DMN Blog: Did Romo really flounder down stretch?

[WoodysGirl]

Some of the sensitive folks around these parts got their feathers ruffled by Goose's statement that Tony Romo "floundered in December."

Let's take a close look at Romo's performance in the the final five games. I'm including the playoff game, even though it was played in January.

Saints 42, Cowboys 17 -- Romo's stats: 16-33, 249 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. An embarrassing defensive effort put the Cowboys in a huge hole, but Romo didn't respond well. His second INT, which occurred in the end zone at the end of the third quarter, ended any hopes for a comeback.

Cowboys 38, Falcons 28 -- Romo's stats: 22-29, 278 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. This was a Pro Bowl-caliber performance.

Eagles 23, Cowboys 7 -- Romo's stats: 14-29, 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. This was his worst game of the season.

Lions 39, Cowboys 31 -- Romo's stats: 23-32, 321 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Impressive stat line, but he also lost two fumbles when trying to do too much. The defense deserves the (bad pun alert) lion's share of the blame, but a three-turnover performance in a home loss to a terrible team is nothing to brag about.

Seahawks 21, Cowboys 20 -- Romo's stats: 17-29, 189 yards, 1 TD. Forget the botched hold. Romo was decent in his playoff debut, but he didn't exactly shred an injury-plagued secondary that was forced to use a loan officer at nickel back. And before you give Romo credit for putting the Cowboys in position to win, remember that Julius Jones' 35-yard run was the key play on that drive.

Look, I think Romo will be an above-average QB for the next several years, perhaps even a perennial Pro Bowler (not too tough in the QB-challenged NFC). But if you don't think he struggled down the stretch last season, you need to take off the silver-and-blue shades.

Posted by Tim MacMahon at 4:36 PM (E-mail this entry) | Comments (0)

 

[Billy Bullocks]

5 games. Had a bad one against Philly. They babied Romo in the playoffs with the conservative game plan. I hated that.

I guess he did falter, especially compared to his success earleir in the year. But yeah you're going to hit some slumps.

 

[TEK2000]

I don't even need to read the writeup and I can tell you HELL NO. The guy put up "Best QB in the League" #'s for his first 6 starts and then put up, at worst, "Average NFL QB" #'s in the last 5 games.

Its pretty tough for your QB to play great when the defense is putting the offense in a huge hole, you've got very little running game, and the OLine is not protecting the QB and he's forced to scramble on a great # of plays.

 

[bbgun]

Saints 42, Cowboys 17 -- Romo's stats: 16-33, 249 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT. An embarrassing defensive effort put the Cowboys in a huge hole, but Romo didn't respond well. His second INT, which occurred in the end zone at the end of the third quarter, ended any hopes for a comeback.

That was a five pick game had they held on to the ball. Remember how TO got his TD?

 

[5Stars]

5 games. Had a bad one against Philly. They babied Romo in the playoffs with the conservative game plan. I hated that.

I guess he did falter, especially compared to his success earleir in the year. But yeah you're going to hit some slumps.

Those stats are kinda of crazy because in all (or most) of those games, Romo was trying to lead the team back to victory. So he took his chances...and when you take a chance, sometimes you lose or do something wrong because you are trying to come from behind. Blame the defense for the late flounder. Had the defense stopped the other teams, perhaps Romo's number would have been better?

Also, factor in that this was his FIRST season as a starter in the NFL! Not too bad al all!

Now that he knows this is his team we will see if he is for real. Not after his first year...

 

[redskins1]

romo style of play caught teams off guard..he was a unknown,not anymore...he was blazing early on when he took over and as the season went on teams were trying to figure him out..romo will have to adjust his game some this year cause teams will not let him do what he did last year..teams now know his strength's and weaknesses..

 

[Alexander]

It is next to impossible for anyone to keep up the superhuman pace he was at up until Thanksgiving. Anyone would look bad just playing average up against that.

I wish he hadn't played as badly as he did against Philadelphia and doesn't make a habit of making the type of mistakes he did against Detroit which cost us dearly. I also hope his performance in the playoffs was the result of first time young QB experiencing jitters.

I will not lie and say I am completely secure about him.

 

[BouncingCheese]

He lost against Detroit....that should NEVER happen unless the setback is named Barry Sanders, and even that it is still a crapshoot.

Romo played badly at the end of the year... at least he was accurate.

 

[burmafrd]

Both the Philthy game and the NO game we flat out stank it up all together. No way any more or less should be put on Romo. The other games he did a good enough job for us to win if we had played as a team better. Compared to his first games of course he slumped- but that was because it was pretty much IMPOSSIBLE for him to have done much better.

 

[burmafrd]

Its the turnovers that really worry me. The fumbles can be cured by more care; the INTs are totally on him- he has to show better self control.

