Cooper Rush won his only start as a quarterback in the NFL. He led the Cowboys to a victory a season ago on the road against Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. He will now be tasked with leading the team for, at minimum, the next four games while Dak Prescott recovers from thumb surgery.
Rush threw the ball 40 times in week 8 last year, completing 24 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns. It is a small sample size, and the offense surrounding him was one of the best in all of football. I would be lying if I sat here and told you I think Rush is going to step in and be super productive; I mean, he went undrafted for a reason. I think he can win football games as he did a year ago, but asking him to try and keep them afloat until Prescott returns might be too much.
I made a post yesterday about the lack of rushing attempts for Ezekiel Elliott when he only had 10 for 52 yards, averaging over five yards a carry. There is no reason they shouldn’t have kept feeding him the football, and they might not have a choice for the next few weeks. The problem is teams now know that with the lack of firepower on the outside and no Prescott, they have almost no option but to run. Rush may get Michael Gallup back in week three but will probably be on a snap count.
Rush took the practice field yesterday for the first time as QB1 for Dallas. Many starters spoke about him, and Zack Martin said he keeps to himself a little but has that fire. “When he comes to the huddle, he commands it,” he said. I want to believe in Rush so bad, and if it were last year, I would after he got a win on the road. I just don’t see him being able to do much with the offense without Gallup and the others.
Maybe it was a lousy week, and not playing together in the preseason had something to do with it, but I don’t believe much will change, I hope I’m wrong.
“Cooper is a quiet guy. Keeps to himself a little bit but he does have that fire. When he comes in the huddle, he commands it.” #Cowboys RG Zack Martin says Cooper Rush’s confidence spreads throughout the huddle bc he knows exactly what is going on based on his time in Dallas
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) September 14, 2022
Slow the game down for Rush; Zeke said it himself yesterday, “we just got to commit to it. “We got to wear on the defense,” Elliott said. He doesn’t know what the number needs to be, but he thinks only getting ten carries is not enough.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, who had 10 carries for 52 yards on Sunday: “We just got to commit to it. We got to wear on the defense.”
Elliott said he doesn’t know what the number needs to be, but he definitely thinks they have to commit to running the ball. 10 runs is not enough
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 14, 2022
Prescott did not go on IR, leaving the door ajar for him to be rushed back to keep the fans interested. (Not a good idea). Whether it is four, six, or eight games that we see Rush, I would be happy if he won two out of the following four games. I am not sure he can beat the Bengals even at home; Joe Burrow looked terrible last week, but I’m not sure Dallas will score enough points. The defense will feast on their bad offensive line but see that as a loss.
The Giants and Washington, the two games that follow, are a coin flip. I am not worried about Daniel Jones; Saquon Barkley will probably run all over the Dallas defense. Carson Wentz does not put any fear into my eyes, but they are something the Cowboys are not, and that is healthy. Does Prescott return for the Rams game or at the Eagles? We will have to wait and see and hope Rush can put something together for the time Prescott is out.
If CR is EVER going to prove to the NFL that he belongs in this league the time has come!! I have been a big critic of Rush and I personally don’t think that he can play at a high level in this league BUT if for some reason he comes in and starts winning ball games (which I hope he does) I will gladly apologize!! Last year when he beat the Vikings he had AC and CW so this time is going to be a lot tougher! The bottom line is this Organization has been managed poorly simply by putting all the money in a few players that are not preforming and not being able to bring in better players to fill needed positions! Maybe just Maybe I’m wrong and The Boys can prove a lot of people wrong! One more thing: if and when coach M gets the axe it’s not going to be DQ next , it’s going to be the dude that is standing back in the shadows who is taking a little vacation playing golf and spending time with the family : how many out there in Cowboy land know who I’m talking about??
Ed, I think you are talking about Sean Payton. If it happens, will be DP’s third HC in seven years. Hmm?
Most times CR has looked below average, and then for some reason, there were times when he actually looks pretty good. Now with that said, most of his playing time has been in preseason, outside of last year’s regular season MN game where he looked very decent, and put up a W.
Bottom-line, if they run the ball more (and they will probably do), which many here are commenting for, Bengals will stack the line. Then CR will have to produce if they have any chance to win the game. Bengals will be chomping at the bit after their “bad” loss.
Bookmakers have the game at Cowboys +7.5, but surprisingly, prior to the Cowboy/Bucs game Sunday, Cowboys were actually a slight favorite, at -2. Does this almost 10-point swing in the spread too much or is it commensurate with this QB switch.
Cowboy Fan Ed I sure hope you’re talking about Sean Payton. If he does eventually take over as HC, it would mean the end of the line for that overrated idiot Kellen Moore.
Yep Vam and LCB you guys guessed it but of course it comes at no surprise!! When we were looking for a coach I was all in on MM but after a few seasons and the talent he has had I thought we could have went further in the playoffs! I will say this though if he can guide us out of the mess we are in now and get us to the post season with the injuries we have maybe ole MM is for real ! Only time will tell!