DMN Blog: Romo vs. Young Favre

[Angus]

Romo vs. young Favre

I was curious how Tony Romo's start as a starter compared to the beginning of Brett Favre's Hall of Fame career, so I looked it up. Here's the stats from the first 21 starts of Favre's and Romo's careers:

FAVRE

419-of-664 (63.1 percent), 4,416 yards, 27 TD, 25 INT. Record: 12-9.

ROMO

437-of-662 (66.0 percent), 5,684 yards, 45 TD, 23 INT. Record: 16-5.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Romo will break all the records Favre is setting, but it puts in perspective just how good he's been.

It's worth noting that Favre sat on Atlanta's bench for one season and was Green Bay's backup for three games, while Romo watched and learned for 3 1/2 seasons in Dallas before becoming the starter.

You could argue that Romo has been surrounded by better talent, but Favre's early targets were awfully good, too. Sterling Sharpe was an elite receiver, and Jackie Harris was an excellent pass-catching tight end.

Posted by Tim MacMahon at 1:16 PM

http://cowboys.beloblog.com/

 

[Chief]

And Romo hasn't been in the NFL's substance abuse program.

 

[circasurvive]

Theres a huge time gap of almost 15 years. Offensive stlyles changed. Also when Brett stepped in his team was terrible. Romo stepped in on a team with an Oline and with great recievers. Sterling wasnt good until Favre got there. Sterling TDs before Favre: 1, 12, 6, 4. When Favre got there: 13, 11, 18.
He went from an average of 6 TDs a season to 14 when Favre got there. Same thing with Jackie Harris. He wasnt much until Favre got there. Once he left to Tampa he wasnt anything either until he got to Dallas.

 

[sago1]

Romo's stats are extremely impressive. Maybe Romo has a better team around him so a comparison of Favre's stats starting 1-2 years latter might be better. However, I do remember posting in last week or so that Romo is projected to throw at least 40 TDs this season. If so, he will join an extremely select group of QBs like Brady (will also throw more then 40 this season), Dan Marino (twice), Peyton Manning & Kurt Warner. No body else has done it and that includes Favre.

The Cowboys are set at QB for the next maybe 8 years. It's up to Jerry to ensure that Romo had the talent around him not only offensively but defensively to win SBs.

 

[theogt]

Theres a huge time gap of almost 15 years. Offensive stlyles changed. Also when Brett stepped in his team was terrible. Romo stepped in on a team with an Oline and with great recievers. Sterling wasnt good until Favre got there. Sterling TDs before Favre: 1, 12, 6, 4. When Favre got there: 13, 11, 18.
He went from an average of 6 TDs a season to 14 when Favre got there. Same thing with Jackie Harris. He wasnt much until Favre got there. Once he left to Tampa he wasnt anything either until he got to Dallas.

The Dallas O-line wasn't good until Romo became the starter. The receivers (including TE) were good, but not nearly as good as they are with Romo starting.

 

[thudjones]

Biggest difference IMHO was that Favre was 22 when he started his first game for the Packers and Romo was 26. Romo had 4 years of seasoning/training camps/etc and Favre had next to none. Favre's first season the Packers went 9-5 with him as a starter on a team that was 4-12 the previous year with no real difference in talent between the two teams.

 

[theogt]

Biggest difference IMHO was that Favre was 22 when he started his first game for the Packers and Romo was 26. Romo had 4 years of seasoning/training camps/etc and Favre had next to none. Favre's first season the Packers went 9-5 with him as a starter on a team that was 4-12 the previous year with no real difference in talent between the two teams.

It's a meaningless difference. You could look at Favre's production when he was 27. Or in his 4th season in the NFL.

It wouldn't matter because Favre has never had a season as good as the one Romo is having right now, including the season Favre is having right now, which many believe is his best ever.

 

[thudjones]

Well, looks like Romo will likely pass Favre's TD high of 38 or 39 TDs, however, in both of those seasons Favre threw just 13 interceptions which is what Romo already has through 11 games.

If Romo doesn't throw another interception, wins the MVP, and wins the Superbowl this year, I'll agree with you that Favre never had a season as good as Romo is having right now...

 

[theogt]

Well, looks like Romo will likely pass Favre's TD high of 38 or 39 TDs, however, in both of those seasons Favre threw just 13 interceptions which is what Romo already has through 11 games.

If Romo doesn't throw another interception, wins the MVP, and wins the Superbowl this year, I'll agree with you that Favre never had a season as good as Romo is having right now...

Why not just use QB rating, which is a proxy for TDs per attempt, INTs per attempt, and yards per attempt?

Winning the Super Bowl is a team accomplishment. And we're talking about the season he's having so far.

 

[thudjones]

You could use the QB rating, however, how would you adjust it to the liberalized passing rules implemented in the late 90s?

I'll give you this -- Romo is having an awesome season -- right up there with Favre's MVP seasons for sure... I won't play games and try to say any differently.

 

[theogt]

You could use the QB rating, however, how would you adjust it to the liberalized passing rules implemented in the late 90s?

I'll give you this -- Romo is having an awesome season -- right up there with Favre's MVP seasons for sure... I won't play games and try to say any differently.

Why not just take Brett's own words? He said this is his best season ever. That statement is backed up by the statistics. And yet it's not as good, statistically, as the year that Romo is having.

 

[Mavs Man]

It's a meaningless difference. You could look at Favre's production when he was 27. Or in his 4th season in the NFL.

It wouldn't matter because Favre has never had a season as good as the one Romo is having right now, including the season Favre is having right now, which many believe is his best ever.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Romo gets the ball to whomever's on the field...