DMN Blog: Tony Romo's take on leadership

[Idgit]

• ball protection
• throwing the ball away instead of throwing it up for grabs with his eyes closed
• commitment to the game
• desire to lead
• stepping it up a notch and playing to win after November 30th of each year.

These are all areas I feel Romo needs to pay special attention to. If you can't take constructive criticism of your boy then I feel for you. Even thought I staunchly defend TO, I recognize there are things he can improve and do better. No one out on that field is perfect and Romo is far from it.

First of all, I like Romo's personality, but in terms of his style of play, he's not a favorite of mine. I just think it's beyond stupid to blame him for the team's problems last year. Especially blaming his attitude, which is about as good an attitude as we could expect to have from a player. He works hard and cares about winning as a team. That's really all you can ask for.

He does need to work on fumbles. They killed us last year and it's not just because the line was porous at times. He needs to hold on to it anyway. The throwing it up for grabs stuff is reasonable criticism. Personally, with his TD/Int ratio I don't think it's the problem some want to make of it, but it's a side-effect of his style of play. But if you're going to blame the turnovers he makes when he extends plays, you have to credit the big plays he makes twice as often.

As to the 'desire to lead' point. I don't know what that means or how you could possibly measure it, so I'm not sure how to address it. I think Romo's a natural leader. He's the kind of person I'd follow on a team b/c he works hard, keeps a healthy perspective, and really enjoys and respects the game. If some players can't follow a guy like that, well, they might just be the kinds of players that have problems with the team concept in general. Just a thought.

The 'stepping it up' late in the season point. I don't know what that means, either. But I'll admit I'm befuddled why this team slumps late in the season. I'd be happier pointing to something specific that we need to do differently, but I don't know what it is. Whatever the problem, it's a safe bet that the QB will have to play a role in fixing it since he touches the ball so much. So that's on Romo in some way, shape, or form.

 

[Stash]

There is a difference between real and completely over-rated. Personally I think the utter hero worship of (winning) QBs in the media plays a huge part.

Exhibit A: Brett Favre. He probably single-handedly cost the Jets the playoffs this year, yet the slobbering over him by the media as he goes into this year's "reitrement watch" will still be never-ending.

Has anyone cited Favre as an example of a great leader in this thread?

 

[wileedog]

Has anyone cited Favre as an example of a great leader in this thread?

Not my point. The media and the NFL films and all that play up the QBs in a never ending "led his team to victory" hoopla.

The fact that Favre is given all of that attention is because he won. If he had played his entire career on bad teams no one would give a darn if he was retiring this year or not.

The media props up QBs as some sort of field general, that wills great teams to victory. BUt I think its mostly hype. The QB is undoubtedly the most important player on the team, but he doesn't play defense or special teams. His "will to win" can't make Crayton or TO hold on to a pass. His "burning desire" can't make Flozell stay onsides. His "competitive spirit" can't make Hamlin a better tackler.

All of you who think Romo is going to turn into angry perfectionist Aikman on the field are in for a disappointment. Its just not who he is. But that doesn't mean we can't win football games with him, other people need to do thier jobs too. Its a convenient excuse to say Romo's lack of leadership is costing us in December, when there is no leadership on this team at all once you get past Jerry.

 

[Stash]

Not my point. The media and the NFL films and all that play up the QBs in a never ending "led his team to victory" hoopla.

The fact that Favre is given all of that attention is because he won. If he had played his entire career on bad teams no one would give a darn if he was retiring this year or not.

The media props up QBs as some sort of field general, that wills great teams to victory. BUt I think its mostly hype. The QB is undoubtedly the most important player on the team, but he doesn't play defense or special teams. His "will to win" can't make Crayton or TO hold on to a pass. His "burning desire" can't make Flozell stay onsides. His "competitive spirit" can't make Hamlin a better tackler.

I'll counter that a quarterback can also lead by example and that can influence a guy like Crayton or Adams to work harder at what they do.

If the next time Flozell jumps offsides he hears about it from Romo or someone, maybe he'll work just a bit harder than he is now when everyone shrugs their collective shoulders and says 'we'll get 'em next time'.

All of you who think Romo is going to turn into angry perfectionist Aikman on the field are in for a disappointment. Its just not who he is. But that doesn't mean we can't win football games with him, other people need to do thier jobs too. Its a convenient excuse to say Romo's lack of leadership is costing us in December, when there is no leadership on this team at all once you get past Jerry.

I'm not asking that Romo be the leader that Aikman was - it's not in his nature. But I am asking that he take a more proactive leadership role than he does now. Romo just wants to be one of the guys when I feel as a quarterback he needs to do more.

When a team underachives as badly as this one did, there will be plenty of areas to point the finger of blame. Leadership is just one of them.

 

[theebs]

I guess your position is that we should just 'let Tony be Tony' then and just be one of the guys?

presonality wise? Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with his attitude imo.

I think there are alot of forces causing him to struggle.

Now, Do I think his play needs to improve, yes. Absolutely.

You would have to be brain dead to think he cant or doenst need to improve.

I think he needs a better coach dealing with him directly, but even as I type that i really dont know if that is true. Just looking at the facts, wade wilsons quarterbacks have never ever been any good.

Look at the coaches romo had before, David Lee and then lee left and Chris palmer was brought in. those are good qb coaches.

Even having said that I am not sure that is true, I just kind of cling to that because I think there is some corelation.

I think romo needs to have coaches he respects and will listen to. I am not sure they are here right now.

Romos play must improve and I think it will.

I also think all the hoopla and nonsense plays a role in his poor play. I think there are times in games when he takes chances with the ball because he feels he has no other ways of getting things done, as he has said since the new staff got here, we are aggressive on offense, we have to make throws into tight windows down the field and take chances.

So to me, The nonsense on this team, particularly offensively, the poor line play and then the underlying fact that he is required to take chances to be effective in this offense is what has caused him to turn the ball over.

and some times he just forgets and is careless.

I firmly believe if some changes were made he would be fantastic, I think he has more than enough around him but he needs that talent to play to their abilities and frankly I think most of them have not.

like i said, its just my opinion. I happen to think romo is not one of the problems, I think the problems on this team and in this organization are negatively effecting him.

Everyone wants him to be a leader, but there are some things here preventing him from being able to do that.

 

[Stash]

presonality wise? Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with his attitude imo.

I think there are alot of forces causing him to struggle.

Now, Do I think his play needs to improve, yes. Absolutely.

You would have to be brain dead to think he cant or doenst need to improve.

I think he needs a better coach dealing with him directly, but even as I type that i really dont know if that is true. Just looking at the facts, wade wilsons quarterbacks have never ever been any good.

Look at the coaches romo had before, David Lee and then lee left and Chris palmer was brought in. those are good qb coaches.

Even having said that I am not sure that is true, I just kind of cling to that because I think there is some corelation.

I think romo needs to have coaches he respects and will listen to. I am not sure they are here right now.

Romos play must improve and I think it will.

I also think all the hoopla and nonsense plays a role in his poor play. I think there are times in games when he takes chances with the ball because he feels he has no other ways of getting things done, as he has said since the new staff got here, we are aggressive on offense, we have to make throws into tight windows down the field and take chances.

So to me, The nonsense on this team, particularly offensively, the poor line play and then the underlying fact that he is required to take chances to be effective in this offense is what has caused him to turn the ball over.

and some times he just forgets and is careless.

I firmly believe if some changes were made he would be fantastic, I think he has more than enough around him but he needs that talent to play to their abilities and frankly I think most of them have not.

like i said, its just my opinion. I happen to think romo is not one of the problems, I think the problems on this team and in this organization are negatively effecting him.

Everyone wants him to be a leader, but there are some things here preventing him from being able to do that.

I agree with you that there are several forces involved in his struggles.

I've never contended that any problems begin or end with Romo.

And to be clear, I feel his positives far outweigh his negatives.

But I continued to see a talented team play like a ship without a rudder.

And I feel that Romo can help 'steer the ship' by being more proactive than he currently is.

I've always felt that quarterbacks were leaders simply by virtue of the position they play and the fact that they touch the ball so often.

And I agree with you that having a coaching staff bereft of leadership sure doesn't help Tony's cause.

But that should be more reason for him to step up.

I'm not saying leadership is some 'cure all' but I think it does benefit a team to have it.

 

[Idgit]

presonality wise? Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with his attitude imo.

I think there are alot of forces causing him to struggle.

Now, Do I think his play needs to improve, yes. Absolutely.

You would have to be brain dead to think he cant or doenst need to improve.

I think he needs a better coach dealing with him directly, but even as I type that i really dont know if that is true. Just looking at the facts, wade wilsons quarterbacks have never ever been any good.

Look at the coaches romo had before, David Lee and then lee left and Chris palmer was brought in. those are good qb coaches.

Even having said that I am not sure that is true, I just kind of cling to that because I think there is some corelation.

I think romo needs to have coaches he respects and will listen to. I am not sure they are here right now.

Romos play must improve and I think it will.

I also think all the hoopla and nonsense plays a role in his poor play. I think there are times in games when he takes chances with the ball because he feels he has no other ways of getting things done, as he has said since the new staff got here, we are aggressive on offense, we have to make throws into tight windows down the field and take chances.

So to me, The nonsense on this team, particularly offensively, the poor line play and then the underlying fact that he is required to take chances to be effective in this offense is what has caused him to turn the ball over.

and some times he just forgets and is careless.

