DMN Blog: Here's Troy Aikman on the ill-fated Romo to Hurd incompletion

[khiladi]

It is a match-up you want. You blitz 8 forcing romo to get the ball out quickly to his first read, which is Hurd who is defended by Champ Bailey.

 

[khiladi]

No, the more I watch this, the more I have to say that this is not on Garrett. On both plays, it was execution. Heck, if I'm the OC and I have two downs to get a TD throwing the ball and you tell me that the opposition is going to put their best CB on my weakest WR on the field, I'm thanking the Gods for that piece of luck. I want there best player on my worst. I want my best player on their weakest or weaker. That's what we got and what's funny is that we had open WRs on those plays. We just didn't execute. Especially on that second TD.

Unless of course the logic was to actually throw it to Hurd because he just caught the ball twice during that drive...

 

[wileedog]

Sounds like a screen to Barber (or even Choice) would have been a winner. Oh, that's right, he was on the bench.

Who's that 6-6 TE I kept hearing about in TC? Wouldn't it be nice to get a matchup with him on 5-9 Alphonso Smith or 5-10 Andre Goodman?

 

[wileedog]

No, the more I watch this, the more I have to say that this is not on Garrett. On both plays, it was execution. Heck, if I'm the OC and I have two downs to get a TD throwing the ball and you tell me that the opposition is going to put their best CB on my weakest WR on the field, I'm thanking the Gods for that piece of luck. I want there best player on my worst. I want my best player on their weakest or weaker. That's what we got and what's funny is that we had open WRs on those plays. We just didn't execute. Especially on that second TD.

Our best player was in the backfield blocking.

Our 2nd best player was watching from the sidelines.

Miles Austin is no better than Hurd.

 

[khiladi]

Sounds like a screen to Barber (or even Choice) would have been a winner. Oh, that's right, he was on the bench.

How about instead of panciking like Garrett always does, roll Witten off, pretending to block on the blitz and have him run a quick out for a TD. Oh yeah, that's right... Garrett's passing game blows...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Unless of course the logic was to actually throw it to Hurd because he just caught the ball twice during that drive...

Twice?

 

[TwentyOne]

Does this mean that Romo doesn't suck for trying to make that throw since it's the one Aikman would have made too?

Read the last sentence of the article again und you get the answer.
Who do you think executed the play ?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Our best player was in the backfield blocking.

Our 2nd best player was watching from the sidelines.

Miles Austin is no better than Hurd.

I would say that both Austin and Crayton are higher on the depth chart then is Hurd. Either way, I don't see the logic in throwing the same route to a Hurd/Bailey match up, twice in a row.

 

[skinsscalper]

A screen by the goalline? to slow of a developing play by the goal line but just my opinion.

You may be right Dooms, but they seemed to be coming pretty fast. With eight coming and the DBs isolated on the WRs it may have worked. Maybe not. I know that it's typically successful against an all out blitz. Down by the goal line you may be right. Might not have been enough room.


I just hate the fact that Witten and Barber were rendered useless by the something as simple as the play call itself.

 

[skinsscalper]

Who's that 6-6 TE I kept hearing about in TC? Wouldn't it be nice to get a matchup with him on 5-9 Alphonso Smith or 5-10 Andre Goodman?

^^^This too.

 

[Hoofbite]

It is a match-up you want. You blitz 8 forcing romo to get the ball out quickly to his first read, which is Hurd who is defended by Champ Bailey.

That is not a matchup anyone would want. HOF CB vs #4 receiver.

 

[Hoofbite]

Who's that 6-6 TE I kept hearing about in TC? Wouldn't it be nice to get a matchup with him on 5-9 Alphonso Smith or 5-10 Andre Goodman?

I was going to say the same thing.

Maybe if Redball hadn't used up his monthly quota for fades in the previous game, Martellus would have gotten a shot.

I'd feel much better about losing on a fade to Bennett than losing on a slant to Hurd.

Romo should have been on the move on one of those plays just to extend the play. Ideally 4th down because it is all or nothing.

