Bob Sturm: The Romo Manifesto

[JBS]

I have said it many times before, and I will say it again, regardless of what happens in 2009 - Romo WILL be our QB in 2010. PERIOD!

 

[Alexander]

I have said it many times before, and I will say it again, regardless of what happens in 2009 - Romo WILL be our QB in 2010. PERIOD!

Do you always go out on limbs like this? You are extremely brave.

 

[Dodger]

Nice article.

Based on the numbers, I think it's pretty clear that the Cowboys are fortunate to have Romo as their QB; however, as many will undoubtedly point out, there is one number that isn't so pretty...playoff wins.

But again, this IS a team sport, and while Romo is indeed partially responsible for the team's playoff failure over the last 3 seasons, he's definately NOT the only reason for those failures.

To win a championship, the team usually has to be running on all cylinders, so to speak, and that just hasn't been the case lately.

 

[Alexander]

But again, this IS a team sport, and while Romo is indeed partially responsible for the team's playoff failure over the last 3 seasons, he's definately NOT the only reason for those failures.

That is very true. But people want a black and white picture. Either he's blameless or he's the cause.

To win a championship, the team usually has to be running on all cylinders, so to speak, and that just hasn't been the case lately.

Not necessarily. These days to win a championship, a team simply has to click on all cylinders at the end of each season. There is usually a turning point where Septembers pretenders go home and the toughest survivors in a parity-filled league move on.

We all know where this team stands in that scenario. Romo's cross to bear is his production and consistency late in the season. Eli Manning sports a ring because he was able to turn it on along with the rest of his team. The same goes for Trent Dilfer. Even Ben Roethlisberger falls into this category.

 

[CowboyMike]

What? Positive Dallas media?

...Excuse me while I look out the window. I think pigs might be flying.

Someone send jackets down to hell. They're probably pretty cold right now.

 

[burmafrd]

Eli did NOT turn it on. He just limited his mistakes and relied on his very hot D.

 

[Alexander]

Eli did NOT turn it on. He just limited his mistakes and relied on his very hot D.

Compared to how he performed in the 2006 postseason and through much of the 2007 season, he did turn it on by playing mistake-free football in the postseason. Sometimes that is all it takes.

Whether you think it is limiting mistakes or relying on the defense, it was significantly better than what he did up until that point in his career and he earned that ring because of it.

 

[RainMan]

That is very true. But people want a black and white picture. Either he's blameless or he's the cause.



Not necessarily. These days to win a championship, a team simply has to click on all cylinders at the end of each season. There is usually a turning point where Septembers pretenders go home and the toughest survivors in a parity-filled league move on.

We all know where this team stands in that scenario. Romo's cross to bear is his production and consistency late in the season. Eli Manning sports a ring because he was able to turn it on along with the rest of his team. The same goes for Trent Dilfer. Even Ben Roethlisberger falls into this category.

Alexander, I'm replying to this one post, but my response really applies to all your posts: Spot on stuff, my friend.

Romo has problems he must fix, but I think we need to be careful as a fan base not to run him off. In my opinion at this point, it's akin to chopping off your finger because you have a hangnail. A hint of rationality is needed in times of peril.

 

[Alexander]

Romo has problems he must fix, but I think we need to be careful as a fan base not to run him off. In my opinion at this point, it's akin to chopping off your finger because you have a hangnail. A hint of rationality is needed in times of peril.

I think he has a long ways to go before our fan base "runs him off". He's experiencing even less criticism than Danny White did and he actually won playoff games.

 

[Idgit]

Alexander, I'm replying to this one post, but my response really applies to all your posts: Spot on stuff, my friend.

Romo has problems he must fix, but I think we need to be careful as a fan base not to run him off. In my opinion at this point, it's akin to chopping off your finger because you have a hangnail. A hint of rationality is needed in times of peril.

It's more like criticizing a college sophomore because he hasn't graduated yet. What Romo's trying to do isn't easy and takes time. Not everybody graduates early. The guy's been phenomenal in the regular season and has played in 2 playoff games.

I disagree with Alexander in that there is a small segment of our fanbase that is ready to run him off. They disguise the sentiment saying they'll give him another year to prove himself, but that just means they don't think there's anybody better available now. Fortunately, that same group is very small. They're also the group most likely to wave his flag again if the Cowboys are successful this year, which I think is likely. We'll see.

 

[Dodger]

Not necessarily. These days to win a championship, a team simply has to click on all cylinders at the end of each season.