I firmly believe if some changes were made he would be fantastic, I think he has more than enough around him but he needs that talent to play to their abilities and frankly I think most of them have not.

like i said, its just my opinion. I happen to think romo is not one of the problems, I think the problems on this team and in this organization are negatively effecting him.

Everyone wants him to be a leader, but there are some things here preventing him from being able to do that.

I'll go ahead and call this a great post, because it does a good job of covering pretty much exactly how I feel about Romo. And about Wade Wilson. Short of bringing someone like Reeves on, I think a QB coach with experience that Garrett can lean on and Romo can trust would be a good move for the organization. Not sure who that guy would be, exactly, but there's guys like that floating around most off-seasons.

 

[Apollo Creed]

presonality wise? Absolutely, there is nothing wrong with his attitude imo.

I think there are alot of forces causing him to struggle.

Now, Do I think his play needs to improve, yes. Absolutely.

You would have to be brain dead to think he cant or doenst need to improve.

I think he needs a better coach dealing with him directly, but even as I type that i really dont know if that is true. Just looking at the facts, wade wilsons quarterbacks have never ever been any good.

Look at the coaches romo had before, David Lee and then lee left and Chris palmer was brought in. those are good qb coaches.

Even having said that I am not sure that is true, I just kind of cling to that because I think there is some corelation.

I think romo needs to have coaches he respects and will listen to. I am not sure they are here right now.

Romos play must improve and I think it will.

I also think all the hoopla and nonsense plays a role in his poor play. I think there are times in games when he takes chances with the ball because he feels he has no other ways of getting things done, as he has said since the new staff got here, we are aggressive on offense, we have to make throws into tight windows down the field and take chances.

So to me, The nonsense on this team, particularly offensively, the poor line play and then the underlying fact that he is required to take chances to be effective in this offense is what has caused him to turn the ball over.

and some times he just forgets and is careless.

I firmly believe if some changes were made he would be fantastic, I think he has more than enough around him but he needs that talent to play to their abilities and frankly I think most of them have not.

like i said, its just my opinion. I happen to think romo is not one of the problems, I think the problems on this team and in this organization are negatively effecting him.

Everyone wants him to be a leader, but there are some things here preventing him from being able to do that.

Troy Aikman dealt with a head coach that initially didn't want him, the team drafting another QB in the 1st round to compete with him, issues of being called racist, being accused of being homosexual, surrounded by party animal coke heads, and countless concussions to boot.

Tony Romo dealing with an outspoken hall of fame WR that wants the football is hardly 'pressure'.

 

[theebs]

Troy Aikman dealt with a head coach that initially didn't want him, the team drafting another QB in the 1st round to compete with him, issues of being called racist, being accused of being homosexual, surrounded by party animal coke heads, and countless concussions to boot.

Tony Romo dealing with an outspoken hall of fame WR that wants the football is hardly 'pressure'.

Yes cause thats all that romo is dealing with. Sure thing.

and aikman said he learned to correct his mistakes by not being yelled at but by being told what was wrong and how to correct it.

Sounds familiar doesnt it? Oh and Aikman had jimmy johnsons dictator ways running the show. All the little things were in order and aikman with good coaches around him was allowed to grow and learn and it benifitted him.

as soon as the good coaches were gone and the dictator was gone, pretty much everything broke down around him and he didnt look like much of a leader either.

Its hard to lead when you are not in a position to, just like right now, romo is finding that out.

 

[Vtwin]

Some of you are confusing effective leadership qualities with winning. Football is a team sport and of course even the most effective leader will win squat if he doesn't have a hard working, dedicated team around him.

Leaders can make mistakes. Leaders own up to them and NEVER publically place the blame elsewhere no matter how much it is deserved.

Leaders attempt to take control of developing "situations" and work them out before they get out of hand. They don't sit back and watch teamates talk to the media and take a boys will be boys attitude about it.

Leaders understand that perception is everything and don't give soundbites that come off as being apathetic to the goals of the team and it's fans.

Leaders set THE example of what the attitude of the team is going to be.

A leader cannot force everyone to follow his example, some will always put the individual ego against the team goals. A leader however MUST set the example.

Please show me some examples of Romo doing anything that shows a pattern of "setting the example" for how this teams attitude should develop.

Aikman and Romo are apples and oranges. Aikman got POUNDED at the start of his career. He started on a complete trainwreck of a team and endured it all the while becoming part of the foundation of one of the best teams in the history of the league. He had EARNED his respect before he even took his first snap in a playoff game.

