The Dallas Cowboys’ backup quarterback role has been a recurring topic for years now. The current landscape pits Ben DiNucci, Garrett Gilbert, and Cooper Rush against one another for that role. But even past that, it’ll be interesting to see if the Cowboys are content with who they keep as the QB3. After all, last season proved that player could see the field.
Ben DiNucci, Garrett Gilbert, and Cooper Rush battle for backup QB spot
The Cowboys have flirted with quarterback disaster for a very long time now. They struck gold finding Tony Romo as an undrafted free agent. Then, they followed that up by completely lucking into Dak Prescott.
Without Romo’s preseason injury, the Cowboys might not have stumbled upon Prescott’s actual ability. But then-backup QB (now current offensive coordinator) Kellen Moore’s injury earlier that August also played a part in Prescott’s ascension.
Currently, the three potential Cowboys’ backups have combined for 90 regular-season pass attempts. Despite none of them having relevant résumés, it feels clear out of the three who will be the backup. Even if the spot isn’t necessarily chosen by merit, the third spot also feels like a foregone conclusion.
Can DiNucci develop into a serviceable backup?
Well, the action DiNucci’s seen so far in the NFL has him catching strays from adjacent fanbases. That’s not an embarrassment many of us have felt since we watched Nathan Peterman against the Chargers. DiNucci’s sidearm delivery and freely-flowing lower body make for terrific theatre.
However, at some point, the jokes will stop, and beat writers will ask questions. Luckily, the Cowboys will get three more strong looks at DiNucci.
When Prescott went down last season, DiNucci became the backup by default. When he was forced into action, it felt too soon, given what his tape in college looked like. The loose Romo comparisons didn’t help the situation.
What Ben DiNucci showed on tape at James Madison
Dinucci’s playstyle and physical traits are what you want in a modern QB. He’s more athletic than Rush and Gilbert. While at James Madison, he was able to roll out and deliver throws on the run. Due to his athleticism, JMU also used him on designed runs.
From an accuracy standpoint, DiNucci was generally precise to all three levels of the field. When he was able to stand tall and deliver passes, he displayed good ball placement to the short and intermediate areas. He learned to throw with a lower release without raising the nose of the ball on delivery.
His decision-making was mostly fine while at JMU. He definitely forced a few throws here and there his senior season, but the obvious mental mistakes weren’t prevalent.
What we’ve seen from Ben DiNucci as a pro
It’s been a trainwreck so far. Before DiNucci was ready, he was forced into action on a team that couldn’t surround him with enough talent to be competitive. Instead, he was running for his life, and it showed in his play.
Despite not throwing an interception, this was one of the most disappointing passing attacks in modern Cowboys’ history. Beyond the numbers, DiNucci appeared visibly flustered, which carried into a putrid performance in the Hall of Fame Game against the Steelers.
Could DiNucci win the backup job over the next three weeks?
No, absolutely not. DiNucci is strictly a developmental project for head coach Mike McCarthy at this point. Under no circumstance should he be forced into a game during the 2021 NFL season. It would take a miracle turnaround in these next three preseason games to forget about his previous two outings.
It’s also not impossible for him to become a competent backup. The Darren O’Day release causes snickers from fans and folks that cover the game, but DiNucci’s college tape showed potential. There were flashes of outstanding playmaking ability. But in his current state, there’s no hope he’s ready for the role in 2021.
The leader in the clubhouse
It’s easy to tell who should be the favorite to be the Cowboys’ QB2 heading into the NFL season.
Garrett Gilbert, Cowboys eventual backup
Like DiNucci, Gilbert played only one game of duty at the NFL level last year. In his two previous seasons, he had just 5 passing attempts. However, in his live NFL snaps, Gilbert looked like he belonged on the field.
Gilbert played composed and appeared to have a better feel for the offense. It makes sense because he’d played in two prior seasons in the NFL as a backup. Unlike DiNucci, Gilbert inspired confidence in the Cowboys’ fanbase. And because of how he performed against the Steelers, many aren’t concerned with the backup QB situation.
Still, he completed just over 55% of his passes in that game and threw an INT. He can’t create the same way DiNucci can, but he also plays in a way that doesn’t force him to need his legs.
Gilbert is the perfect candidate if you want a more bland, bus-driver style as a backup quarterback. It certainly makes for far fewer hair pulls throughout the course of a game.
Could Cooper Rush beat out Ben DiNucci for QB3?
It doesn’t seem likely, even if Rush is currently the better quarterback. From a physical tools perspective, Rush doesn’t provide the upside that even Gilbert presents. Rush also has the least amount of actual game experience. He’s been a Cowboys’ preseason legend since 2017, but he’s just a camp body at this point.
Rush doesn’t have the juice in his arm to deliver passes into an NFL window consistently. He has good size, but he won’t necessarily shed a rusher to make a play. Nevertheless, Rush is a fine emergency option if everything goes wrong because he knows the offense and probably won’t kill your chances.
Rush won’t beat out DiNucci because he doesn’t have the relationship with the head coach the way McCarthy does with the second-year pro. Rush was part of the old regime, and even though he was signed in December to a contract, it seemed clear that the team needed four quarterbacks heading into camp, and he was a familiar face.
Hopefully, this all stays quiet
We don’t want to need to care about backup quarterbacks. Everybody wants Prescott and QB1s around the league to stay healthy. We want these three QBs to remain in the shadows, but they’re expected to perform when their name is called. And of the three, Gilbert gives the Cowboys the best chance not to lose.