Jerry Jones confident Kyle Orton can lead Cowboys

[Cowboysrule122]

By Kevin Patra
Around the League writer
Published: Dec. 27, 2013 at 08:09 a.m. Updated: Dec. 27, 2013 at 10:14 a.m


While the Dallas Cowboys hold out hope Tony Romo can play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, owner Jerry Jones is comfortable if backup Kyle Orton has to start

Jones said Sunday's game is the reason he gave Orton a three-year, $10.5 million contract -- which included a $5 million signing bonus -- in 2012 to be Romo's backup.

"This is exactly the circumstances," Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Thursday. "We know that to make that kind of commitment to your backup quarterback, you've got to anticipate it being a very significant time. Well, one of the significant times is if you've positioned yourself to be able to compete for a championship."

Orton has 69 career starts with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and, most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011. His uneven play in Denver is what ultimately led to the Broncos' in-season adoption of "Tebow Time."


"He's the quality backup quarterback that allows you to do that, and that's exactly what we thought we were getting when we agreed to make that commitment with him," Jones said. "This is it. There's only one or two times that can justify that, and this is one of those."

Orton has attempted a total of 15 passes in his two seasons with the Cowboys -- five coming in the Week 14 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears.

Backup quarterbacks have played a prominent role this season, even on teams that will make the playoffs. Orton likely will have a big say on whether or not the Cowboys are added to that list.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Staubach sad for Romo; believes in Orton

By Richard Durrett | ESPNDallas.com

FORT WORTH, Texas – Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach was “disappointed” for quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys that Romo was injured, but expressed confidence that backup Kyle Orton can go in and be effective in Romo’s absence.

“He is the strength of Dallas. He gives us hope. Losing him is definitely a shame,” Staubach said about Romo’s injury, which required back surgery on Friday morning. Staubach was in Fort Worth to speak at the Armed Forces Bowl kickoff luncheon. Staubach’s alma mater, Navy, faces Middle Tennessee State on Monday.

Staubach went on to praise Orton, saying the backup “has a great arm” and “gets things done.”

Orton will get his first start since 2011 with Romo out for the rest of the year.

“He can play football,” Staubach said. “He’s had some good days and bad days, but a lot of good days. I’m hoping that this Sunday night is one of his good days. He’s extremely capable, especially with our offense with Dez Bryant and (Jason) Witten and DeMarco (Murray). He’s got some ammunition around him.

”I think our offensive line will be critical. They’ve done a good job this year. They need to do an outstanding job with Kyle in the pocket. He will be extremely effective if he has the time.”

Staubach joked that he called Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and told him he wanted to back up Orton on Sunday.

“It was between me and (Jon) Kitna,” Staubach said, chuckling. “I lost to Kitna. It was close, though."

Staubach has kept in communication with Romo throughout the years and admits he has plenty of admiration for him.

“I’m a big Romo fan, so I feel bad for Tony,” said Staubach, who 50 seasons ago won the Heisman Trophy while leading Navy to the Cotton Bowl. “He’s a tough son-of-a-gun, though. He was hurt in that game against the Redskins. That back had to be a real problem for him, yet he gutted it out and we at least have a shot at winning the East. I wish he was at quarterback, but I really feel with our offense that if Kyle gets time in the pocket, he’ll be effective.”

Romo was injured during last week’s game and continued to play, eventually leading the Cowboys on a game-winning drive despite pain in his right leg.
The injury means Romo won’t get a chance to improve upon his 0-3 mark in regular-season finales with the NFC East at stake. Dallas and Philadelphia will play for the division title Sunday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Staubach hopes Romo recovers quickly and has many productive years left as the Cowboys’ quarterback.

“I really see the things he can do out on the field and the plays he makes,” Staubach said. “He isn’t as lucky as I was to have the full complement of players around. It’s different. It’s free agency. It’s a different league.”

 

[JBond]

I am pretty sure Orton can put up 220 yards and 2 TD's. The Eagles are giving up 7.3 per pass play.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Is Kyle Orton ready to lead Cowboys to playoffs? 'It's not like I just walked in the door'


By RAINER SABIN

IRVING — Throughout his tenure with the Cowboys, Kyle Orton has kept a low profile. He has rarely been quoted or interviewed since signing with the team in March 2012.

But that changed Wednesday when reporters and cameramen blitzed the quarterback like a pack of rushers, surrounding the ninth-year veteran at his locker.