 

[bbgun]

I'm not endorsing this, just posting it.

Tavern talk: Cowboys share the blame

Was failed TD Romo’s fault? Not entirely.

by Michael Lombardi
October 06, 2009

FROM THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM...Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is getting a lot of criticism for throwing consecutive passes to fourth receiver Sam Hurd against Denver standout cornerback Champ Bailey on third and fourth down to end the game in Sunday's 17-10 loss.

Is it possible that Romo didn't know it was fourth down?

Following the final incomplete pass to end the Cowboys hopes, a video caught on KDFW Fox-4 shows Romo seemingly telling his linemen to line back up. He then flashes three fingers to one of the game officials.

After hearing the response, Romo screams and walks off field.

If true, Romo apparently forgot about the spike to stop the clock on second down.

When asked about the series of events, Coach Wade Phillips didn't know anything about a discrepancy. He said that on the sideline they knew what down it was and any questions would need to be directed at Romo.

That may not be until Wednesday or Thursday. Romo is not scheduled to talk to the media until then.

Is it me or does it seem like there’s always a conspiracy coming out of Dallas? To me, Tony Romo not knowing what down it was just doesn’t seem plausible (much like Oswald acting alone in the Kennedy assassination doesn’t seem plausible), but what does is the fact the Cowboys as a team failed to act and handle the pressure of the moment. This is all not on Romo; Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett and the whole team share the blame.

Speaking of Wade, how about this line: He said he didn't know anything about a discrepancy. According to the story, he said that “on the sideline they knew what down it was and any questions would need to be directed at Romo.” Wow, that’s throwing the quarterback under the bus.


Timeout #1 by DAL at 12:45.

Mistake No. 1: They did not get the play in on time as this meaningless timeout early in the second half was another reason for the failures on the final drive.

Dallas Cowboys at 1:46 now. They have two timeouts and need a touchdown to tie.

1-10-DAL 20 (1:46) T.Romo pass short right to J.Witten to DAL 27 for 7 yards (D.Williams).

2-3-DAL 27 (1:23) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short right to M.Austin.

3-3-DAL 27 (1:20) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short left to P.Crayton (J.Williams).

4-3-DAL 27 (1:16) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short middle to S.Hurd to DEN 20 for 53 yards (B.Dawkins). P19

Timeout #2 by DAL at 00:59.

Had to call this timeout. Plays are too important now, and with one in your back pocket, it’s important to be mindful of the clock. But keep in mind that the next timeout must be saved in the event of a sack.

1-10-DEN 20 59) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short right to T.Choice to DEN 13 for 7 yards (W.Woodyard).

2-3-DEN 13 35) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass short right to S.Hurd pushed ob at DEN 8 for 5 yards (C.Bailey). P20

Timeout #3 by DAL at 00:27.

Really bad. Two plays burn off 32 seconds that are very precious. They’re now trapped and must throw the ball four times in the end zone. This mismanagement of the time is Mistake No. 2.

1-8-DEN 8 27) T.Romo pass short right to P.Crayton to DEN 2 for 6 yards (J.Williams).

HUGE, HUGE, HUGE MISTAKE, AND THE FOCUS OF THE GAME SHOULD BE CENTERED RIGHT HERE…Mistake No. 3. Romo has to know better than to throw a pass inbounds that results in just a two-yard gain. This throw can’t be made unless there’s a clear path to the end zone. A tackle in bounds is what the defense wants. A throw away here is much better.

2-2-DEN 2 09) T.Romo spiked the ball to stop the clock.

He had to, but again, look how much time is used for two yards? Why did it take so long to set back up? Twenty-two second to gain two yards is high schoolish. They waste time at moments like these too easily…

3-2-DEN 2 09) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to S.Hurd (C.Bailey).