Very true, and that's kind of what I meant...I should have been more clear.

 

[LeonDixson]

So a munchkin kicker is supposed to block a defensive back speeding off the edge because Romo dropped the football? Be realistic here.

I didn't say block him. I said fall in front of him. If the guy is slowed down just a little bit Romo scores. It's not as far fetched as you would have it.

Romo played a very ordinary game. Most of our best plays were the result of Julius Jones. It is easy to ask that Witten make the few extra inches, but had Romo been more on target especially early in that game the outcome might have been different.

I agree he didn't shine in the game, but he got the team into position to score at the end. That's not choking. It's being clutch, and a little help is all he needed. He did bobble the snap though and that is on him even though the ball was slick.

And he would still have to deal with the same criticisms Young and Manning did when they graduated to losing championship games.

I agree completely. I don't think we would have beat the Cheatriots in the SB. But the point was that he would have won a playoff game, not a championship.

Like it or not, he did force the ball to Terry Glenn. Right or wrong? That makes him part of those than can be blamed. It does not make him exclusively the goat. He made a bad pass. Just like Meredith did back in 1966. He also had to carry that burden around for years and into retirement. Fasano, Crayton, Jacques Reeves, all of them made errors in that game, each with its own level of fault.

So you are denying that Romo played well enough to win that game because he forced that pass? Even though the Fasano and Crayton (2) blunders would have made that pass totally unnecessary? Even though, the special teams and defense gave up a TD at the end of the first half that would have made that pass unnecessary? Are you really saying Romo lost that game? I'll say my prayer for you right now.

Well, he doesn't.

Absolutely correct. And look, I understand your point that the QB always gets more of the credit and blame for the teams performance than he deserves. I agree with that. But some people think that Romo choked those games away. Now you can argue the Seattle game because of the bobbled snap, but not the Giants game. Next time that game is on NFL replay, watch it.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

The sad part is that if others had done their job we wouldn't even be having the debate. If Gramattica falls in front of the guy pursing Romo after the bobbled snap, he scores a TD. If Witten (I'm not saying he didn't do his job because he did) can squeeze a few more inches out of his catch we have a first down inside the one. I actually think he did make a 1st down, but you can argue the refs made the right call. Give us either of those circumstances and Tony is 1 for 1 in playoff games.

If anybody re-watches the Giants playoff game with an open mind and still blames that loss on Romo all I can do is say a prayer for you.

Romo should have at least 2 playoff wins and possibly more.

Moxie will rule the NFL in 09/10!:starspin

 

[gimmesix]

bottom line: the Dallas Cowboys have to win a playoff game at the very least in the 2009 season. they have underachieved for the last 3 years and it's time to make some real progress.

I won't argue against this. The Dallas Cowboys have underachieved, and if they don't win a playoff game this year, then some serious evaluation of all personnel needs to take place (of course, I think that happens every year).

But to say if they don't win, it proves that Romo shouldn't be their quarterback or isn't a good quarterback is the wrong tact. Too much gets heaped upon the quarterback when he cannot control all things. He cannot make the line block blitzes better. He cannot make receivers hold on to the ball better. He cannot make the defense play better two-minute defense. He cannot make the holder catch the ball better ... OK, that one he could have done.

If Romo fails, then his failings should be acknowledged. If others fail, then the blame should be placed where it belongs.

 

[gimmesix]

Like it or not, he did force the ball to Terry Glenn. Right or wrong? That makes him part of those than can be blamed.

It appeared to me that no one was open so he tried to give one of his receivers a chance to make a play. Comes down to the last play, you've got to score and no one's open, what do you do?

 

[Idgit]

It appeared to me that no one was open so he tried to give one of his receivers a chance to make a play. Comes down to the last play, you've got to score and no one's open, what do you do?

Aikman says this all the time. Romo puts his team in position to win games at the end, and he does it consistently. That's just about the opposite of a choker. He did that in both playoff games, and he did it down the stretch last year. I know this point begs the question of whether or not the games in question should have been close in the first place, but, really, Aikman's got a pretty good point that what you need from a QB is a guy who can get you in position to win.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

It appeared to me that no one was open so he tried to give one of his receivers a chance to make a play. Comes down to the last play, you've got to score and no one's open, what do you do?

You do exactly what Romo did. You fling it up for grabs and hope for a miracle.

 

[Dodger]

You do exactly what Romo did. You fling it up for grabs and hope for a miracle.

This.