 

[CalCBFan]

Let's face it. Most "rookie" QBs look great until the league gathers about 5-6 games worth of film on them, and starts to analyze their tendencies and weaknesses. I'm not sold on Romo, but I think he has done enough to warrant another season and a chance to get some coaching from the likes of Wade Wilson and Jason Garrett.

I can't remember a guy that throws more accurately on the run since watching Joe Montana and the 49ers bury Tom Landry and the Cowboys on their way to becoming the team of the '80's. Romo reminds me a LOT of Joe Montana, just watching him play. There's also a lot of Brett Farve in Tony as well. This is why I'm a little skeptical of putting Romo into a purely timing-based offense. We may not be making use of one of his best talents: His mobility...

 

[TEK2000]

Let's face it. Most "rookie" QBs look great until the league gathers about 5-6 games worth of film on them, and starts to analyze their tendencies and weaknesses. I'm not sold on Romo, but I think he has done enough to warrant another season and a chance to get some coaching from the likes of Wade Wilson and Jason Garrett.

I can't remember a guy that throws more accurately on the run since watching Joe Montana and the 49ers bury Tom Landry and the Cowboys on their way to becoming the team of the '80's. Romo reminds me a LOT of Joe Montana, just watching him play. There's also a lot of Brett Farve in Tony as well. This is why I'm a little skeptical of putting Romo into a purely timing-based offense. We may not be making use of one of his best talents: His mobility...

Didn't Steve Young play in those West Coast, timing based offenses?

I'm not trying to question you CalCB... just wondering why you feel it will completely do away with using his mobility.

If the timing on the route is disrupted, his mobility might help keep the play alive.

 

[5Stars]

If the timing on the route is disrupted, his mobility might help keep the play alive.

Which he has already shown that he can...when he picked up that long snap and came back to make a completion.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Good solid report.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

And before you give Romo credit for putting the Cowboys in position to win, remember that Julius Jones' 35-yard run was the key play on that drive.

If there had been more of these 35 yard runs, better run blocking by the OL and key stops down the stretch by the defense, it wouldn't all fall on Romo to be perfect in bringing the team back.

 

[Apollo Creed]

The Seattle defense played the pass the majority of that game, like I've said before, Julius should've gone for 200+ that game - especially considering how many opportunities he had once he got to the 2nd level, but he just couldn't make people miss and bust off a big run.

The gameplan BP had for that game was typical vanilla, conservative, lets keep it close and win it in the end. Which indeed worked, but a strange turn of events displayed why teams should be more aggressive especially when attempting to be a championship caliber team.

I'm not saying I believe in karma or anything, but we really had no shot of being super bowl champions if we would've held our young QB back that much in critical games. A win in Seattle may have secured BP's position for another year, and ensured us another year of mediocrity and frustration as fans with a team with so much potential being limited and molded into a certain brand of football as opposed to playing to their potential and being aggressive.

The entire 2007 Dallas team has something to prove, and the theme this year (since motivational quotes like 'We Believe' are labeled on NBA teams) our theme this year should be 'No More Excuses'.

 

[JackMagist]

I did see Romo flounder down the stretch last year...But the entire team floundered down the stretch last year. The Defense floundered and so did the offense and each made the other look worse and worse. When the entire team is struggling it is hard to point fingers at one particular player...even the Quarterback. If receivers don't run their route as crisply or don't go up and fight for the ball as hard it will make the QB struggle. To exactly what degree Romo was affected by those types of factors it is hard to say. Romo may not have been as crisp but I do believe that there were some of these contributing factors as well.

I would add though that the team floundered down the stretch every year that Bill Parcells was here. It was an annual thing and hopefully that will change with the coaching change and new attitude. I think the team just got wore down by the end of the year under Parcells' coaching style. I can't say if it was physical or mental but they definitely worn down.

 

[tyke1doe]

Seahawks 21, Cowboys 20 -- Romo's stats: 17-29, 189 yards, 1 TD. Forget the botched hold. Romo was decent in his playoff debut, but he didn't exactly shred an injury-plagued secondary that was forced to use a loan officer at nickel back. And before you give Romo credit for putting the Cowboys in position to win, remember that Julius Jones' 35-yard run was the key play on that drive.

Lost in the analysis is the irritating fact that Parcells never really let Romo attack an injury-plagued Seattle secondary.

That game shouldn't have even been close.

 

[Champsheart]

Good solid report.

LOL. you crack me up man. I have always wanted to call you 1 liner.

I am curious to know your average words per post average?

Not that it is a bad thing, just funny. Every post I open I expect to see your 1 Liner.

 

[Vintage]

LOL. you crack me up man. I have always wanted to call you 1 liner.

I am curious to know your average words per post average?

Not that it is a bad thing, just funny. Every post I open I expect to see your 1 Liner.

He's gone off on rants before.

Search for Manny Lawson....