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The Dallas Cowboys have one emerging problem on the field, and it’s becoming clearer with each preseason game.
The Dallas Cowboys are getting close to what will be a make or break season for the franchise. There’s a lot of hope surrounding the team, thanks to having a new leader in Brian Schottenheimer, but Schottenheimer isn’t going to have much time to turn this franchise around. For a team like the Cowboys, who are considered “America’s Team,” expectations are high, and the team has fallen short for too long.
So, Schottenheimer, quarterback Dak Prescott and company are on a mission to become one of the strongest teams in the NFL once again. Last season, Prescott spent much of the year out with an injury, so the team had to rely on their backup quarterbacks, both of whom have left the team. So, the Cowboys are putting their trust into backup quarterback Joe Milton if something with Prescott happens again.
Well, the Dallas Cowboys went up against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, August 16, and fell with a final score of 31-13. The most concerning part, though, was Milton’s performance.
The Dallas Cowboys Have a Problem
Let’s hope Prescott doesn’t get injured again, but if he does, it could be a problem. In a piece published on Saturday, August 16, following the loss to Baltimore, Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports sums up the Cowboys’ biggest problem perfectly in three words.
He says the team has a “backup quarterback problem.” That certainly seems to be the case.
“It’s obvious the Cowboys have a backup quarterback problem,” he adds.
Despite Milton’s rough performance on Saturday, Schottenheimer says he’s not worried.
“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned,” he said following the game in a conference. “We didn’t get into rhythm offensively. What we did in the first half against the Rams, I think we came out a little bit of a different mindset in terms of trying to run the ball. They got him.”
Schottenheimer added, “They fooled him a little bit on the safety on the third-down there. We were trying to get the ball out of his hand fast. They showed down one side and brought the blitz from the other side, and it just spooked him. He’s got to try to throw that ball away, and his feet were kind of talking to him.”
Dallas Cowboys Coach Brian Schottenheimer Won’t Scapegoat Quarterback
The head coach also said that he wasn’t going to scapegoat Milton. He’s obviously not the only one on the field.
“It wasn’t just Joe. We have to be able to run the ball better,” he said. “We have to be able to take care of the ball. He throws the ball with a lot of tempo. I thought [fullback] Hunter [Luepke] had a ball he could have made a catch on.”
He added, “Again, you hit a couple of those things it gets you going. Sometimes you need somebody to help you make a play. I don’t think we did a great job of that.”
The Dallas Cowboys traded for Milton during the offseason after letting Rush walk. Their other quarterback is Will Grier. While it’s certainly a concern to see the kind of backup quarterback situation the Dallas Cowboys are facing, they’re not the only team in the NFL in this situation. Hopefully Prescott can stay healthy this season and keep up the good stats, because if not, the outcome will be a question mark.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
