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

[bbgun]

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.

He got it right the first time, then contradicted himself. Nice catch.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

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

Honestly,

If he just gets that ball out early, even if he doesn't go to a second read because of the way the defense sets up, I think it's a TD. I just think it's unfortunate. If that ball comes out right on Hurds break, he's got Bailey and I don't think there is any way Bailey recovers. It's a TD.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009100410/2009/REG4/cowboys@broncos/watch

 

[rcaldw]

Honestly,

If he just gets that ball out early, even if he doesn't go to a second read because of the way the defense sets up, I think it's a TD. I just think it's unfortunate. If that ball comes out right on Hurds break, he's got Bailey and I don't think there is any way Bailey recovers. It's a TD.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009100410/2009/REG4/cowboys@broncos/watch

This is true, and its not just true once, it is true both times. Hurd ran bad routes both times, (true), but if both those throws are early and on his body, there is no way in the world Bailey can stop it.

 

[wileedog]

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.

The real crime is taking 22 seconds to lineup and spike a play 6 yards away.

Again, to me this goes to the coaching, this is just not a well drilled team.

 

[craig71]

Honestly,

If he just gets that ball out early, even if he doesn't go to a second read because of the way the defense sets up, I think it's a TD. I just think it's unfortunate. If that ball comes out right on Hurds break, he's got Bailey and I don't think there is any way Bailey recovers. It's a TD.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009100410/2009/REG4/cowboys@broncos/watch

I understand what you're saying,it's just that i'm starting to wonder if it's a mental roadblock that makes Romo hesitant in that situation or is it lack of trust in the receiver.The reason I bring up lack of faith in the receiver is from the championship game where Irvin/Harper swap routes.Troy had to have faith in Harper to make the correct read,which he did.I just think that if a similar situation were to arise in the future would the play call be the same(unlikely) and if it were the same would he still be hesitant in his decision to throw the ball.It seemed Romo played very tentatively throughout the whole game,is it a trend or will he snap out of it this week?

Craig

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I understand what you're saying,it's just that i'm starting to wonder if it's a mental roadblock that makes Romo hesitant in that situation or is it lack of trust in the receiver.The reason I bring up lack of faith in the receiver is from the championship game where Irvin/Harper swap routes.Troy had to have faith in Harper to make the correct read,which he did.I just think that if a similar situation were to arise in the future would the play call be the same(unlikely) and if it were the same would he still be hesitant in his decision to throw the ball.It seemed Romo played very tentatively throughout the whole game,is it a trend or will he snap out of it this week?

Craig

I don't know. However, it is interesting to me that if the defense dictates where the ball is going and this is why, according to some, neither Crayton or Austin are not looked at, then it seems like you would be ready to just fire the ball. It's funny, rewatched that play and it's supposed to be a 5 step drop from the shootgun, which is odd to me. Seems as if that is way deep to drop. It actually seems like it would give the outside rush a better angle to the QB, which is where the pressure comes from. It's also pretty sloppy on the drop. It's not 5, it's more like 6 or 6 and a half. However, if Romo takes the 5 step drop, plants and release to Hurd, like that throw is supposed to be made, it is probably batted down or intercepted. Denver peels off #56 and puts him right in Romo's throwing lane. They dictated where he would throw the ball by the coverage Bailey played and then cut off the angle to make the throw on time. The other thing I see here is that there is no motion in our offensive set at all. Looks like we line up, Denver sets and nobody is forced to adjust. The basically do the same thing they did on the play before I guess.

 

[craig71]

I don't know. However, it is interesting to me that if the defense dictates where the ball is going and this is why, according to some, neither Crayton or Austin are not looked at, then it seems like you would be ready to just fire the ball. It's funny, rewatched that play and it's supposed to be a 5 step drop from the shootgun, which is odd to me. Seems as if that is way deep to drop. It actually seems like it would give the outside rush a better angle to the QB, which is where the pressure comes from. It's also pretty sloppy on the drop. It's not 5, it's more like 6 or 6 and a half. However, if Romo takes the 5 step drop, plants and release to Hurd, like that throw is supposed to be made, it is probably batted down or intercepted. Denver peels off #56 and puts him right in Romo's throwing lane. They dictated where he would throw the ball by the coverage Bailey played and then cut off the angle to make the throw on time. The other thing I see here is that there is no motion in our offensive set at all. Looks like we line up, Denver sets and nobody is forced to adjust. The basically do the same thing they did on the play before I guess.

It's looking like there is not a clearcut scapegoat for what transpired(never is),there's plenty of blame to go around(players and staff).I hope that this week in K.C. things will look better.


Craig

 

[Chocolate Lab]

GAC is talking about a story -- I missed the source -- that Mike Nolan told his team all week that when Romo's first read was covered, he *always* went to his RB. So they covered the RB tight in advance and Romo got sacked because his second option was covered.

And Nolan also told them that when the offense was spread and there were more defenders on the side with more receivers, Romo always went to the side with fewer receivers (and defenders)... As in, Champ x2.

Then Mosley said this is exactly the kind of things he heard from opposing defenses -- like Pittsburgh -- last year down the stretch.

Don't kill the messenger.

 

[NextGenBoys]

The pre-snap read was fine if that was the case. If he's playing off and the slant looks like its there, fine.

However, it's the fact that it's Champ Bailey. He was playing off, and he baited Romo into the throw and broke it up.

It's Champ Bailey against Sam Hurd. Champ is going to win that matchup 9 times out of 10.

He's 2/2 so far I think.

 

[JD_KaPow]

The real crime is taking 22 seconds to lineup and spike a play 6 yards away.

Again, to me this goes to the coaching, this is just not a well drilled team.

Except it wasn't anything like 22 seconds. He got that math wrong too. There were 18 seconds between the starts of the two plays, which means it was more like 11 or 12 seconds that it took to get the ball placed, the players lined up and the ball snapped. That doesn't seem long to me. Besides which, it didn't matter. There were 9 seconds left when all was said and done - plenty of time for a 3rd down and a 4th down play, and that's all you get there, anyway.

Honestly folks, there's enough to complain about without having to make stuff up.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

GAC is talking about a story -- I missed the source -- that Mike Nolan told his team all week that when Romo's first read was covered, he *always* went to his RB. So they covered the RB tight in advance and Romo got sacked because his second option was covered.

And Nolan also told them that when the offense was spread and there were more defenders on the side with more receivers, Romo always went to the side with fewer receivers (and defenders)... As in, Champ x2.

Then Mosley said this is exactly the kind of things he heard from opposing defenses -- like Pittsburgh -- last year down the stretch.

Don't kill the messenger.

predictability permeates the offense

 

[jobberone]

Um, Troy is not infallible. I'm sure you could rustle up another HOF QB who'd come to the exact opposite conclusion on those plays. Fans love to rag on Troy when he's down on the Boys during a telecast, then shower him with love when he reflects their biases a few days later. Time to make up your minds.

When you come up with another HOF QB who disputes Troy feel free to chime in.

I still have a problem with Witten blocking on that play. Put Barber back there to protect even if he's hurt.

 

[dbair1967]

predictability permeates the offense

This stuff is so freaking overstated and overrated

There was no team in the history of modern NFL football more predictable and less varied an offense than the 91-95 Cowboys, yet their offense was virtually unstoppable.

They ran the vast majority of their plays from standard sets. You almost never saw a set with more than 3 WR's on the field. They even ran alot of 3rd down pass plays with a RB and FB on the field. They'd get a lead and go to a 2TE, 1 WR set the majority of the time in fourth quarters of games. They had almost NO motion whatsoever in their plays. They never used the shotgun. I believe it was Nate Newton who once said there were 8 running plays in the entire playbook.

One of the reasons they were so good is the QB didnt turn the ball over and threw the football with extreme accuracy. He might miss one or two here or there, but it was a rarity to see Aikman miss guys running scott free. He also didnt miss many reads. He could check off primary and secondary receivers, he could find mismatches at the LOS.

Our QB is not playing well right now, in fact other than his rookie yr in TC/PS, I cant remember him ever playing worse, especially for this many games in a row.Once he starts hitting those open guys, we'll start scoring alot of points, period.

 

[dbair1967]

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.

Somebody else that sees the light.

 

[rcaldw]

This stuff is so freaking overstated and overrated

There was no team in the history of modern NFL football more predictable and less varied an offense than the 91-95 Cowboys, yet their offense was virtually unstoppable.

They ran the vast majority of their plays from standard sets. You almost never saw a set with more than 3 WR's on the field. They even ran alot of 3rd down pass plays with a RB and FB on the field. They'd get a lead and go to a 2TE, 1 WR set the majority of the time in fourth quarters of games. They had almost NO motion whatsoever in their plays. They never used the shotgun. I believe it was Nate Newton who once said there were 8 running plays in the entire playbook.

One of the reasons they were so good is the QB didnt turn the ball over and threw the football with extreme accuracy. He might miss one or two here or there, but it was a rarity to see Aikman miss guys running scott free. He also didnt miss many reads. He could check off primary and secondary receivers, he could find mismatches at the LOS.

Our QB is not playing well right now, in fact other than his rookie yr in TC/PS, I cant remember him ever playing worse, especially for this many games in a row.Once he starts hitting those open guys, we'll start scoring alot of points, period.

Spot on dbair. When the Cowboys first went to the Norv Turner offense, in 1991, Troy was more mechanical with it. He threw that flair pass to the RB over and over and over again. (check down) In 1992 it was different. He still checked down to that at times, but he became more and more proficient in reading defenses and finding open guys.

If indeed Romo was that predictable, it is up to him to be able to find secondary targets. But I actually think that Romo is usually pretty good at that. He just is in a slump it seems.

 

[BHendri5]

And anyone who saw the 98 yard interception that Troy threw against the Eagles from the 2 yard line knows that Troy is infallible down in the red zone.



See how that works?

That's it that is the play that I remember most about Troy, he could have walked in for that td, but he tried to force it to Irvin.

 

[CaptainMorgan]

And anyone who saw the 98 yard interception that Troy threw against the Eagles from the 2 yard line knows that Troy is infallible down in the red zone.



See how that works?

was that before or after he led us to three super bowl wins in route to becoming a hall of famer?

 

[Hoofbite]

This stuff is so freaking overstated and overrated

There was no team in the history of modern NFL football more predictable and less varied an offense than the 91-95 Cowboys, yet their offense was virtually unstoppable.

They ran the vast majority of their plays from standard sets. You almost never saw a set with more than 3 WR's on the field. They even ran alot of 3rd down pass plays with a RB and FB on the field. They'd get a lead and go to a 2TE, 1 WR set the majority of the time in fourth quarters of games. They had almost NO motion whatsoever in their plays. They never used the shotgun. I believe it was Nate Newton who once said there were 8 running plays in the entire playbook.

One of the reasons they were so good is the QB didnt turn the ball over and threw the football with extreme accuracy. He might miss one or two here or there, but it was a rarity to see Aikman miss guys running scott free. He also didnt miss many reads. He could check off primary and secondary receivers, he could find mismatches at the LOS.

Our QB is not playing well right now, in fact other than his rookie yr in TC/PS, I cant remember him ever playing worse, especially for this many games in a row.Once he starts hitting those open guys, we'll start scoring alot of points, period.

So is it just possible that a team with GREAT players doesn't need to be varied on offense while a team with average-to-good players does?

Saying the "predictability" argument is played out and then listing a bunch of reasons why the greats were able to get it done even though they were predictable and contrasting that with the current set of circumstances seems really counterintuitive.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

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

No it means he sucks for the otherwise miserable play in the last 3 games.




YAKUZA

 

[CactusCowboy]

I bet Troy would know what down it was?