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(Editor's Note: This is the first of a 10-part series with DallasCowboys.com analyzing the Cowboys position-by-position as they begin final preparations for the July 29 start to training camp. Today will feature the quarterbacks.)
IRVING, Texas - There's a decent debate to be had about whether the Cowboys were better at quarterback in the year 1999, or 2000. Troy Aikman was the starter, backed up by Jason Garrett one year and Randall Cunningham the next.
Garrett was an under-the-radar type, but always seemed effective when Aikman couldn't play. Cunningham was a former star long past his prime. Either way, there's no argument that between the next year, 2001, and this coming season, the Dallas Cowboys have not been so blessed at the quarterback position.
It's hard to forget - or easy perhaps, depending on one's perspective - the long bridge from Aikman's retirement to the emergence of Tony Romo. Those were the Quincy-Chutch-Stoerner-Can't Get Wright-Ryan Leaf-Vinny-Bledsoe doldrums. Finally Romo takes over as the unquestioned starter in 2007, and for the No. 2 the Cowboys sign Brad Johnson, a nice man who had a long, successful career in the NFL, but a guy who quite frankly was no longer a NFL quarterback. Brooks Bollinger wasn't much of an improvement.
Romo should be hitting his prime now, in his third full year as a starter, and he promises to be more efficient and protective of the football. Jon Kitna was acquired, and even at age 36, he appears to be a vast improvement over Johnson. With his experience as a starter, Kitna has to be considered one of the league's best backups. Not only that, but the Cowboys also have a young passer they really like in Stephen McGee, with no real time constraints on his grooming process. In a couple of years he could replace Kitna as the backup, and has starting potential.
For the first time this century, the Cowboys can truly feel good about the most important position on the team, both for this season and the foreseeable future.
Big Issue: As good a position as the Cowboys have put themselves, from the top of the quarterbacking depth chart to the bottom, it doesn't matter come Sundays. Only one guy gets to play and, barring an injury, that guy is Romo. So will he really be more conscientious of what he does with the ball when a play breaks down? Will he really take on the leadership role the front office has cleared the way for him to assume? Will his play, and with it that of the entire team, remain consistent in December, and maybe January?
Best Position Battle: N/A. This one's pretty much set in stone, and the only thing that can change it is an injury. Romo will start, Kitna will be the backup, and McGee will be the emergency third quarterback. Undrafted free agent Rudy Carpenter is on the roster right now as well, but there's hardly a chance the Cowboys would keep him over McGee, the kid they selected in the fourth round back in April.
Rookie Watch: McGee should get plenty of action during preseason games. Romo and Kitna should be done by the early-to-mid third quarter of those four exhibitions, with McGee taking over for the majority of the second half. As a rookie, it will be tough for him to fully grasp the offense, so cut him some slack for a mistake now and then. Just pay attention to his arm strength and accuracy, the way he carries himself and moves in the pocket, and whether he improves from the first game to the fourth.
Don't Forget About...: So far this off-season we've seen the Cowboys experiment with the Wildcat formation some, with Romo splitting out as a receiver and sometimes coming around on a reverse. What sort of tricky things could Jason Garrett have up his sleeve? Also, with Johnson out of the picture, the Cowboys need a new holder for field goals and extra points. Kitna has auditioned some this summer, as has Sam Hurd. If the Cowboys have their druthers, that's the only time the veteran quarterback will ever see the field.
Roster Breakdown:
Tony Romo - Can he find a balance between his gunslinging style and the need to make smart decisions with the football?
Jon Kitna - Clearly the backup, but he's a solid upgrade who should be able to drive the bus for a few games if Romo is injured.
Stephen McGee - Probably a redshirt season; how much progress can he make from now until Year 2?
Rudy Carpenter - Unlikely to make the team, but he does have the chance to audition for a job elsewhere.
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Josh Ellis - 
