Time For The Cowboys To Start Looking For Romo’s Heir
By Kim Dunning
Dec 8, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) walks off the field after defeating the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
It’s almost draft day. Soon our speculations and opinions will either come true or die like the dreams of a Super Bowl win last season. Main focus has been on filling the holes in the defense and some offensive line help but the Cowboys as an organization must begin focusing on the heir to the quarterback throne behind Tony Romo. Most people are following mainstream media’s rumor mill that the Cowboys should snag someone like Johnny Manziel. In all honesty, Manziel wouldn’t fit well with the current offensive scheme and he would want to be a starter fairly soon in the NFL most would assume. The Cowboys have a starting quarterback even if most fans don’t like him, he’s a decent quarterback and isn’t the current problem in Dallas. What the Cowboys need to focus at is finding a successor to Romo, someone who won’t mind riding the bench for 2-3 years before possibly taking over the reigns. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to think outside the box when it comes to drafting and that is what Dallas will need to do if they are going to snag a quarterback in this draft.
One prospect for Dallas to take at the quarterback position would be Georgia’s quarterback Aaron Murray. While some people may view his size as an issue to playing in the NFL he could make a good fit in Dallas strictly based upon his Romo-like tendencies of getting out of trouble. Murray uses his legs to extend plays and has a knack for knowing where the ball needs to be at the right moment. According to scouting reports, Murray has a quick release and is a good decision maker. For those who follow college football and have watched some Georgia games, Murray, like Romo, has experience with having to do it all because of a shabby offensive line. Murray is coming off a knee surgery Murray would be able to sit on the bench and learn the system and plays as he wouldn’t be rushed back into a full-time job as quarterbacking. This would do well for both Dallas and Murray’s career. If Murray is available in the 3rd or 4th rounds of the draft, it might be a smart move for the Cowboys to look at him.
Another prospect for the Cowboys would be Zach Mettenberger from LSU. Again he is coming off a knee surgery so it wouldn’t be too much to ask him to sit the bench for a few years and learn the system. Mettenberger’s stock is rising in the draft but if he should somehow fall to the later rounds the Cowboys should strongly consider him to the successor role to Romo. Mettenberger has the size of a protypical NFL quarterback. Scouting reports on Metternberger have him listed as “one of the strongest arms in the draft”. The downfall to Metternberger is he is slow in the pocket and not as athletic as some of the other quarterbacks and he isn’t all that accurate.
Finally, another quarterback who is likely to fall to later rounds would be Conner Shaw from South Carolina. Shaw would be a good fit in Dallas because he’s tough, has a hunger to win and he is another efficient decision maker on the field. Shaw doesn’t have a strong arm and typically is more comfortable with the short passes. He is mobile and that is a good fit for the current Cowboys team because he can also extend plays by using his feet.
While the Cowboys do not have an immediate need for a quarterback, snagging a quarterback to start grooming behind Romo is a starting to become a dire need. Romo isn’t getting any younger and if the Cowboys don’t act soon to find the heir to the quarterback position, the organization will be left once again in the after Troy Aikman era, and we as fans would like that to not happen again!