With Dak Prescott likely injured for the rest of the season, now seems like the perfect opportunity for Trey Lance to step onto the scene. Sure, Cooper Rush is an obvious backup quarterback, but surely, there’s some space for Lance, right? In order for this perfect scenario to play out, the Dallas Cowboys need major adjustments.
Trey Lance Not Likely to See the Field Amid Dak Prescott Injury
What Mike McCarthy Says About Lance’s Chances
Head Coach Mike McCarthy claims that Lance has taken huge steps to being a great passer in football. However, their biggest priority is winning. In order to do that, Cooper Rush, with a 5-1 record as a backup quarterback, remains the best option for the team. Mike McCarthy said this in a press conference on November 5, about Trey Lance playing this season:
“He’s young and needs an opportunity to play, but it’s in-season. We’re competing to win games and Cooper Rush is up next . . . let’s be practical here. Cooper, it’s his opportunity.”
McCarthy goes on to explain that the ones need to practice together, as a unit. This is a new group of guys who still haven’t meshed together. These past few games with Prescott have been rough because there have been so many changes up front. The offensive line performs inconsistently because of the constant injuries. Now adding in a new quarterback only makes it more difficult, which is why McCarthy wants to focus on only having Rush in those live game situations.
How Trey Lance Differs From Cooper Rush
Rush is a consistent passer. He’s going to be more cautious than Prescott down the field but mimics his play style. In fact, when comparing the stats of the two quarterbacks in the Falcons game, they’re highly similar. Rush completed 13 passes for 115 yards. Prescott completed 18 passes for 133 yards. Both quarterbacks got one passing touchdown and even ended the game with similar quarterback ratings–Rush having a 47.8 and Prescott with a 42.5. Even though Rush had fewer completions, they were less about his accuracy and more of a statement about the struggling wide receiver room.
However, Trey Lance is a rushing quarterback. This style is very different than what the Cowboys are used to. Their packages focus on a quarterback that stays in the pocket and uses the protection to make plays. The problem is that the protection for the Cowboys has been crumbling all season. Now is as good a time as any to try anything new. Teams plan for a pocket presence like Prescott. Their same playbooks would probably work against Rush. Yet, those same plays would struggle against a guy with Lance’s talent.
Another Reason to Let the Young Guy Play
Although McCarthy’s concerns center around returning to the Cowboys next season, there’s something the Cowboys haven’t done. They haven’t taken the time to evaluate the product they have in Lance. He could be exactly what the Cowboys need to revive their exhausted offense. Or he could completely be wrong for the Cowboys’ systems.
The problem is, they won’t know unless they see what he’s made of. That only comes from those same live-game situations McCarthy is trying to avoid. Instead, he should use them to see if this guy is even worth a roster spot at minimum. The Cowboys’ main dreams of a winning season are probably over. However, they can still be future-focused and look around the next corner. And that starts by putting Lance on the field.
Main Image: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
