By: thembIIIeffect
A rookie’s first minicamp surely isn’t any kind of way to judge a player.
But that won’t stop Dallas’ coaches from getting a little excited about Dallas Cowboys’ fourth round pick Stephen McGee.
The former Texas A&M quarterback was labeled as a “project” and was thought to be a backup to backup quarterback Jon Kitna, but McGee has already turned a coaches heads, including quarterback coach Wade Wilson.
According to this article by
With only three games in a pro-style offense while at Texas A&M, McGee was expected to need a great deal of work, but insiders say the former Aggie was stunningly refined in his technique throughout Dallas’ minicamp May 1-3. Coaches, including quarterback coach Wade Wilson, who played the position for 18 years in the NFL, raved about McGee’s poise and accuracy throughout the camp.
It’s nice to hear the word “poise” associated with a Dallas quarterback, isn’t it?
But there are plenty out there who will have their doubts about McGee and plenty other rookie minicamp sensations.
Sure, there have been hundreds of guys who have come out looking like world beaters, but I think that Cowboys GM Jerry Jones knew that McGee had talents that were rarely showcased in Texas A&M’s run-heavy offense.
Still, he might need more time to grow and develop as a quarterback. The great thing is, it looks like McGee will have all the time he needs to grow. With Romo starting and Kitna backing him up, McGee won’t have to face NFL defenses for one year at the very least.
That being said, Kitna’s contract is up at the end of this season.
This is where it gets interesting.
If Jones renews Kitna’s contract or finds another backup quarterback, then McGee could fade into obscurity.
But if Jones doesn’t renew Kitna’s contract and McGee continues to develop and impress his coaches, we could be seeing McGee becoming Tony Romo’s heir apparent as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
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i certainly hope so. this is a kid that had a lot of talent before going to a&m hell. the kid should have been in a pro-style off. all thru college and we’d had him ranked a hell of alot higher then he went. well thats ok for us, cause all the raw qb is there, we just gotta let it work out. this is just what we needed.
He’s even less glorified than was Romo, with the exception of his being drafted, so he’ll be quite a catch if he becomes something.
With a draft like the one we just had, we’re going to have to hope for a lot of “less glorified” players to use your term, KD. We just have to see if there’s talent there. I’m especially hopeful with McGee, though. All the players in that article were selected before McGee, a 4th round pick. Some of those guys were taken in the first round. I’m trying to take it with a grain of salt, but seeing his name on the same list as Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Orakpo and Hakeem Nicks is certainly encouraging.
I like it too — But even as though I’m not (as of yet) very impressed with this year’s draft, last years draft can carry us for this year and even next year, so let’s not forget this and be optimistic going into this season.
How many pro bowlers were on the steeler’s this year?
And don’t count Big Ben, I’m not convinced he’s even all that good of a QB.
And Hines Ward is aging, so he’s probably in on more of reputation…
They were a blue-collar team that came together and got it done. They were great, let’s be honest…
And there it is. War Cowboys.
think this is the start of the cowboy marketing machine trying to sell the draft. Spring workouts mean nothing…nothing I tell you. Even less the preseason when 95% of the players won’t see the field during the season. We took this guy way before we should based on a hunch only and not experience/success. Sure the other positions will be the same and I hope a couple stick. The guy who said this guy was less gloified the Romo are you nuts? Romo wasn’t hardly supposed to make it at all in the nfl. If I am not mistaked he was on the practise squad so anyone could have picked him up?
I’m fine with you saying that the Cowboys could be trying to sell their draft here, Lance. I’m also fine with you saying that spring workouts mean nothing. Although they’re somewhat insignificant-not completely worthless in my mind-I’m ok with you saying that. But what I don’t agree with is you saying that we took this guy on a hunch only. He’s over 60 percent completion for his career, he threw twice as many touchdowns as interceptions (28-13) and he’s a good runner too. The one thing that I look at is Texas A&M’s two wins over Texas in 2006 and 2007. He played huge roles in those games, ‘06 with his feet and ‘07 with his arm:
2006: 18 rushes for 95 yards, 1 touchdown (12-7 win)
2007: 25-of-36 (69.4 comp %), 362 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 int (38-30 win)
Texas/A&M games are the biggest games that McGee played in. He showed up. That’s something we can’t always say about our current quarterback. True, McGee was inconsistent for several games, but that’s why he’s going to be a project. He shows signs of poise and accuracy, and the Cowboys coaching staff will have to pull that out of him on a more consistent basis.
Brian Steward is now with the eagles..guess they wont be the number 1 defense in the NFC anymore..
I’d say tap the brakes on the Stephen McGee talk but I’d rather have them slammed on….
Hey Lance. Look at Romo’s college career — then look at McGee’s. With the exception that McGee was taken in the draft — Who is more glorified?
Walter Peyton award-winner… All-American honors… High ranking in pass-efficiency…
Romo wasn’t a scrub in college dude.
Granted he wasn’t at a “top-tier” school…
I’m sure if they would have taken Romo in the 4th round you would have bitched too — sometimes things like this work, sometimes they don’t. But you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take — or at least that’s what the posters on the elementary school walls say…..
I tapped the brakes all throughout the article, Colorblind. He has to prove a lot. I’m just saying that there could be something there to get excited over. Quit bringin’ me down!
what did they say about roger staubach when he came out of college? hiesman winner, runs great, but a project as a passer? and even when he started to play, landry had to harness him in because as soon as there was abreakdown, in the play or the progression for the reads and checkdowns did’nt come, roger would resort to what he did best RUN. it took time to develop into the great passer that roger became. the word landry always used for roger was RAW talent. he said. “roger just always had a knack for getting it done out there. i saw that out of him in college and early in his first days of camp.” see, landry knew what he was talking about…..even in camp…….don’t give up on romo, and lets see what gifts this mcgee has to offer for the future, you just never know when the next roger shows up?
Coming from the standpoint of someone that watched nearly every game McGee played at A&M, I saw a player with a great passing pedigree ruined by a terrible system over his first 3 years. Twords the end of his time there it was absolutely PAINFUL to watch McGee attempt a pass. I’m sure he looks great in shorts and a T-shirt but I find it terribly hard to imagine him shaking off what Franchione did to him.
I guess I have to tip my hat to ya Colorblind, I’m a little less fortunate in my knowledge of this, it seems.. But I have to reference other players and even other sports here — getting in a different system around different players with different coaches can, sometimes, breed success. More often, in basketball, it seems. But I’ll throw out the first football example that comes to mind — Randy Moss.
A lot of that was his own attitude but don’t be afraid to throw out SOME optimism.
Now, freak out and anoint him king?
Definitely not, you’re right about that.