IRVING, Texas – The bye week is typically a time to make some adjustments and even big changes. And the Cowboys are apparently doing just that.
Head coach Jason Garrett confirmed in his Wednesday press conference the offense will change two key positons, including the quarterback. Veteran Matt Cassel, who was acquired by trade three weeks ago, will replace Brandon Weeden as the Cowboys' starting quarterback.
Cassel, who has inactive for two games against Atlanta and New Orleans, moved up to the No. 2 quarterback last week against the Patriots.
"We decided (Tuesday) to do this and spoke to both of the players," Garrett said. "There are a lot of different reasons you make a decision like this. You evaluate the quarterback and what we're asking them to do on a daily basis and weekly basis. Also at this position, you look at how the offense is performing and this position has an impact on the entire offensive unit. It certainly has an impact on how the team is performing. Sometimes it's fair and sometimes it's unfair but it's the nature of the position."
The Cowboys, who have endured their first three-game losing streak since Garrett took over as head coach in 2010, haven't won without Tony Romo, who suffered the broken collarbone injury in Week 2 against the Eagles.
[embeddedad0]Weeden has now lost 11 straight starts, both in Dallas and Cleveland and is 5-19 as a starter. Garrett said he move to the No. 2 spot.
In more of a surprising move, Garrett said the Cowboys will also switch the left guard position, inserting rookie La'el Collins to the starting lineup ahead of Ron Leary.
Collins, who started the Week 3 game against the Falcons in place of Leary, who had a groin injury, has been inactive the last two games.
Garrett said he spoke to both Collins and Leary about the move and said it's the best decision for the offense.
"We really just watched the tape of the guys who played and how they played in game situations," Garrett said. "We evaluated his tape vs. Ron's tape and felt like over the last couple of weeks he is deserving of this opportunity right now."
As for other moves, Garrett said Christine Michael will get more work in the running back rotation but wouldn't go as far to say he will start, only that he will get some reps with Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden.
Nick Eatman is the author of the recently published ****If These Walls Could Talk: Dallas Cowboys***, a collection of stories from the Cowboys' locker room, sideline and press box, with a foreword written by Darren Woodson.*
