Dallas Cowboys: Does Back-up QB Even Matter?

The Dallas Cowboys are frantically searching for a backup quarterback to replace the injured Kellen Moore, but does it even matter?

Cowboys Camp has claimed a couple early victims this week. One of the most notable injuries is to backup QB Kellen Moore. Moore, 27, entered camp as the unquestioned backup to Tony Romo. One broken leg later, the Cowboys were left scrambling to replace the team’s most important backup player.

With only uber-raw Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers currently on the roster, the Dallas Cowboys are spending time and resources looking around the league for a viable replacement. Nick Foles already signed with his former coach Andy Reid leaving the free agent market bare bones.

The trade market now appears the most likely solution to the Dallas Cowboys problems. The Cowboys are said to be kicking the tires of a number of established signal callers and seem willing to pay the price if a good enough option surfaces.

But what’s the point?

We know all-too-well what the Cowboys look like without their MVP Tony Romo. We’ve seen firsthand how this offense operates with backups running the show. Last season, Kellen Moore, Matt Cassel, and Brandon Weeden combined to produce only 1 victory in 12 contests.

unless Jason Garrett adapts his offense to suit his backups – this team is Romo or Bust.

It goes without saying, both Weeden and Cassel played poorly last season but in all fairness, their performances weren’t really out of the ordinary. They were average backups who played like average backups. It was tough to watch but that’s what it’s like running an offense without a franchise arm.

The Dallas Cowboys play a brand of football that relies heavily on the QB to make the reads downfield, buy time, and execute with precision. In Jason Garrett’s version of the Air Coryell offense, a superior passer is a must. It’s a system custom built to suit Tony Romo’s strengths and as we’ve seen, it’s nontransferable to a lesser-than.

Some offenses are easy to plug new passers into. The Dallas Cowboys offense is not. Some coaches can adapt an offense to meet the strength of his new QB. Jason Garrett (for whatever reason) cannot.

Regardless who the Dallas Cowboys sign as a backup, they will not be able to save season should Romo fall again. It won’t matter if it’s Josh McCown, Mike Glennon, or anyone else who tickles your fancy. They will not have results much different than what we saw last year.

McCown and Glennon would certainly represent a talent upgrade over last season’s trio of despair, but unless Jason Garrett adapts his offense to suit his backups – this team is Romo or Bust.