Ehsan Azad
Training
Camp Preview: Overall and Quarterbacks
It’s that time again.
Football season is cranking up and the camp doors open for all 32 NFL teams. That
means it’s time to analyze America’s Team from every possible angle without me
even being there.
Every team has high
expectations every year when camps begin to open up. But, for the Dallas
Cowboys, those expectations seem to intensify every season, a rabid fan base
yearning to be football’s best. The metroplex has recently been a bit laid back
on jumping on the cowboys for their lack of postseason success, thanks to the
Rangers and Mavericks playing for championships the last two years. But, only
winning one playoff game in the last 16 years isn’t going to stop the critics
from putting the team on the hot seat every year. This year’s squad seems built
for a deep postseason run though, as Owner Jerry Jones has made sure he stock
piles this team with talent all across the board. The question is if Jason
Garrett can coach them to their full potential. It’s going to be interesting to
watch this training camp and to see how good or bad this team really is. For the next few weeks this blog will analyze
the certain positions and position battles that will occur in training camp and
my take on where this team is going.
First up is the most important
position on the team. The NFL is a quarterback driven league and an elite
caliber quarterback is what will help a team win a championship. I personally
believe that the Cowboys have that kind of player on their team. Tony Romo
continues to prove to his critics that he will put up the big numbers and lower
his interceptions every year. Yes, he does throw that back breaking pick at the
wrong time, but that is what makes Romo a great player. He plays reckless, but
it helps him win games as well. With the right pieces around him, he is
destined to make a deep playoff run. Tony Romo is the unquestioned starter and
leader of the franchise for years to come.
Picking up Kyle Orton
was pure genius by the Cowboys personal staff.
For the last few years, Romo has had older veterans be his backup and
some were good and some were awful. Brad Johnson was the awful one. Jon Kitna
proved he could be an effective back up, but his age caught up with him. Orton
gives you a starting caliber QB that can be ready to go in at any time and he
will keep the ship afloat. Of course he won’t ever beat out Romo for the job,
but he is an excellent insurance plan.
Stephen McGee really
frustrates me. I never thought he was that good and he hasn’t really grown into
much since he arrived from College Station. He seems to be stuck in that number
3 position for a long time and I don’t see him beating out Orton anytime soon.
There is also a fourth quarterback on the roster named Rudy Carpenter but it is
unlikely he will make the squad. In fact, both McGee and Carpenter could be
both cut in order to make room for more linemen or corners, two glaring weaknesses
from last year.
So, in a short summary,
the Cowboys are set with Quarterbacks. I see the Cowboys keeping Romo and Orton
on the roster. I predict that Romo will throw over 4,500 yards and at least 40 TDS
to about 15 INTs this year. Romo will be in the conversation for MVP.
Next Week we will focus
on Running Backs.
