This last preseason game might not mean much to most fans, but it means the world to those players who are on the 'bubble', trying desperately to prove to the coaching staff that they are worthy of one of those precious 53 spots. And count Stephen McGee as one of those guys on the bubble.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, McGee has been a bit of a puzzle since his arrival. Playing in an option offense under Dennis Franchione at Texas A&M, McGee didn't get much opportunity to show off the powerful arm that eventually led to the Cowboys picking him up in the draft. And considered a project when he arrived, McGee simply hasn't shown the improvement that would make the Cowboys confident he could take on Kitna's role of primary backup to Romo in 2011.
Thursday night is going to be a big night for McGee. After looking a little shaky at the beginning of preseason, he looked a bit sharper in the game against the Texans, going 8 of 10 for 58 yards. But beyond the numbers, he actually stood in the pocket and threw the ball rather than not trusting what he saw and trying to make plays with his feet.
But those last few spots on the roster are precious, and the Cowboys aren't afraid to enter the season with just two quarterbacks on the roster, especially considering how durable Tony Romo has been since he became the starter. And if it comes down to a choice between McGee and a player like Danny McCray, it's hard not to take the guy who'll actually get on the field and help the team, even if it is just on special teams.
So for McGee, Thursday is going to be a very big night indeed.
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