baseless opinion.

That being said, I really think there is something to the 3 year rule. This just Henson's second year. If he isn't ready to seriously play next year, then he should be gone. Right now I think it is too early to give up on him. This season of practices, maturity, and then another off-season, I think he should be ready. If he isn't, he will be gone.

 

[Doomsday101]

I guess you'd have to be in your mid-50's to have been old enough to fully appreciate Staubach's career from day one, and I'm sure we have some lifelong Cowboys fans here who can claim that.

I was just wondering, seeing as how Staubach had a similar path as Henson, how rusty did Staubach look the first few years? I know Staubach had a chance to play in a few Cowboys training camps, but wasn't he also out of football longer than Henson?

The stats show Staubach as not really picking up significant numbers until his 3rd year, and boy was it a whopper!

Is it unfair to compare Henson to Staubach? I know Captain Comeback is a one in a million player, but the big reason for spending a 3rd on Henson was that he was allegedly a candidate for a #1 overall pick at one point in his college career which in my opinion, would place him up there with a Heisman winner like Staubach. Should we expect Henson to progress at a rate similar to Staubach? For you longtime Cowboys fans, did Staubach, at one point, look as hopeless as Henson?

Well Roger was on the team in 69 and did not win the job until 71 and that was on an established team it was not as if Roger entered the picture on a 5-11 team we had played in the championship game and had quality players around him but that did not change the fact Roger was rusty his 1st couple of years. Thank God we did not give up on him

 

[Eddie]

Roger was also a 4 year starter at Navy and won the Heisman Trophy.

Hensen played 8 games in college.

Big difference.

 

[Doomsday101]

Roger was also a 4 year starter at Navy and won the Heisman Trophy.

Hensen played 8 games in college.

Big difference.

No doubt about it but it does not change the fact Roger was away from the game and when he got to Dallas as a player he went through some rough spots most did not talk much about it because the Cowboys were winning with Morton. In Roger's 2nd year he was throwing ints not being able to make quick reads and tended to take off to quickly. Thankfully Landry showed patients with Roger

 

[Jimz31]

Roger was also a 4 year starter at Navy and won the Heisman Trophy.

Hensen played 8 games in college.

Big difference.

Exactly....

That is just another thing that gets me about all of the people that are even remotely convinced that he is the future....they honestly don't have ALOT of info to go on....so he "played in" over 25 games in college....coming in off the bench isn't the same thing.

About Roger Staubach.....did he not also have the playbook in addition to joining the team during TC, etc. Roger KNEW what he was going to do when he got out of the military.

You can't compare the two....it's ridiculous to even try. Henson....is NO Staubach.

I understand that you aren't "comparing" them as players, but using the layoff as a basis.....but the differences are huge.

 

[Doomsday101]

Exactly....

That is just another thing that gets me about all of the people that are even remotely convinced that he is the future....they honestly don't have ALOT of info to go on....so he "played in" over 25 games in college....coming in off the bench isn't the same thing.

About Roger Staubach.....did he not also have the playbook in addition to joining the team during TC, etc. Roger KNEW what he was going to do when he got out of the military.

You can't compare the two....it's ridiculous to even try. Henson....is NO Staubach.

I understand that you aren't "comparing" them as players, but using the layoff as a basis.....but the differences are huge.

I don't compare the 2 player only the situation and as a person who watched Roger entire career with the Cowboys he was very rusty coming to Dallas and that was on a winning team, now did Henson come into a situation where the talent level was of playoff caliber? I don't think so it is much easier on a QB when you walk into a winning situation and Roger did but that did not change the fact that it took Roger time before he could take over as a starting QB for Dallas.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No player is comparable to any other IMO. Every situation is different. The bottom line is this. Any QB with talent is going to get 3 years to develope in the NFL. If not, they get cut in there first. Purcells and Jerruh have both stated that Henson will get the time. If he didn't have something, he would be gone. What's the point of contention here? He'll get what any other QB gets and why wouldn't he?

