IRVING -- No one considers Kellen Moore the quarterback of the future for the Cowboys.

It's fair to say a significant contingent of fans question his qualifications to be the backup of the moment.

Why haven't the Cowboys found someone with more experience to play behind Tony Romo? What did management see from Moore in the final two games of a lost season to convince them he's a solid No. 2 heading into the 2016 season?

The way club officials voice their support shows why these questions persist.

"He's not a guy that overly impresses you physically,'' head coach Jason Garrett conceded. "He's not an imposing figure when he walks into the room. He doesn't have an overly powerful arm. He's not overly athletic.

"But he has a lot of the things that really good quarterbacks have. He understands the game. He has a good feel for the game. He's instinctive. He's a very accurate passer. He's a quick decision maker. And he's a very good leader.''

Moore is generously listed at 6-0, 200 pounds. He could be part of that paper route Garrett once joked receiver Cole Beasley appeared to handle.

He spent the first three years of his career in Detroit as the third-string quarterback. The Lions never activated him for a game. The Cowboys placed Moore on their practice squad to open last season and signed him to the active roster in September three days after Romo was injured.

He's grown accustomed to people focusing on what he's not rather than what he is.

"I know who I am,'' Moore said Wednesday after the Cowboys completed another organized team activity. "I spent three-and-a-half years with Matthew Stafford. There are a couple of throws Matthew would throw in practice that I'd say I'm not even trying that. Thanks.

"There are a lot of different ways to play quarterback. There are guys of all different size, shapes, ability. Guys that can run, guys that can throw deep.

"You find your way and the offense can fit around you. ''

This offense fits around Romo.

Moore is no Romo. But offensive coordinator Scott Linehan will tell you the backup's approach is similar. Tight end Jason Witten said in the two games Moore started to end last season he actually spoke and communicated at the line of scrimmage the way Romo does.

"I think a lot of times the biggest thing is being able to communicate in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage,'' Moore said. "If Tony is going to call something a certain way or if he's going to use a certain cadence, whatever it may be, you want to know which way he's going to do it so when I get that opportunity the offensive line and the receivers they're all hearing the same language.

"I don't want him calling it at the line of scrimmage and me doing it a different way and them having to deal with those elements.''

Moore appreciates the opportunity the Cowboys have given him. He picks Romo's brain, saying, "it would be pretty dumb not to ask Tony a few questions here and there,'' given his background in this offense. His goal is to get the ball out quick and into the hands of the team's playmakers.

Linehan, who worked with Moore in Detroit, has been the quarterback's biggest advocate. He admits he's partial to Moore, who is the son of a coach. But he maintains he didn't have to lobby the coaching staff to go forward with Moore.

"I don't feel like I was the person who had to do the selling,'' Linehan said. "Kellen did it with his teammates.''

Moore compensates for a lack of arm strength with accuracy and timing. Linehan calls his anticipation unique. He said the offense resembled what it did with Romo more when Moore was on the field than it did with any of the quarterbacks the Cowboys paraded on the field last season. He lauds Moore's understanding of the game and calm demeanor.

"I obviously have the background with him,'' Linehan said. "But he really has a good grasp and feel for what we are doing.

"If you go outside there is plenty of thought you may find somebody with more experience, more starting wins under their belt. But they are going to have to start over in a new system.

"We put a whole year with Kellen. And we felt at the end of the year when we eventually played him that he showed us enough to have an opportunity to be the guy in that spot.

"I just really think the kid is out the point now where he can take it to another level. I think a lot of the kid. I think the kid has earned the shot to be in the role he is in right now.

"It will be fun to watch him develop in our system through the offseason and training camp.''

Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN