Chicken or Egg First Question: Did Terrell Owens Make Tony Romo A Star?

[Gryphon]

Big Fantasy Football Questions - QB Tony Romo
by Skeller on Jun 28, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Football 0 comments
http://www.faketeams.com/2009/6/28/785957/big-fantasy-football-questions-qb

The Terrell Owens trade had me thinking about the Cowboys. It seems pretty clear that the loss of T.O. will hurt Tony Romo's fantasy value. Dallas may still bring in another high-end WR, but even so it will be tough for Romo to replace the WR1 he has worked with for the past three years.

Then I thought: what if it's more than just a loss of a WR? What if it's bigger than that?

So it's time for Episode Four of...

Skeller's Big Fantasy Football Questions

QUESTION #4 : Did Terrell Owens Make Tony Romo A Star?

Players Heavily Affected: QB Tony Romo, RB Marion Barber, TE Jason Witten, WR Roy Williams.

Terrell Owens joined the Cowboys before the start of the 2006 season. Tony Romo became a starter during the 2006 season. Before that, Romo was just an unknown backup from Eastern Illinois. There have been some very good QBs from little schools -- two current examples that spring to mind are Kurt Warner (Northern Iowa) and Joe Flacco (Delaware) -- but that's the exception rather than the rule. Usually, you don't see a successful QB come from anywhere other than BCS-conference schools. So...Eastern Illinois? Really? How'd that happen? Let's take a look at Romo's career:

2006 - Replaces an ineffective Drew Bledsoe mid-game in Week 7 but the Cowboys lose to the Giants and fall to 3-3. Romo takes over as the starter the following week and goes 6-4 the rest of the season. Becomes a star for a 5 TD game against Tampa, but throws eight INTs vs six TDs in December.

Final Stats: 2903 yds, 19 TD, 13 INT (2008 Equivalent: Kyle Orton)

2007 - Julius Jones and Marion Barber find their groove and everything is clicking for the Cowboys' offense. Romo becomes a fantasy stud and Dallas streaks to a 13-3 season. Romo throws more INTs than TDs in December for the second straight year though.

Final Stats: 4211 yds, 36 TD, 19 INT (2008 Equivalent: Phillip Rivers)

2008 - Julius Jones has left to Seattle and the passing game starts to sputter. He misses three games to injury and doesn't seem to be quite the same quarterback after his return. Throws more INTs than TDs in December yet again.

Final Stats: 3448 yds, 26 TD, 14 INT (2008 Equivalent: Donovan McNabb)

Keep in mind that Tony Romo has had only ONE GAME as a starter without Terrell Owens in the lineup. His entire career as a starting quarterback has included a future Hall of Famer as his WR1. That's a big, big way to start your career. Now that future Hall of Famer is gone and I think there's a chance that he's going to be exposed this season as a good-but-not-close-to-great fantasy quarterback. If you need a canary in the coal mine (an underrated song by The Police, by the way), his completion percentage has dropped each of the last two seasons.

I think Romo really struggles this year trying to throw the ball to Jason Witten and some other guys he's never needed to remember the names of before now. In fact, you could argue that backup Jon Kitna might be a better choice. But that's for another post...

 

[Alexander]

Owens didn't make him a star, but anyone who thinks he would have been as prolific without him in his first three years is deluding themselves.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Owens didn't make him a star, but anyone who thinks he would have been as prolific without him in his first three years is deluding themselves.

While it is possible(and I hope) Romo can be successful as the signal caller of this team without TO we have not seen Romo without TO. Actually without TO he couldnt score a TD.

Owens DID help make him a star. Owens caught 36 or so TD in less than 3 seasons of games with Romo.

Owens allowed other players to flourish while he was on the field.


Romo to Owens put Romo in the news. Not solely, but a large part.


Fast forward 3 seasons and compare. Or just see what type of success Romo has without.


Lets hope for the best. Roy CAN and HAS to pick up some Owens slack. I think he can in his own way(style).

 

[CATCH17]

Owens helped for sure but Romo's playmaking abilities really have jumped out from the day he stepped on the field.

Im sure if he would've made plays on the Dallas Cowboys than no doubt he would be just as prolific with or without Owens.

 

[VACowboy]

Owens helped for sure but Romo's playmaking abilities really have jumped out from the day he stepped on the field.

Im sure if he would've made plays on the Dallas Cowboys than no doubt he would be just as prolific with or without Owens.

Couldn't agree more. The Dallas offense changed the second Romo became the starter. Everyone improved dramatically, from the WR to the OL.

 

[EPL0c0]

Numbers wise, I don't think we'll see an improvement mostly b/c I think (hope) this team moves toward being more of a running team that leans on Barber/Jones/Choice. I do hope this means that when they do pass, the plays have a higher percentage of success (vs lots of X-down and long situations).

In a sense I think some of Romo's numbers may go up, some may go down. The numbers alone may not be a good indicator of improvement. I think it'll be measured in whether they make it to the playoffs and win one (at least one). That alone, no matter the numbers would equate success. For the Owens haters it'll mean vindication for what they saw as a stumbling block (despite the numbers put up)

 

[khiladi]

They complemented each other. If a guy like Shanahan was the OC of this team, the numbers they would have put up would be ridiculous, considering TO would have gotten the ball early with Romo's quick release and Romo would have a full package of roll-out plays designed for his skill-set... The thing that sucks is Garrett.

Romo's feet masked our incompetent play-calling that became really evident when Brad Johnson was inserted in the game.

 

[CATCH17]

They complemented each other. If a guy like Shanahan was the OC of this team, the numbers they would have put up would be ridiculous, considering TO would have gotten the ball early with Romo's quick release and Romo would have a full package of roll-out plays designed for his skill-set... The thing that sucks is Garrett.

