The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) breaks the huddle during the second half Dallas’ 24-14 win over the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium Sunday, November 22, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (G.J. McCarthy/The Dallas Morning News)
The most important position in football also happens to be the most difficult to fill. Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. The Cowboys are fortunate to have one, but Tony Romo turns 36 next month.
Perhaps they’ll find his heir apparent in this year’s draft. More than at any other time since 2001, the Cowboys have been investigating how they’ll acquire their quarterback of the future.
Since 2009, Stephen McGee, Dustin Vaughan and Brandon Weeden were given opportunities to show if they could be the guy after Romo retires. None is with the Cowboys, and only Weeden is still in the league.
But Dallas is certainly not alone in trying to navigate through this inexact science. The growing popularity of spread offenses in college football makes finding NFL pocket passers even more difficult. Talent evaluators now have to predict how a player accustomed to standing in the shotgun will handle huddling, taking snaps under center and displaying the correct footwork to go through progressions while defenders close in.
During the scouting combine last month in Indianapolis, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett explained what he looks for in the position. A few of the former quarterback’s requirements included passion for the game, character and instincts.
Several other experts at the combine also shared their opinions on finding a franchise quarterback. And like Garrett, the mental side of playing the position seemed to be the focus.
Here are some highlights from other NFL head coaches and general managers who fielded quarterback questions during Q&A sessions last month inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians:
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
“To me, the quarterback position is just about one thing. That’s processing information really fast. If you can process it, I don’t care how weak your arm is or how strong your arm is, you’ll get the ball to the receiver at the right spot, at the right time.”
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman:
“There are guys that I’ve interviewed, and I think this is my 25th combine, that come into our room and you sit there and listen to them speak and it’s like listening to an offensive coordinator. They can get up there and draw on the board and everything you want to do, and boy, is this guy sharp. Now can he translate that and make those same type of decisions and those same type of reads in the two and a half seconds he has to get rid of the ball?”
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden:
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
“You can’t teach poise, and you can’t teach awareness in the pocket, so repetition can only get you so far with certain aspects of the quarterback position. That’s why it’s so hard to find the right one for everybody. You have the great arm and the great arm strength, but there are certain things that have to be accomplished: quarterback leadership, poise, all those things that you can’t coach and won’t know until you throw them in there.”
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien:
“When you’re a quarterback in the NFL, obviously you’re the face of the franchise in many ways. So, you have to be a really bright guy, a hard worker, a good teammate, a communicator, a guy that can talk to teammates from all kinds of different backgrounds and try to bring guys together.”
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson:
“I want to look him in the eye and see if he exudes confidence, if he believes he can stand in a huddle and get 10 other guys to believe that this play is going to score. I want to see that.”
Seahawks general manager John Schneider:
“It’s like speaking another language when you go into that huddle and there’s a number of college kids now [used to looking to the sidelines] and they’re holding up Daffy Duck [play-call] pictures and stuff. Coaches have to teach these guys the language, and you have to have a certain level of intelligence and mental toughness. If you can’t line up and call a play in a huddle and command respect in a huddle, in my opinion, you’re not going to have a very good shot at being a strong leader and getting your team to believe you can take them through those tough situations.”
Twitter: @jonmachota