The play comes from the bench. The Cowboys are in a two-by-two formation in which they have two wideouts to Romo’s left and a tight end and receiver to his right. Denver lines up in an all-out blitz, and Romo calls for the protection to slide to the left, which keeps Jason Witten in to block. This places Romo’s eye control to the right because he slides the line to the overload and doesn’t have enough blockers to handle the ones from right. All quarterbacks are taught to look at the unblocked man and throw before he arrives. So Miles Austin being open is not really significant since Romo was NEVER going to look left because of the protection. Had he slid the line to the right, he would have never gotten the ball off in time. Hurd doesn’t run a very good route, and Romo can’t hold the ball long because of the blitz. Bad route, bad call, bad result.

4-2-DEN 2 05) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to S.Hurd (C.Bailey).

See above. The Broncos call the same blitz and Dallas does the same thing over again. They do not change the play, the protection, the personnel group, the design. They just let it run. The theory that someone has to make a play…well, someone didn’t.

Winning football is a game of details, and the Cowboys didn’t cover all the details. Romo takes the heat, but there was more than one shooter to blame in Denver for sure.

 

[Doomsday101]

I was going to say the same thing.

Maybe if Redball hadn't used up his monthly quota for fades in the previous game, Martellus would have gotten a shot.

I'd feel much better about losing on a fade to Bennett than losing on a slant to Hurd.

Romo should have been on the move on one of those plays just to extend the play. Ideally 4th down because it is all or nothing.

See how many people have their own play they would have ran but Garretts was wrong. :laugh2:

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

That is not a matchup anyone would want. HOF CB vs #4 receiver.

I would want that matchup. I just wouldn't throw to it.

 

[tyke1doe]

Did anyone other than me notice that had Romo thrown the ball lower it would have been batted down at the line of scrimmage?

Nor did he have time to lead Hurd.

I wonder if Romo isn't tall enough to make those plays standing square in the pocket?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Did anyone other than me notice that had Romo thrown the ball lower it would have been batted down at the line of scrimmage?

Nor did he have time to lead Hurd.

I wonder if Romo isn't tall enough to make those plays standing square in the pocket?

Hurd is open early. If the ball is thrown right on Hurds break, it's a TD.

Crayton beats his man early in that play as well.

Miles, to the left and outside, beats his man cleanly. If you watch the play, Romo has a clear field of vision to Austin and his man is by two yards. He really makes a nice move on him. Miles' man uses inside technique and just fakes him out.

The more I watch this last play, the more sick I become. Every one of those guys is open if the ball is delivered on time.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I would say that both Austin and Crayton are higher on the depth chart then is Hurd. Either way, I don't see the logic in throwing the same route to a Hurd/Bailey match up, twice in a row.

That is my biggest issue.

Then again, I HATED the 1st down call.

 

[JD_KaPow]

1-8-DEN 8 27) T.Romo pass short right to P.Crayton to DEN 2 for 6 yards (J.Williams).

HUGE, HUGE, HUGE MISTAKE, AND THE FOCUS OF THE GAME SHOULD BE CENTERED RIGHT HERE…Mistake No. 3. Romo has to know better than to throw a pass inbounds that results in just a two-yard gain. This throw can’t be made unless there’s a clear path to the end zone. A tackle in bounds is what the defense wants. A throw away here is much better.

2-2-DEN 2 09) T.Romo spiked the ball to stop the clock.

He had to, but again, look how much time is used for two yards? Why did it take so long to set back up? Twenty-two second to gain two yards is high schoolish.

Um. It was 6 yards. Not 2. The difference between the 8 yard line and the 2 yard line is not small. Crayton had a chance to get in, and they still got two shots from the 2.

 

[craig71]

Hurd is open early. If the ball is thrown right on Hurds break, it's a TD.

Crayton beats his man early in that play as well.

Miles, to the left and outside, beats his man cleanly. If you watch the play, Romo has a clear field of vision to Austin and his man is by two yards. He really makes a nice move on him. Miles' man uses inside technique and just fakes him out.

The more I watch this last play, the more sick I become. Every one of those guys is open if the ball is delivered on time.

Regardless of what an individual thinks of the play calling,it is troubling when you have to wonder about a quarterbacks decision making process in critical situations.I'm not saying he should of did anything different in Denver,however it should be looked for down the road to see if a trend develops.

Craig