With Tony Romo’s status in doubt because of a herniated disk in his back, Orton is expected to make his first start with the Cowboys in a game against Philadelphia that will determine whether Dallas wins the NFC East or fails to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

“I’m excited,” Orton said. “I really feel like my game is in a great spot right now, and I’m really confident heading into the week. … I’ve played a lot of games in this league and had some success, so [I’m] just excited with the group of guys I’ve got around me.”
It’s true that Orton has a lot of experience. At 31, he’s made 69 starts and won 35 of them. He also served as the caretaker of the offense during organized team activities last spring, when Romo was recovering from a surgical procedure to remove a back cyst.

But since coming to Dallas, Orton has thrown only 15 passes in the regular season. As the Cowboys’ backup quarterback, he’s spent most of his time running the scout team while Romo practiced with the first team. This week has been different, however. Romo, who has greater influence over the game plans than he’s had at any previous point in his career, didn’t attend the offensive meetings Wednesday morning as he continues to experience discomfort in his back since it flared up during Dallas’ 24-23 victory Sunday over Washington.

“Kyle knows that he has to be ready,” coach Jason Garrett said Monday. “Kyle prepares as if he’s the starting quarterback each and every week… He has a poise and a calmness and a composure about him of a veteran player. He’s been there. He’s seen this stuff before.”

But the situation Orton finds himself in is a challenging one. Babe Laufenberg, the former Cowboys quarterback and current radio analyst for the team’s flagship station, knows. Twenty-three years ago, he was put in a similar position as Orton.

In a Week 16 loss to Philadelphia in 1990, Troy Aikman suffered a right shoulder separation, forcing Laufenberg into action. He took the rest of the snaps that day, then was named the starter for the final game against Atlanta, which was a high-stakes affair. If the 7-8 Cowboys beat the Falcons, they would make the postseason for the first time since 1985. If they lost, they would spend the rest of the winter at home. There was a lot of pressure on Laufenberg to deliver a victory.

“It’s what you aspire for,” he said. “You get a chance to be part of one game and get your team in the playoffs.”
But it didn’t go well for Laufenberg and the Cowboys. He completed 10 of 24 attempts for 129 yards, throwing two interceptions and a touchdown pass in a 26-7 loss. The following summer he was cut from the team.

Reflecting back on that experience, Laufenberg said, “I think the farther you get away from training camp and getting legitimate reps, I think the more difficult it becomes.”

Orton is at a similar disadvantage lurking in Romo’s broad shadow. But he said he has a firm grasp of the offense, a strong rapport with the receivers and the confidence he can perform.

“I’ve been here a couple of years,” Orton said. “It’s not like I just walked in the door.”

When the Cowboys signed Orton to a three-year, $10.5 million contract in 2012, they were in the market for an experienced player who could capably direct the offense in the event that Romo was hurt. In the two previous seasons, Romo had suffered a broken left collarbone, a fractured rib and a punctured lung. But since Orton’s arrival, Romo has remained in good enough condition to play every game. Now that Romo’s injured again, the Cowboys have turned to Orton, their emergency option.

“He’s probably been waiting for this for awhile,” receiver Cole Beasley said. “He’s just ready for the opportunity.”
Back in the spotlight with the season hanging in the balance, all eyes are on Orton. That’s fine with him.
“I’ll be ready to roll and go out there and play great,” he said.

As the understudy, he knows as well as anyone the show must go on.

 

[Cowboysrule122]

Orton has had influence on offense, too

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – We have spent the year referencing Tony Romo's "Peyton Manning time,” involvement with the Dallas Cowboys' offense this season, but Kyle Orton, who would start Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles if Romo can’t play, has been a big part of the production, too.

“It’s a good sounding board for Tony,” quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson said. “They bounce ideas and Kyle draws on his experiences and makes recommendations. He’s been very influential with that as well.”

While the Cowboys have not devised a “Kyle Orton game plan,” as Jason Garrett called it, they have tailored the game plan more to what Orton likes.

“Some like certain plays, some like other plays, some like certain personnel groupings and certain concepts more than others,” offensive coordinator Bill Callahan said. “It’s kind of a personal affinity to what they want. But the system doesn’t vary that much, though. We’re not completely shifting to a whole new offense. That’s not the situation at all.”

But these conversations have happened with Orton for the first 15 weeks, according to Callahan.

“We know what he likes,” Callahan said. “We’ve gone through that, past experiences with him in practice, during the week, during the game plan. We talk about plays.”