Honestly, I don't see the problem here. The guy is not the Anti-Christ. He's a young football player trying to get better. What has this guy done so wrong that so many hate him so? Why does this guy not deserve a chance? I don't get it.

 

[rw54]

While in the Navy, I think Staubach spent his two week leaves in the summer with the Cowboys. He threw the football almost every day on the carrier he was based on, I seem to remember. Even though he wasn't playing he wasn't "away" from the game mentally or throwing wise. He also had Tom Landry as his coach. Coach Landry could pile up yardage with Steve Peuller at QB. IMHO Henson is not in exact a boat as Roger The Dodger. I really wish that Coach Landry were here to develop our QB's now.

 

[Next_years_Champs]

While in the Navy, I think Staubach spent his two week leaves in the summer with the Cowboys. He threw the football almost every day on the carrier he was based on, I seem to remember. Even though he wasn't playing he wasn't "away" from the game mentally or throwing wise. He also had Tom Landry as his coach. Coach Landry could pile up yardage with Steve Peuller at QB. IMHO Henson is not in exact a boat as Roger The Dodger. I really wish that Coach Landry were here to develop our QB's now.

Roger also played for a semi-pro team in the Navy, I believe it was in Pensacola but it could have been at another Navy Base. They had a football team which played in a semi-pro league. Starbach really played football in one way or another for his entire 4 year committment to the Navy.

Edit: To address the question about Rogers first years as a Cowboy, when Roger got playing time he didn't start out great.

Roger made all the mistakes inexperienced QBs make, he held the ball to long because of indecision or poor defense reading. He tried to force the ball into coverage and often overthrew his recievers. He relied on his running ability to bail himself out too much and often sacrificed his body for firstdowns or touchdowns. It was Rogers third year before I could see the light come on for Roger, although I knew from the beginning he would be successful he didn't become a real offensive threat until he learned the pro game.

In the beginning because I had followed Roger's career in college I knew he would be a quality pro QB, but at the pro level he definitely struggled and made all the classic mistakes for the first couple of years.

 

[joseephuss]

No player is comparable to any other IMO. Every situation is different. The bottom line is this. Any QB with talent is going to get 3 years to develope in the NFL. If not, they get cut in there first. Purcells and Jerruh have both stated that Henson will get the time. If he didn't have something, he would be gone. What's the point of contention here? He'll get what any other QB gets and why wouldn't he?

Honestly, I don't see the problem here. The guy is not the Anti-Christ. He's a young football player trying to get better. What has this guy done so wrong that so many hate him so? Why does this guy not deserve a chance? I don't get it.

I don't get it either.

Staubach's situation was very different than Henson. He had the benefit of coming to training camps and working with guys like Meredith and Morton as opposed to working with Vinny or Bledsoe. He also got to work with Landry who I think was a better offensive coach than Parcells. That is not a knock on Parcells, just great respect for Landry.

I think Staubach came into a better situation than Henson. But we all know Staubach is one of the greatest. He could have come into a worse situation than Henson and he still would have succeeded.

We do not yet know if Henson will develop into a fine player. I don't think we have seen enough to say that he will or won't at this time. We can all hope, but I don't see why some are in a rush to cut him. I could understand it if there truly were some other prospect or even a re-tread worthy of bringing into camp to take his spot, but there is not. Why not let him learn from the #3 spot? That is why I wanted either he or Romo to get playing time at the end of last season. Start the true learning process.

 

[Doomsday101]

Roger also played for a semi-pro team in the Navy, I believe it was in Pensacola but it could have been at another Navy Base. They had a football team which played in a semi-pro league. Starbach really played football in one way or another for his entire 4 year committment to the Navy.

Yet that did not change the fact that Roger was rusty when he got to Dallas in his 1st 2 years when he was given a chance to play he threw 10 ints to only 3 TD passes and that was on a team who was a winning team. If this message board was around back then many around here would be trying to run him off as well.

 

[rw54]

Roger also played for a semi-pro team in the Navy, I believe it was in Pensacola but it could have been at another Navy Base. They had a football team which played in a semi-pro league. Starbach really played football in one way or another for his entire 4 year committment to the Navy.

