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Kellen Moore ready for work with Cowboys' first team
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Kellen Moore had an inkling Saturday night he would take Sunday’s practice snaps with the Dallas Cowboys' first-team offense as Tony Romo got a day off. He’s not sure he will get that heads up as camp goes on, which isn’t a bad thing for a backup quarterback.
Most of the time No. 2 quarterbacks are called on with little heads up in games.
“It’s valuable reps because you don’t know how much time you’ll get with those guys,” Moore said. “If you end up playing with them, hopefully you get some continuity.”
Romo is expected to return to practice Monday when the pads come on for the first time.
Moore played in three games last season, starting the final two. He had four touchdown passes and six interceptions, doing just enough for the Cowboys to believe he can serve as Romo’s No. 2 for an entire season. Throughout the offseason, the Cowboys passed on veterans available, with Nick Foles being the most recent. The Cowboys nearly traded back into the first round for Paxton Lynch but ended up selecting Dak Prescott instead.
This is the first time in his career that Moore has come to training camp with a job almost secured.
“Having those higher number of reps (in practice), being with the second group, jumping in with the ones, obviously those are all very valuable things, so you take advantage of it,” Moore said.
While developing timing with receivers Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten is important, Moore believes another aspect of the work with the first-teamers is more important.
“I think a lot of it is the communication with the O-line,” Moore said. “Tony and (Travis Frederick) work a lot together. They’ve got to communicate a lot, make adjustments and stuff, so I think it’s important when I get those chances to make sure Trav and I are on the same page with things.”
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Kellen Moore had an inkling Saturday night he would take Sunday’s practice snaps with the Dallas Cowboys' first-team offense as Tony Romo got a day off. He’s not sure he will get that heads up as camp goes on, which isn’t a bad thing for a backup quarterback.
Most of the time No. 2 quarterbacks are called on with little heads up in games.
“It’s valuable reps because you don’t know how much time you’ll get with those guys,” Moore said. “If you end up playing with them, hopefully you get some continuity.”
Romo is expected to return to practice Monday when the pads come on for the first time.
Moore played in three games last season, starting the final two. He had four touchdown passes and six interceptions, doing just enough for the Cowboys to believe he can serve as Romo’s No. 2 for an entire season. Throughout the offseason, the Cowboys passed on veterans available, with Nick Foles being the most recent. The Cowboys nearly traded back into the first round for Paxton Lynch but ended up selecting Dak Prescott instead.
This is the first time in his career that Moore has come to training camp with a job almost secured.
“Having those higher number of reps (in practice), being with the second group, jumping in with the ones, obviously those are all very valuable things, so you take advantage of it,” Moore said.
While developing timing with receivers Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten is important, Moore believes another aspect of the work with the first-teamers is more important.
“I think a lot of it is the communication with the O-line,” Moore said. “Tony and (Travis Frederick) work a lot together. They’ve got to communicate a lot, make adjustments and stuff, so I think it’s important when I get those chances to make sure Trav and I are on the same page with things.”
