We here at Inside The Star collectively love the Dallas Cowboys and everything about them, and hope that you come to this site for the same reason – in hopes of learning as much as you can about their latest activities.
One such recent activity has Cowboys Nation scratching its head though, Â as the team ended their search for a backup QB to Dak Prescott by signing Mark Sanchez. I broke the news of the Sanchez signing right here, and as you can see even I was not too thrilled about it at the time.
Of course, the Dallas Cowboys have no plans for 2016 that involve Sanchez ever having to take a snap. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at why he is here over some of the other QB options that were available.
Jameill Showers Just Isn’t Good Enough
Starting with the option that was already on the Cowboys’ roster, Jameill Showers did not show enough development this preseason to earn the backup job behind Dak Prescott.
Dallas will already be getting a long look at Prescott, the young quarterback being thrown into the fire and asked to develop in front of our eyes. Should they be forced to move away from Prescott, it needed to be for the sake of bringing in someone that is established.
After the miserable showing that these backup quarterbacks put on in 2015, the Dallas Cowboys simply couldn’t justify a depth chart of Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers.
Showers completed just 29 of his 62 attempts this season, setting a pretty low benchmark for any veteran QB to come in here and perform better with the first team offense that Jameill never had the luxury of working with.
Mark Sanchez Can be that guy, more so than Aaron Murray or Austin Davis
It is important to once again remember that Sanchez is not remotely in the long-term plans for the Dallas Cowboys at quarterback. They still expect Tony Romo to top their depth chart for some time, and have Dak Prescott to develop behind him.
Sanchez is nearly here as insurance to potentially keep the season alive (i.e. play well enough to not lose the game, but not well enough to win it either) for a very short period of time in the absence of Prescott.
This is Tony and Dak’s team, and there is currently no room for a more long-term backup QB solution in an Aaron Murray or Austin Davis.
With both players relatively unproven (Murray has never started a regular season game), the Cowboys would essentially still be throwing a quarterback like Dak Prescott or Jameill Showers on the field should either of these two need to play.
They would be doing so by making us forget that point due to these players’ ages and time in the league, but the results would quickly show that having a guy like Mark Sanchez is the right idea.
Mark Sanchez Actually Fits The Cowboys’ Scheme
At this point, you’re probably saying something along the lines of “Whoa, Sean, I’ve read your film review of the newest Cowboys’ DE Zach Moore, and now you are trying to convince me that Mr. Butt Fumble is a scheme fit in Dallas!?”.
Don’t go anywhere, because that is exactly what I am trying to say. We all expect great things from the Cowboys offense this season surrounding the QB position. Dez Bryant is going to dominate, along with RB Ezekiel Elliott behind the best offensive line in the universe.
Surely this high-octane offense is a quarterbacks playground, and that is what it could be for Sanchez. When I mentioned Mark Sanchez being the right guy to simply not lose games for the Cowboys, I based that decision on the fact that he can get the ball out of his hands quickly and make some simple reads to keep defenses honest.
We have already seen Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan getting creative with some of his formations throughout training camp, and there is a way to scheme Mark Sanchez to success in the silver and blue.
We might not want to think that, but ultimately we would want what Mark Sanchez could bring to the Cowboys if he does indeed have to step onto the field.
The ultimate goal for the 2016 Dallas Cowboys right now is to stay relevant until Tony Romo can take over this football team once again.
Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel, and Kellen Moore fell flat on their faces trying to do this a year ago, but Dak Prescott and Mark Sanchez are the solution. It all starts with Dak attack, followed by the low expectations put on Sanchez in his new role with the Cowboys – which is to basically be better than Matt Cassel, while Dak will have to outperform Brandon Weeden.
I like the chances of both of these players outperforming their 2015 counterparts, and the depth at quarterback is upgraded because of it with Mark Sanchez as the backup.
com’on he can make a different that Mark give that man a chance to be what he can be who has in the cowboy’s history screw it up. Jerry made the whole trusting Rome to lead this team some where an he hasn’t live up to his potential. Yea how long did he get to make up all those throws an how many times has he came up short so give Mark Sanchez his credit for been a quarter-back I do for get yall if you judge the man for his screw on the fumbels so what look at Rome he lost big one an how many times cowboys fans have to be waiting on him to pickup his screw up he should retire but he is Jerry Jones little boy look at the money he spend on him an for what screw another yrs
This Dak Prescott guy on the Cowboys is pretty good too.
Since you put it like that.? But let’s hope he never sees the field
Agreed, excited to see Dak, and as much of Dak as possible until Romo is truly ready to go again. Thank you for reading, Mario.
I agree that Sanchez was the best option. Cap-wise and experience-wise he fits the bill. Yeah, the guy turns it over too often but let’s hope Dak does well enough and stays healthy so we don’t have to even see Sanchez. Julian, who is this Rome guy you’re talking about? Jim Rome?
Yeah, the turnovers are by far the worst part of Sanchez’s game. Been some inexcusable ones throughout his career. Like you said, hopefully he doesn’t play, and if he does, hopefully the running game can help him get into favorable down and distances to limit those turnovers. We’re talking best case scenarios for a QB4 though.
True, but I still think Jerry should have given Michael Vick a call…… Saying just….
The Michael Vick that you would want (the electrifying one that would probably be unstoppable with Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas offensive line) just doesn’t exist anymore, or else the Cowboys likely would have called.
I agree let’s give Sanchez a chance n remember the playoffs with the Jets when he came in. Thanks
You want Sanchez to start over Prescott?
Time to take a realistic look at Tony Romo’s health. In the last three years he has shown that his body may have reached the point where it can’t hold up to the terrible pounding of the pro game. He is a brave guy but I feel like his time has come to either retire or assume a lesser role. If he really can come back and be the guy, great, but I think it is time for the Cowboys to move on.
As one of the biggest Romo fans out there, I agree with essentially all of this, except for the fact that the team should move on from Romo. Romo will decide when it’s his time to move on from his team, whether that is smart of not. Thank you for reading.
Realy hope Tony has two seasons left in him, Dak won’t be preseason Dak but a vast improvement at qb2, I honestly feel that big blue will win 5 games or more sans Romo and get a first round bye if he can manage to finish the season. For all the Romo haters look to see how he was tackled before saying he should retire
Two seasons is about where I’m at for an optimistic outreach. More focused in on each week until his 2016 return though, and a chance for him to do something special if he comes back to a team that is in contention. Might not be too hard in the NFC East. Thank you for reading!
I read this today (9/8/16) on ESPN
“Running behind a line stacked with All-Pros, Cowboys back Ezekiel Elliott is taking aim at Eric Dickerson’s single-season rookie record.”
The guy hasn’t run for 1 yard yet!
Cart before the horse hype!