Romo's feet masked our incompetent play-calling that became really evident when Brad Johnson was inserted in the game.

Im not defending Garrett by any means. Garrett is still young and I think he is a smart guy who will do nothing but get better.

But....

I don't think there is a guy out there who could have called a good play with Johnson @ QB.

He was horrid and im shocked he was even on the roster to begin with.

 

[khiladi]

Im not defending Garrett by any means. Garrett is still young and I think he is a smart guy who will do nothing but get better.

But....

I don't think there is a guy out there who could have called a good play with Johnson @ QB.

He was horrid and im shocked he was even on the roster to begin with.

Brad Johnson wasn't our only back-up... I've never seen a back-up come in and an offense just drop-off so suddenly and dramatically as ours did, whether it was Brad or the other guy, who I can't even remember his name right now. We became like a high-school offense..

 

[CATCH17]

Brad Johnson wasn't our only back-up... I've never seen a back-up come in and an offense just drop-off so suddenly and dramatically as ours did, whether it was Brad or the other guy, who I can't even remember his name right now. We became like a high-school offense..

You haven't? Really?

If Johnson would have had to play for any of the 32 teams last year im guessing the end result would have been the same.

His career was just done. 0 Arm strength.

 

[DallasEast]

There have been some very good QBs from little schools -- two current examples that spring to mind are Kurt Warner (Northern Iowa) and Joe Flacco (Delaware) -- but that's the exception rather than the rule. Usually, you don't see a successful QB come from anywhere other than BCS-conference schools...

No question that the vast majority of quarterbacks who even make the rosters of NFL teams come from large schools, but...

Ben Roethlisberger (Miami Ohio), Jake Delhomme (Louisiana-Lafayette), Rich Gannon (Delaware), Steve McNair (Alcorn State), Brett Favre (Southern Mississippi), Stan Humphries (University of Louisiana Monroe/formerly Northern Louisiana), Doug Williams (Grambling), Phil Simms (Morehead State), Ken Anderson (Augustana IL), Ron Jaworski (Youngstown State), Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech)

...teams can find a lot of quality quarterbacks from small school too. It really comes down to what each quarterback actually brings to the table and not where they derive their academic pedigree.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Owens helped for sure but Romo's playmaking abilities really have jumped out from the day he stepped on the field.

Im sure if he would've made plays on the Dallas Cowboys than no doubt he would be just as prolific with or without Owens.

While I agree his playmaking ability is pretty much separate from Owens. To say that he would have been "just as prolific" is silly.


He had a SLEDGEHAMMER in Owens.
Now he has some good size hammers.

 

[CATCH17]

No question that the vast majority of quarterbacks who even make the rosters of NFL teams come from large schools, but...

Ben Roethlisberger (Miami Ohio), Jake Delhomme (Louisiana-Lafayette), Rich Gannon (Delaware), Steve McNair (Alcorn State), Brett Favre (Southern Mississippi), Stan Humphries (University of Louisiana Monroe/formerly Northern Louisiana), Doug Williams (Grambling), Phil Simms (Morehead State), Ken Anderson (Augustana IL), Ron Jaworski (Youngstown State), Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech)

...teams can find a lot of quality quarterbacks from small school too. It really comes down to what each quarterback actually brings to the table and not where they derive their academic pedigree.

And people better get used to getting Quarterbacks from you.have.never.heard.of.us state because so many High Profile Schools are running a spread Offense these days.

 

[theogt]

We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[RCowboyFan]

TO did make Romo a Star somewhat. But I think, lot of December Woes can be traced back to the same reason last 3 years.

The team was living of big plays. And when December rolls, both cold weather, and teams also playing more desperate, added to Cowboys not being able to make the big plays. That caused dramatic dropoff and turnovers.

Now if as promised, Cowboys change to more controlled game, wether its by Ground or short passing game ( ala more 2 TE set), I think that will lend it self, barring injuries, to more successful December etc.

Its not just Cowboys, just look at 2007 NE Patriots. They lived off Big plays most of the year, you could see the dropoff towards december/January. Now Tom Brady being more accomplished, kind of helped them and some lucky breaks helped them get to SB. But clearly, NE wasn't good at the end of year that year.

My suspicion is that, one of the reasons, TO isn't here is due to change in philosophy on offense too. TO would never keep quite about not getting his touches or balls thrown his way, if offense changed more to run oriented or short passing game.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

We'll just have to wait and see.

If it's true that Owens makes the QB great, we would never have heard of Romo. Drew Bledsoe would still be our QB, and on his way to Canton.

 

[theogt]

If it's true that Owens makes the QB great, we would never have heard of Romo. Drew Bledsoe would still be our QB, and on his way to Canton.

You don't have to be great to supplant Drew Bledsoe in 2006. Romo's play in 2007 was truly great. I'd love to see him back at that level, but I'm not 100% certain he can without TO.

 

[CATCH17]

You don't have to be great to supplant Drew Bledsoe in 2006. Romo's play in 2007 was truly great. I'd love to see him back at that level, but I'm not 100% certain he can without TO.

It would be tough for any QB to play at his 2007 level with consistency.

Thats one of the better years in NFL history and it got overshadowed because Brady went bonkers.

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

When Trent Edwards has a pro bowl caliber year and Romo has a decent year I wont even need to say I told you so. Most of you know the truth deep down inside your souls anyway.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

They complemented each other. If a guy like Shanahan was the OC of this team, the numbers they would have put up would be ridiculous, considering TO would have gotten the ball early with Romo's quick release and Romo would have a full package of roll-out plays designed for his skill-set... The thing that sucks is Garrett.

Romo's feet masked our incompetent play-calling that became really evident when Brad Johnson was inserted in the game.

Romo has some of the best feet I've ever seen, if not the best feet.