As fans, we love to read, watch, tweet, analyze, and do anything we can to get our hands on any possible information about the Dallas Cowboys.
We stream the Cowboys’ war room on draft night, we travel to or watch training camp online, and we salivate over the insight which those close to the organization provide us about events as trivial as OTA’s.
OTA’s are interesting to me.
There are no pads, there is limited contact, and the main goal of the practice time is to keep everyone upright and healthy for when actual football is ready to be played.
With all that being said, I refuse to believe any time the team is together and lining up as an offense or defense is meaningless.
Every day, every practice, every meeting, it all means something.
How much? Well, we will have to wait and see to get a real answer for that. But in the meantime, we can understand and evaluate what the Cowboys are doing as a team, and what each individual is showing the staff en route to position battles and training camp.
This elongated introduction brings me to my main point: Jameill Showers has a real chance as a Cowboy.
The questions surrounding the Cowboys quarterback position have been well documented. Outside of Tony Romo, we don’t really know what we have in place. And to be quite honest, we don’t know how much football our beloved Romo will be healthy enough to play in 2016 and beyond. Hopefully its every game, but we don’t know that.
Considering both the end of the 2015 season and how the current roster is constructed, Kellen Moore would seem to be a shoo-in for the “QB2” job.
Moore saw limited time last year, relieving the horrendous Matt Cassel against the New York Jets, and starting the final two games of the season.
In his first start against Buffalo, Moore showed flashes of being able to move the ball effectively during the first quarter. But, after that first possession or so, the offense sputtered and resembled the awful offense we had seen for the previous Romo-less games.
He moved the ball well against the Washington Redskins, but there are of course questions about how serious that Redskins team was taking their useless week 17 matchup.
Regardless, owner and general manager Jerry Jones enlisted a certain level of trust in Moore when he announced that he would be the backup quarterback going into the offseason.
Jason Garrett has come out and said that while Moore is currently QB2, there is still a competition for the job between him, rookie Dak Prescott, and Jameill Showers. This may just be coach-speak, but after the last week of OTA’s, I do believe there is some truth to this competition.
DallasCowboys.com insider Bryan Broaddus furthered the idea of this competition when he released his notes on the first couple days of OTA’s. He sung the praises of Showers, going as far as to say he has been the second-best quarterback on the field.
Hearing some whispers from those in the know that through two days of OTAs – Jameill Showers has been the second-best quarterback on the field. In watching him during practice, I thought his accuracy and poise were outstanding in the opportunities he received.
Dallas Cowboys writer Jon Machota then went on to question the certainty of Moore’s position on the team, stating that if offensive coordinator Scott Linehan wasn’t on the staff, Moore wouldn’t be on the roster.
This is all shaping up to seem like Showers has a real shot to not only make this team, but possibly fulfill the QB2 role in 2016.
Showers built up some trust and support within the organization last season, as he played anywhere and everywhere the coaches asked him to, even filling a Special Teams role when needed.
The Cowboys announced that Showers would be focusing on being a quarterback this offseason, and would be abandoning his “do it all” type of role. This came as a surprise to most, but Showers may be ready to prove that he can play some quarterback in this league.
Just wondering, am I allowed to keep the same Cowboys pet cat as I had last year (Jameill Showers), or do I have to find a rookie?
— Dan Turner (@dtsturner) May 26, 2016
The problem for Showers is simply the numbers game of the depth chart.
Dak Prescott is going to have a spot on the team considering where he was drafted this year, and Kellen Moore has been in the system and has some real game experience. And, of course, Tony Romo is going to be on the roster come September.
The odds of the Cowboys carrying four quarterbacks are slim-to-none, which may make Showers the odd man out. But if he can continue to impress the way he has during OTA’s come training camp and preseason games, he will have a real shot at making this roster.
I try to remain objective in all of my analysis, but I am definitely rooting for Jameill Showers to make a real push for the QB2 job this season.
Kevin Brady: I keep interpreting this type of article as someone not liking Kellen Moore and not believing he can be effective as the 2nd team QB. This article also seems to be a lot of wishful thinking. I have said that there is no way Showers or Prescott are going to beat out K Moore for the 2nd team QB position unless one of them is the next franchise or elite type QB and is a very quick learner. They would need to demonstrate skills/abilities similar to the level R Wilson did in his rookie season. They are still learning and developing and have limited experience in the Dallas offense or game situations. Showers has played in one preseason. K Moore on the other hand has been in the NFL for four years, has played for two teams, has played in four preseasons, has improved each year in the NFL, knows the Dallas offense/playbook well, has started in season games in the Dallas offense, and has worked with S Linehan for two plus years and has his confidence. Also, even though K Moore did not win any games in 2015 he actually played fairly well if you factor in it was his first time playing against first team defenses and he had limited reps to get ready. The Dallas coaches evidently think K Moore can get the job done and improve on his 2015 performances as they have made him the 2nd team QB going into 2016 and did not bring in a veteran to compete with him. Why don't you write an article about why the coaches have a certain level of confidence in Kellen Moore and why there is a slim chance Showers or Prescott could end up being the 2nd team QB? If Showers is doing well in OTAs that is fine to comment on that but don't conduct wishful thinking and very unlikely speculation which IMO is a put down of K Moore and his skills/abilities.
Saw the Broaddus OTA tape olf day 3. Moore looked just fine. Competition…no problem. Whoever gets the job needs to earn it, however Moore is the man to beat on several levels…eg experience, knowledge of the playbook. Biggest backup arm in the NFL…no, but I believe he more than compensates in his accuracy, ability to read defense and more. Not that I would want a Romo injury…but that aside I believe we're going to see the needed corrections (interceptions) and some really terrific stuff from # 17. A fan…yeah, I am, but aren't you a Showers fan? My reasoning is the OTA, camp and preseason that Moore will have unlike last year. If he doesn't do well given those opportunities, then sure…but I believe his qualities are going to come together and display the "it" factor the FO is talking about.
I agree with you that Moore is currently the man to beat. He has some game experience and a year in the system. However, I still want to see want Showers or Prescott can bring to the table during the preseason before any decisions are made.