Dallas Cowboys: Why Ryan Fitzpatrick Can Replace Romo
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys should seriously consider signing Ryan Fitzpatrick as a backup quarterback this season. Here’s why…
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a quarterback. A backup quarterback. With the sudden retirement announcement from Tony Romo yesterday, they are left with a massive hole on their roster. Earlier this offseason the Dallas Cowboys re-signed Kellen Moore to 1-year deal. Raise your hand if you feel good about him as you’re No. 2 quarterback. Alright Boise State fans, you can put your hands down.
Having played for Dallas coordinator Scott Linehan his entire career, Moore is not without value. His experience in Detroit and now in Dallas, make Moore an expert in Linehan’s and Jason Garrett’s offense. But with limited physical ability and questionable size, Moore is the kind of guy you want at No. 3, not No. 2. For that reason, the Dallas Cowboys would be wise to continue their search for quarterback depth.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Bluntly put, Ryan Fitzpatrick is not an NFL starting quarterback. Despite starting for the last nine seasons, most of the NFL finally sees that of the Harvard grad. Fitzpatrick is a journeyman with experience in multiple systems and with multiple players.
Having played in six different cities throughout his 12 NFL seasons, Fitzpatrick knows a thing or two about football and has the proven cognitive capacity to pick things up quickly and apply them if necessary.
As if the Harvard education isn’t enough to prove his smarts, Fitzpatrick also recorded the third best Wonderlic score in the NFL. So it wouldn’t be absurd to think he could pick up Garrett’s brand of Air Coryell offense in no time, if given the chance.
Nope, the problem with Ryan Fitzpatrick has never been his intelligence. Never been his work ethic either. He’s a great teammate, leader, and member of the community. The problem with Ryan Fitzpatrick has been his vision, and at times, his decision making.
SB Nation’s New York Jets website, Gang Green Nation, did a good job of summarizing the issues plaguing Fitz. All too often Fitzpatrick will fixate on a target and force the issue. Other players will be open but he simply doesn’t see them. While some quarterbacks are blessed with amazing vision, Fitzpatrick is not. The thing that makes him so frustrating is he also makes spectacular plays. Which explains why he made so much money as a starter over the years.
Ryan Fitzpatrick may be frustrating player to have as your primary signal caller, but he’s perfect as a backup. 12-years into his career, and at the age of 34, Ryan Fitzpatrick likely knows his days as a starter are done.
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Fit on the Dallas Cowboys
On the Dallas Cowboys he would give Dak Prescott a reliable and capable presence in relief. Together with Kellen Moore, the Cowboys would have one of the most intelligent quarterback corps in the NFL. In return the Cowboys would give Fitz something he’s never had before – a good team.
Yesterday we discussed whether Robert Griffin III would be a good fit at backup quarterback in Dallas. We mentioned the timing-based element to the system and how passers needed to anticipate the breaks of their receivers and deliver the ball to a spot, rather than just throw to the open man.
This is the kind of system Ryan Fitzpatrick fits well. He could fill in if Dak Prescott was ever lost, and he could actually win. With the benefit of a dominant running game, Fitz wouldn’t feel the pressure to do it all himself. That same feeling that made him reckless in New York, Tennessee, Houston, and Buffalo.
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The stability of the Dallas Cowboys together with the intelligence and experience of Ryan Fitzpatrick may be the perfect match. The Cowboys would be wise to kick the tires before it’s too late. Veteran options are drying up and the Cowboys have high expectations heading into the 2017 season.