That's right I forgot about that. I'm going to look for my Staubach book. Was it "First down and a Lifetime to go". or was that Coach Landry's?

 

[Next_years_Champs]

Yet that did not change the fact that Roger was rusty when he got to Dallas in his 1st 2 years when he was given a chance to play he threw 10 ints to only 3 TD passes and that was on a team who was a winning team. If this message board was around back then many around here would be trying to run him off as well.

Yes you are right I went back and added a edit on my first post before I read you reply, just to add my comments to the original thread. But Roger definitely struggled his first couple of years and really even the start of his third year....

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes you are right I went back and added a edit on my first post before I read you reply, just to add my comments to the original thread. But Roger definitely struggled his first couple of years and really even the start of his third year....

I was a big Roger fan just as most Cowboy fans but I do remember the rough times he had and I'm not sure many around here do remember that or just do not want to remember that. I know Roger came to camp and played on the side but that is a lot different than playing the Pro game. I don't know what the future is for Henson but I clearly do not want to see Dallas give up on the kid as of yet

 

[joseephuss]

I was a big Roger fan just as most Cowboy fans but I do remember the rough times he had and I'm not sure many around here do remember that or just do not want to remember that. I know Roger came to camp and played on the side but that is a lot different than playing the Pro game. I don't know what the future is for Henson but I clearly do not want to see Dallas give up on the kid as of yet

Especially since there is no one available that would be better to put in as the #3 QB this season.

 

[Jimz31]

No player is comparable to any other IMO. Every situation is different. The bottom line is this. Any QB with talent is going to get 3 years to develope in the NFL. If not, they get cut in there first. Purcells and Jerruh have both stated that Henson will get the time. If he didn't have something, he would be gone. What's the point of contention here? He'll get what any other QB gets and why wouldn't he?

Honestly, I don't see the problem here. The guy is not the Anti-Christ. He's a young football player trying to get better. What has this guy done so wrong that so many hate him so? Why does this guy not deserve a chance? I don't get it.

I agree.

And what has the guy done to make some hate him so? Nothing....just like every other QB situation that we have had in Dallas.

I never had the faith in him that some do, and that is all fine and dandy....I've never wavered on that. Others do based on his limited playing time.

Give him three years....that's fine with me....but if he is starting in that 3rd year, which is next year, don't expect greatness quite yet....it si actually 3 years of starting for most QB's (per Aikman's own words).

 

[rw54]

Yet that did not change the fact that Roger was rusty when he got to Dallas in his 1st 2 years when he was given a chance to play he threw 10 ints to only 3 TD passes and that was on a team who was a winning team. If this message board was around back then many around here would be trying to run him off as well.

You are right about this. We live in a totally different era now regarding player development. The three year rule of Coach Landry I believe he specifically did not include QB's. Staubach played earlier than most and the organization was very patient. Danny White sat for 4 years I believe.

 

[Rockytop6]

I agree with Next_Year's_Champs. I too had the privilege and pleasure of watching Staubach from day one. Regardless of his experience at the Naval Academy and in semi-pro or whatever it was called while he was in the Navy, Staubach had his problems the same as all inexperienced NFL QBs. In fact, Landry had a hard time deciding on whether to go with Morton or Staubach. Thankfully, he made the right decision.

Landry himself said that it took 3 years, in fact I think he said 3 to 5 years for a Qb to fully develop.

 

[joseephuss]

You are right about this. We live in a totally different era now regarding player development. The three year rule of Coach Landry I believe he specifically did not include QB's. Staubach played earlier than most and the organization was very patient. Danny White sat for 4 years I believe.

Danny White had to sit for 4 years because he was behind the best QB in the league at the time. It wasn't because he was still a young QB learning the position and the coaches were reluctant to play him. Dallas had the luxury of letting him learn while a great QB was leading the team. I think many agree Dallas should have tried to do the same thing while Aikman was around. Bring in a young QB to learn the game.