FRISCO, Texas – Since the Dallas Cowboys made the decision to part ways with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, all talk is on who will take the reigns of their offense in 2019. It is no secret that the Cowboys’ offense was inconsistent in 2018, finishing the season ranked No.22 in the league in total offense. The team needs a guy who will be more aggressive and creative with play calls on first, third, and fourth downs; someone who will get everyone involved in the scheme (WR’s, TE’s, and RB’s) to put stress on opposing defenses, along with a coordinator who will play into Dak Prescott’s strength as a run threat incorporating play-action and run-pass option plays.
The Cowboys have not made an official statement on who will resume the role but word is that Kellen Moore will be bumped to offensive coordinator and that Jon Kitna will replace Moore at quarterback coach. Kitna is currently working closely with Moore and tight end coach, Doug Nussmeier, in Orlando Florida at the 2019 Pro Bowl. The Cowboys’ coaching staff was chosen to coach the NFC in this year’s Bowl and they are trying to get Kitna acquainted with the players and staff during the festivities.
Kitna is a former NFL quarterback. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in 1996 and was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons of the European Football League in 1997. He led the Dragons to a World Bowl Championship and went back to play for the Seahawks from 1998-2000. He then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and was their starting QB from 2001-2005, before moving to the Detroit Lions (2006-2008), and then to the Dallas Cowboys (2009-2011, 2013).
In 2009, Kitna was the primary backup for Tony Romo. He made his first career start in October of 2010 when Romo was placed on injured reserve with a broken clavicle. In the nine games he started as a Cowboy, he threw for 2,365 yards and amassed 16 touchdowns, for a career-high 88.9 passer rating. He was injured in December of 2010 and was never able to fully recover. A back injury limited him to only three games the following season and he announced his retirement in 2012. He was brought out of retirement in 2013, to serve as a backup QB to Kyle Orton for the Cowboys.
Kitna is familiar with the Cowboys’ offensive identity, as was Kellen Moore when he made the transition from player in Dallas to QB coach. Moore was signed post-draft in 2012 by the Detroit Lions and did not make the final 53-man roster during the team’s training camp in 2015. Kellen was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad, being reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Detroit Scott Linehan.
Throughout his career in Dallas, he was primarily a backup to Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel but had his first regular season start against the Jets in December of 2015 replacing Cassel. He had his first career touchdown connecting with Dez Bryant, but the team’s loss eliminated them from playoff contention. He started the next two games completing 46 of 79 attempts for 621 yards. He was placed on IR in 2016 after suffering a fractured fibula to his right leg and in 2018; Moore retired from the NFL to become the Cowboys’ QB coach.
The Cowboys need an offensive coordinator who will create running plays around Dak Prescott to benefit his ability to extend plays during scrambles when forced out of the pocket, and the team has its sights on Moore, who knows Prescott’s tendencies and style of play in and out. They seem to love the ideas he brings to the table but the only question is, how different would he be from Linehan? He played under him in Detroit and coached under him in 2018, could he make his own staple in the Cowboys’ offense if he got the job? Time will tell.
