News: CBS: Cowboys trying to find ways to help QB not make risky throws

[xwalker]

Cowboys trying to find ways to help QB not make risky throws
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/DAL/dallas-cowboys


Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo tried on two occasions during a Week 1 loss against the 49ers to force the football to wide receiver Dez Bryant despite being covered by multiple defenders. Both times Romo threw interceptions.

"I think it’s pretty clear -- you don’t force the ball to people," head coach Jason Garrett said, per ESPN. "Dez is a great player, but [Jason Witten is] a great player too. Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Devin Street, Dwayne Harris, all those guys are really, really good football players, who, if given an opportunity, are going to come through for us. Tony understands that. Tony’s typically struck a really nice balance about trying to give these guys a chance and understanding how to read things out and throwing the ball to the right guy."

As one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, defenses will pay extra attention to Bryant on a weekly basis. Garrett said it will be up to the coaching staff to find ways to get the football to Bryant without having Romo make risky throws.

"It’s what happens every week in the NFL," Garrett said. "Dez Bryant, if you look at his whole body of work throughout his career, he’s gotten doubled throughout most games every game he’s every play. The same thing with Jason Witten. These guys are really good players. Week in and week out they find ways, we’ve tried to find ways to give them opportunities."

It's very easy. All 3 INTs were on play-action where Romo took his eyes off the field initially. Just don't run that play.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I said it in another post. seemed like romo was forcing it to dez and witten to make sure they are involved in the game, instead of taking what was available to him and trust his other weapons....

I don't think so. Tony has never had that problem .... (only when TO was here). He always threw the ball to the open guy. He looked like he was playing scared and as Aikman was saying, wasn't seeing the field properly. As if he had never played the game of football a day in his life. Rust? Back problem in his head? Needs more practice? I don't know ... but he better figure it out with the quickness.

 

[jazzcat22]

What happened to the plan of moving Dez around more, motion, slot, to create opportunities for bigger, better plays.

 

[dstovall5]

Because Megatron is the most physically imposing WR in the entire history of the NFL?

He came out of college at 6'5, 239 lbs, and ran a 4.35 forty. All that AND he can jump.

The NFL has never seen a WR with those physical characteristics.

We have to stop comparing Dez to Megatron. Better comparison is to the other in the top 2-6 like AJ Green, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, etc etc

I would say Randy Moss, but I get your point.

 

[dstovall5]

How about have him practice in training camp so as to not make risky throws and bad reads?

Should've had him play the whole game of the last preseason in hindsight, at least I think so.

 

[xwalker]

I don't think so. Tony has never had that problem .... (only when TO was here). He always threw the ball to the open guy. He looked like he was playing scared and as Aikman was saying, wasn't seeing the field properly. As if he had never played the game of football a day in his life. Rust? Back problem in his head? Needs more practice? I don't know ... but he better figure it out with the quickness.

If you see the end zone camera view of the play where Dez was bent in half, it's easy to see that it was almost impossible for Romo to see the underneath defender at the time he made the throw. The fact that he took his eyes off the field for the play action was a big part of the problem. It's highly likely that he would have seen that underneath defender if he had been passing without play action.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

The only person who can stop Romo from making risky throws is Romo. Less pressure on him would probably help so yeah run the ball more.

 

[Doomsday101]

The only person who can stop Romo from making risky throws is Romo. Less pressure on him would probably help so yeah run the ball more.

I agree but I felt Dallas did run the ball even after falling behind by 3 scores Dallas ran the ball. Of course you will not come back from 3 scores down by running so Dallas did have to pass to have any chance of coming back. As for the risky throws I fully agree that is in the hands of Romo, coaches can't make the read for you and there is no play being called that has the QB throwing into double or triple coverage. Romo has to take it upon himself to correct this

 

[Tommy]

How come Megatron was so open so often in the Detroit game while Dez is always blanketed? Is out our routes/scheme?

I remember wondering a few years ago how TO used to get so much separation sometimes. He would be wide open. Didn't the defense KNOW the ball was coming to him? It's the same offense.

 

[noshame]

This guy has arguably the best surrounding cast in all of football, enough with the excuses, results are the order of the day.

 

[Clove]

I said it in another post. seemed like romo was forcing it to dez and witten to make sure they are involved in the game, instead of taking what was available to him and trust his other weapons....

I think you do have to force it to those guys, but not with defenders running in front AND behind him, he's trapped at that point. If the double team is behind OR in front, then you can take that chance.

 

[CyberB0b]

Because Megatron is the most physically imposing WR in the entire history of the NFL?

He came out of college at 6'5, 239 lbs, and ran a 4.35 forty. All that AND he can jump.

The NFL has never seen a WR with those physical characteristics.

We have to stop comparing Dez to Megatron. Better comparison is to the other in the top 2-6 like AJ Green, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, etc etc

I think all those guys you listed are better.

 

[The Natural]

This is the kind of thing you do for a rookie

 

[khiladi]

Yea well he was on a program to get him ready for that first game.

And well it didn't work out.

Sometimes, in fact most of the time, the answer is simple. He clearly wasn't prepared.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I think all those guys you listed are better.

I do too with maybe a "they are even" on Marshall.

Dez is definitely not as good as Johnson. That guy is in a class all his own

 

[BoysFan4ever]

Sometimes, in fact most of the time, the answer is simple. He clearly wasn't prepared.

Very poorly prepared by both the team & by Tony himself. He's a vet. He looked anything but.

 

[dstovall5]

This guy has arguably the best surrounding cast in all of football, enough with the excuses, results are the order of the day.

I completely disagree as a whole. He has one of the best supporting on the offensive side of the ball, other then that, he has probably the worst in the NFL. Head Coach? Bottom 5 in the league. Defense? Bottom 5 in the league. GM/Owner? Bottom 5 in the league. Honestly, who else can you say that for?????? I would love to hear who. Last time I checked offense is only 1/3 of the game, which is one of the reasons we've been 8-8 despite having a good offensive team.

 

[noshame]

I completely disagree as a whole. He has one of the best supporting on the offensive side of the ball, other then that, he has probably the worst in the NFL. Head Coach? Bottom 5 in the league. Defense? Bottom 5 in the league. GM/Owner? Bottom 5 in the league. Honestly, who else can you say that for?????? I would love to hear who. Last time I checked offense is only 1/3 of the game, which is one of the reasons we've been 8-8 despite having a good offensive team.

I don't give a rats pa tute about defense, coaches, owner/gm. A snot nosed rookie could look good with this offense. All I'm talking about is offense, and BTW if the QB had done his job, all the others you listed played well enough to win.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think you do have to force it to those guys, but not with defenders running in front AND behind him, he's trapped at that point. If the double team is behind OR in front, then you can take that chance.

I don't agree with forcing the issue. take what they give you. let your other players make plays, then the defense will have to adjust or pay the price. then Dez will see less double and triple teams and get less coverage rolled his way.

 

[dstovall5]

I don't give a rats pa tute about defense, coaches, owner/gm. A snot nosed rookie could look good with this offense. All I'm talking about is offense, and BTW if the QB had done his job, all the others you listed played well enough to win.

That very same thinking is the reason the Romo era failed greatly, Jerry completely ignored solidifying a defense, bringing in a proven HC, and also not relinquishing his duties of GM. I agree about the offense part though, if Romo plays a good game then we probably win pretty easily, especially if we ever got the lead with our running game. Hopefully next week turns out different or it's gonna get even worse.