The Dallas Cowboys will reportedly start Matt Cassel at quarterback in Week 7, following their bye-week. Brandon Weeden has started three straight games for the Cowboys in place of the injured Tony Romo (clavicle), but those three starts led to three straight losses and a 2-3 record for Dallas. The team has now decided to bench Weeden in favor of Cassel, which is definitely the correct decision given Weeden’s performance as a starter thus far.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy has played in four games this season since taking over for Romo during the Cowboys Week 2 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas held on to win against Philly, but then went on a three game skid. In the four games in which Weeden has played, which includes three starts, he has thrown for 739 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. He has been accurate (72.4% completion percentage), but he simply can’t throw the ball downfield, and the Cowboys’ offense hasn’t looked particularly threatening with Weeden under center. Dallas needs to do what they can to steal some games until Romo returns. The only problem is the Dallas Cowboys starting Matt Cassel at quarterback won’t solve their issues.
Don’t get me wrong. Weeden certainly doesn’t look like a quarterback that will lead his team to victory week in and week out. He has now lost eleven straight starts, and Cassel is the better quarterback of the two. But the Cowboys have other areas of concern and Cassel isn’t good enough to make up for those deficiencies.
With wide receiver Dez Bryant still sidelined with an injured foot Dallas lacks a true big play receiver. While the Cowboys lacked big play ability with Weeden under center, it is possible it will be more of the same with Cassel at quarterback with Bryant still out and no other receiver stepping up to be a legitimate down field threat. Tight end Jason Witten certainly is incredibly talented, but he doesn’t exactly take the tops off of defenses, and if teams double the talented tight end the Cowboys don’t exactly have a plethora of receivers stepping up to make big plays. This is a concern regardless of who is under center.
With DeMarco Murray, who led the league in rushing last season, signing with Philadelphia this offseason, running back was a huge concern coming into the season for the Cowboys. And with Lance Dunbar lost for the season with a torn ACL it is now even more of a question mark. Head coach Jason Garrett believes the position is a big enough concern that he is reportedly considering making a change.
Neither Joseph Randle nor Darren McFadden have really struck fear into opposing defenses this season. Combined they are averaging only 106.2 yards per game, and with the passing game not exactly lighting the world on fire, the Cowboys backfield needs to produce more. Reportedly, it is possible that Christine Michael will get the start in Week 7 when Dallas travels to play the New York Giants. Time will tell if that move ends up making a difference, but for now the ground game is not providing enough support.
The Cowboys aren’t exactly tops in the league in defense either .They are allowing an average of 349.4 total yards per game (14th) and 26.2 points per game (21st). They are OK against the run, allowing 95.2 yards per game (ninth), but they struggle against the pass, allowing 254.2 yards per game (19th). In Week 3 Dallas allowed the Atlanta Falcons to score 39 points and secure a come from behind victory. In Week 4 Dallas allowed a hurt Drew Brees to throw for 359 yards and two touchdowns as the New Orleans Saints got their first, and so far only, win of the season.
Dallas had to make the move to Cassel because it simply wasn’t working with Weeden, and if they’re not careful the NFC East, as poor as it has been this season, could be out of reach by the time Romo (who can return Nov. 22) is back on the field. The issue is they simply have too many deficiencies to overcome, especially when they are missing key pieces like Romo, Bryant and Dunbar for this change to actually make a difference when it comes to winning the division or making the playoffs.
