Bob's Blog: Football 301: Decoding Garrett - Wk 4

[kramskoi]

...wow...reading this analysis is quite sobering but it's not something that most here have'nt figured out...

...Romo telegraphing, tunnel vision, impatient, impulsive...he has'nt improved terribly from 07 and 08 with this...

...Garrett too cute, complicated, stubborn, clueless...

...and both have come to the forefront of the problems ailing this team currently...

...the things that make Romo happy are sometimes quite different from the things he needs to do to help his team win...

 

[kmd24]

The biggest problem I have with Garrett is that he stays aggressive when the risk greatly outweighs the reward. On third and 14 from deep in your territory against a blitz happy defense, the answer isn't to go empty backfield and sling it downfield. I'd be happier to see a draw than that.

Most observers are results-oriented. Garrett's been doing this stuff from jump street, but he's a genius when the offense is rolling up 450 yards and a goat when they don't.

The quality of the decision-making isn't a function of a single result.

 

[wileedog]

.

...Romo telegraphing, tunnel vision, impatient, impulsive...he has'nt improved terribly from 07 and 08 with this...

I don't think Romo's ever had a problem with telegraphing or tunnel vision - I think his ability to read his progressions and spread the ball with a quick release was considered a strength. And it obviously went into the decision to make the offense more 'Romo friendly' by diversifying his targets, and sending the loud one away.

Why he's doing it this year when it is the exact opposite of what they are designing the offense to do I have no idea.

 

[lcharles]

Great information and post.


I appreciate your work, and most of all sharing it with us.

 

[dboyz]

The biggest problem I have with Garrett is that he stays aggressive when the risk greatly outweighs the reward. On third and 14 from deep in your territory against a blitz happy defense, the answer isn't to go empty backfield and sling it downfield. I'd be happier to see a draw than that.

Most observers are results-oriented. Garrett's been doing this stuff from jump street, but he's a genius when the offense is rolling up 450 yards and a goat when they don't.

The quality of the decision-making isn't a function of a single result.

Right. And a screen pass on that play probably would have resulted in a huge play. Do I want us to run a screen on every 3rd and 10 plus? NO, but once in a while is fine and keeps the defense guessing.

 

[Iago33]

It's Garrett job to help get Romo prepared, but many of these bad decisions are decisions that the QB has to make (see the blitz and go to the hot-read, adjust to the defense). I think our problem is more a matter of Romo still figuring out what adjustments to make rather than the initial play-calling being bad.

And my purpose is NOT to say Garrett doesn't deserve some blame.

 

[kramskoi]

Clearly Romo is off mentally and is playing scared.

I honestly think the stress and pressure is starting to get to him a bit. Hopefully after the Chiefs game he can step back and take a look at things and improve his play.

Locking on? Not seeing blitzers? Predetermined routes? That all sounds like he is simply nervous out there trying too hard not to make a mistake.

I just want him to have a nice weak where he can lite up the Chiefs, step back and relax a little bit, and just play football. When they do that, they can play some pretty good ball, but Romo is playing scared right now.

...it's only going to get worse even with a win against the Chiefs, which will surely be seen as rather hollow...

...i really wish the best for Romo...but meltdowns like last sunday are becoming increasingly difficult to accept...

 

[kramskoi]

Right. And a screen pass on that play probably would have resulted in a huge play. Do I want us to run a screen on every 3rd and 10 plus? NO, but once in a while is fine and keeps the defense guessing.

...3rd and 14 and the sense that something bad was looming was palpable...you could see it coming with the shaky pass protection...Romo was thinking first down when he should've been anticipating blitz...Garrett did'nt help matters...

 

[brickman]

The biggest problem I have with Garrett is that he stays aggressive when the risk greatly outweighs the reward. On third and 14 from deep in your territory against a blitz happy defense, the answer isn't to go empty backfield and sling it downfield. I'd be happier to see a draw than that.

Most observers are results-oriented. Garrett's been doing this stuff from jump street, but he's a genius when the offense is rolling up 450 yards and a goat when they don't.

The quality of the decision-making isn't a function of a single result.

Maybe the Princeton Rocket Scientist isn't as smart as we had all thought (or hoped).

 

[TheCount]

I've always said field vision isn't one of Romo's strong points. This isn't something he just started doing, locking onto a guy or a side of the field. He very rarely scans the entire field. Some thought he was forcing the ball to Owens because of some kind of enforced TO Ratio, and that may be part of the problem, but the truth of the matter is he often decides who he wants to throw the ball to before the snap.

We believe Romo is great on the move, and he is, but I believe it's because once the play/pocket breaks down he starts looking to other guys to bail him out and finally sees the other options.

I also think this is why he struggles to get the receivers involved. If they take away the first WR option he usually just bounces between that guy and Witten and maybe the RB, it's rare he looks to the other side of the field.

Maybe this is a consequence of not having played big time ball in college or his lack of trust in the oline to keep him out of the dirt, but it's nothing new.

This doesn't mean I think he's a bad QB or that he needs to go, but his development as an NFL QB is definitely still a work in progress.

 

[tyke1doe]

Romo does scan the field. The problem is that the offensive line can't pick up blitzes and the offensive line isn't as good pass blocking as it is run blocking.

If you have defensive end and linebackers running at you full speed, you're not going to be able to scan the field either.

If given time, Romo can scan the field as good as any other quarterback.

 

[BAT]

That 4th and goal was ugly. Not only is it practically the same call as 3rd and goal, but how do you call a play that converges all 3 of the WRs and their defenders to the same spot on the field. Even if Hurd did catch the pass, he likely drops it b/c Crayton's defender crashes right into him a split second later.