DMN Blog | Cowboys confident they can still throw deep

[Bluefin]

Cowboys confident they can still throw deep

9:00 AM Sun, Aug 23, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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If you want to nitpick the Cowboys' passing game after two preseason games, the lack of a vertical element is a pretty good place to start.

Tony Romo has ranked among the league leaders in completions over 20 yards the last two seasons (second with 55 in 2007, tied for fifth with 48 in 2008). He has one through three quarters of preseason action, and that came when Felix Jones danced through three defenders to turn a checkdown into a 42-yard gain.

One of the best big-play threats in NFL history, a fella who now calls Buffalo home, was on the receiving end of a lot of Romo deep balls. But Romo firmly believes that the Cowboys' downfield passing game didn't go with T.O.

"It's not hard to throw it downfield or throw it short," said Romo, who expressed confidence that the Cowboys still have the weapons necessary to stretch the field. "The whole part is trying to figure out what the defense is giving up. When you figure it out, you can take it."

Added Wade Phillips: "I think there's some shots down the field that we haven't taken yet. I think that's working in players and guys like Miles (Austin). That's that his specialty is going to be somewhat. He's going to be able to beat people down the field. We haven't done much of that, but I wouldn't count it out."

If the Cowboys can't throw downfield effectively, it'll make life much tougher for the running backs, since opposing defenses can put a safety in the box without fear of getting scorched deep.

 

[Ken]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

 

[LandryFan]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

Your point is valid. I'm somewhat worried about that aspect of the offense too, until I actually see that we are capable of forcing teams to worry about the deep ball.

 

[newlander]

Disagree: vehemently. Austin, Felix and Bennett can all get deep: book it. (Hurd, Crayton, Witten and Roy can get deep enough: WON'T BE A PROBLEM IMO) Bump this thread if it is.................

 

[Mansta54]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

We don't need anybody to streak fear in a defense, let the D sleep on us all they want. Our O just needs to continue to move the chains and score points. Austin can get deep and so can RW11. Defenses fearing us isn't important, our O consistently moving the ball is. Our O will be dominating at times this year because they execute.

 

[theogt]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

Tony throwing 190+ yards in a half will certainly be the downfall of this offense.
:laugh2:

 

[speedkilz88]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

The 90's team lacked a burner. I have no doubt this team will have plenty of big plays this season.

 

[adamknite]

Last year it was Garrett was dialing up too many deep throws.... this preseason it's he's not doing it enough or we don't have the players to do it?

Against Tennessee 8 of the 15 players who caught a pass, had a reception over 15 yards. That's not "deep" but it's a first down and more, and keeps the offense on the field.

 

[Bizwah]

I want them to define what "deep" is.

I can't remember a time the last two preseasons where Romo and Co. threw and completed a long bomb.

I guess you can say Hurd went "deep" against the Raiders. He caught a pass about 20+ yards downfield. He ran a bit for a 30 yard gain.

I like what Romo's doing. He hasn't really forced anything. He's taking what he's been given.

 

[Doomsday]

I think they are just trying to work on the shorter throws that werent really involved in teh game plan last season. I doubt Garrett will be able to resist putting some of them in once the season starts.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

throwing the ball deep isn't just 50-60 yard bombs

Witten had 2 15+ yard receptions the other night, that stretches Ds out too

 

[TD-33]

I want them to define what "deep" is.

I can't remember a time the last two preseasons where Romo and Co. threw and completed a long bomb.

I guess you can say Hurd went "deep" against the Raiders. He caught a pass about 20+ yards downfield. He ran a bit for a 30 yard gain.

I like what Romo's doing. He hasn't really forced anything. He's taking what he's been given.

That's what the man said. I'll take his word for it.

"It's not hard to throw it downfield or throw it short," said Romo, who expressed confidence that the Cowboys still have the weapons necessary to stretch the field. "The whole part is trying to figure out what the defense is giving up. When you figure it out, you can take it."

If teams let Austin or RW11 get behind coverage this season he will make them pay just like greenbay found out the hard way last year.

 

[NeonNinja]

Tony throwing 190+ yards in a half will certainly be the downfall of this offense.
:laugh2:

You bet it will be, how will we handle any D with Tony only throwing for 190+ in the first half on checkdowns.

 

[AtlCB]

Roy Williams and Miles Austin are both deap threats. I'm not too worried.

 

[dbair1967]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

if only we had Randall Williams, Ed Hervey or Alex Wright

 

[landryscorner]

Agree here: I've seen other teams throw deep with ROOKIES yet we haven't even tried to go deep as many times as I saw camp this summer not once that I was there did I see none of the receivers go deep for a long pass. I think Garrett is happy with what he has all the middle stuff plus all the plays that he has set up for 2 tight end sets. Is it gonna be enough? no, we need a deep threat definetly anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves, les we forget the impact that Irvin had on the whole offense when they knew he would go deep, nuff said.

 

[dbair1967]

This is my worry.

We don't have anyone on our team who strikes fear into the defense to beat them deep.

I like Miles, but he doesn't scare anyone.

We just need someone who can flat run...we don't have that person.

This could be the downfall of our offense.

I'm not worried about it at all. Rot Williams and Miles Austin will make alot of plays downfield. Witten always does because almost no LB or safety can stay with him, and Bennett will be the same type of mismatch problems.

Teams will have to decide whether they want to put 8 in the box to stop the run or lay people back to help on the passing game. Balance will be our biggest asset this yr.

 

[Bluefin]

Roy Williams and Miles Austin are both deap threats. I'm not too worried.

Sam Hurd is considered the "slow" one and he had 5 passes of 20+ yards in '07 on only 19 total receptions. He had 17 first downs on those 19 catches and a career average of 16.2 yards per.

Not too shabby.

Maybe I'll call Hurd the SlowPoke from now on.

 

[tomson75]

Agree here: I've seen other teams throw deep with ROOKIES yet we haven't even tried to go deep as many times as I saw camp this summer not once that I was there did I see none of the receivers go deep for a long pass. I think Garrett is happy with what he has all the middle stuff plus all the plays that he has set up for 2 tight end sets. Is it gonna be enough? no, we need a deep threat definetly anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves, les we forget the impact that Irvin had on the whole offense when they knew he would go deep, nuff said.

So now Irvin was a "deep threat" type WR?

 

[CF74]

Even with scrubs for wr's if the opposing team puts 8 in the box it automatically opens up the deep ball. Anyone recall Crayton's 54 yd post pattern for 6? He's not fast but he made the play...