FRISCO, Texas – Through two preseason games, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is still in no rush to officially name a backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott.
With Joe Milton and Sam Howell's performances up to this point, Schottenheimer believes both are worthy of being QB2.
"I think it's a great competition…" Schottenheimer said. "Joe's performed beautifully in both games, you can't look at the numbers and not know that… but Sam's made a lot of play's too. Sam did a beautiful two-minute drive against Seattle. Like I said, we don't have to, and we're not ready to make any decisions yet."
Their competition will continue against the New Orleans Saints in Dallas' preseason finale on Friday. Just like the last two weeks, Schottenheimer and his staff will evaluate the quarterbacks throughout the week and determine the starter based off who has been more consistent.
"If you would just take the training camp competition, it's probably neck and neck, and Sam maybe a little bit ahead," Schottenheimer said. "That's why we actually started Sam in the first game against Seattle. But Joe's put together two really good performances, and this will be another fun week for them to keep battling."
Both quarterbacks have gotten two halves a piece. Howell has gone 15/22 for 159 yards, a touchdown and interception, and Milton has completed 21 of 28 attempts for 286 yards, three touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
Milton is heading into his second year learning Dallas' offense, and had a conversation with Schottenheimer over the offseason after the team signed Howell in free agency. As Milton said following the game on Saturday, his confidence in himself always runs high.
"I remember my conversation with Joe. His comments to me were one of very confident, 'Coach, it doesn't matter who you bring in here, I believe in myself,'" Schottenheimer said. "I think it probably got his attention, but to be fair to Joe, this is not the easiest system to learn. We ask a lot of our players, certainly the quarterback position. We are a volume type offense… He's in a much different place right now, talking about Joe, in terms of his understanding of what we do."
One of the biggest differences in Milton's game, and one that Schottenheimer said stood out to him the most when watching back the film, was the touch Milton was able to put on his passes against the Cardinals. Schottenheimer said he had heard all about Milton's arm strength since his days at Michigan, but that how far he could throw the ball isn't the only thing that's required of playing quarterback in the NFL.
"When you're playing quarterback and you have a play caller that's the head coach, there's a rhythm that you want to try to get into. Last year at times, this time of year with Joe, it was a little bit difficult to call plays for Joe because I wasn't sure exactly what's going to happen here and there. Just the poise that he's playing with right now…"
"The touch on the double move to Mingo was a beautiful, beautiful throw. The touch on the scramble play to Camden Brown was a beautiful deal. Honestly, last year this time, on the touchdown to Malik, it's probably from me to [a nearby reporter], and he probably would've blistered it at Malik. Probably would've put a dent in Malik's chest because he's capable of doing that. He just kind of softened his elbow and just kind of flipped it and made it really easy for Malik. Two really, really good performances."
The Cowboys are back on the practice field Tuesday, with their first of two training camp practices at the Star in Frisco this week where Milton and Howell will continue to battle for the backup quarterback job.