Romo was handed the keys to a Ferrari and only needs to keep it on the road. Granted, he has obstacles (week, disorganized coaching) that Aikman did not have but nevertheless he hit the ground running and immediately became the golden boy, lighting up the league and winning games. He didn't have that trial by fire period where he needed to show mental toughness, grit and determination. His teamates likely haven't seen that from him yet. Now that he has an opportunity to do and say the right things he is choosing not to do so. I find this discouraging as a Cowboy's fan.

I certainly have not given up on him. This will be a telling year though.

Year 1. Everybody loves a winner! (oops, we messed up that playoof game but we'll be back!!

Year 2. Off to a good start. What the heck? How come it's not so easy this year? Ouch that hurts! How come these people are so mean. "Man, this being the QB of America's team sure is a high profile job!

Year 3. Enough of this crap! It's time to get serious and take advantage of the talent on this team and get it done!

I hope...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I say again... Aikman was eventually going to succeed no matter where he went. He didn't get his attitude or talent from Jimmy Johnson -- he was that way from the start. There's a reason he was the #1 overall pick and closest thing to the absolute prototype QB in years at that time.

And Switzer didn't change Troy one bit. It's the team around him that got worse. But Troy was still that supremely driven and strong-willed person he always was.

Romo has talent, to be sure. We can win with him, and maybe even win a Super Bowl. But he's no Aikman.

 

[wileedog]

Troy Aikman dealt with a head coach that initially didn't want him, the team drafting another QB in the 1st round to compete with him, issues of being called racist, being accused of being homosexual, surrounded by party animal coke heads, and countless concussions to boot.

Tony Romo dealing with an outspoken hall of fame WR that wants the football is hardly 'pressure'.

Romo was an undrafted free agent that was a Carter bong hit away from being cut and flipping burgers. Troy was a #1 overall pick who if he didn't start here was certainly going to be starting somewhere else if the team had decided to go with Walsh. To call Aikman's initial situation being tougher is laughable.

And Romo is also dealing with a bunch of nutballs and excuse machines in this locker besides TO with no authority above him willing to do anything about it. The "party animal cokeheads" still answered to Jimmy on the field and were worked mercilessly in training camp, unlike the free ride given to this crop of me-firsters.

Lastly, Romo may have been handed a good team, but with that good team came a ton of pressure to win. Aikman's early team's were not considered a shoe-in SB team the way this one was, and that brings its own pressures.

 

[Idgit]

I say again... Aikman was eventually going to succeed no matter where he went. He didn't get his attitude or talent from Jimmy Johnson -- he was that way from the start. There's a reason he was the #1 overall pick and closest thing to the absolute prototype QB in years at that time.

And Switzer didn't change Troy one bit. It's the team around him that got worse. But Troy was still that supremely driven and strong-willed person he always was.

Romo has talent, to be sure. We can win with him, and maybe even win a Super Bowl. But he's no Aikman.

Purely hypothetical (obviously), but how do you think Romo would have fared on the 90's teams? And what do you think the board would be saying about Aikman's leadership right now if he'd been the one starting in mid-career form in 2008?

Personally, I think our 90s offenses would have occasionally put up even more points and been statistically ranked better, but that there would be several close games--including the PIT Superbowl where a negative play might have hurt us badly. I still think we win at least 2 rings with Romo, and probably 3 and consider him one of our best QBs ever.

Troy on this team would have been brutalized, and there'd be a large contingent on this board saying he's not the answer and that we need someone to push him.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Yep, Johnny U, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, it was all magic fairy dust.

And all of the Cowboys failures these days? Apparently all the fault of the WR's. My question is, does the Terry Glenn apologist also approach it the same way? Does the Terry Glenn fan say that if Romo doesn't fumble the chip shot FG snap, then fairy dust is sprinkled on Terry Glenn and Glenn magically becomes a leader?

When you make excuses for Romo's bottom line, then you simply prove you are a REAL fan of his. You have taken on his approach. But why should you care? If you win - it's ok, and if you lose - thats ok too!

What do you mean I'm making excuses for Romo? I blaming Glenn's fumble on the 5 yard line and Crayton's inability to catch balls that hit him right in the hands on Romo's lack of "clutch" and "leadership". If Romo just "got it" Glenn doesn't fumble and Crayton makes the catch. However, Romo's steadfast refusal to "get it" forced Glenn to fumble the ball and Crayton to drop it.

It only makes sense.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Purely hypothetical (obviously), but how do you think Romo would have fared on the 90's teams? And what do you think the board would be saying about Aikman's leadership right now if he'd been the one starting in mid-career form in 2008?

Personally, I think our 90s offenses would have occasionally put up even more points and been statistically ranked better, but that there would be several close games--including the PIT Superbowl where a negative play might have hurt us badly. I still think we win at least 2 rings with Romo, and probably 3 and consider him one of our best QBs ever.

Troy on this team would have been brutalized, and there'd be a large contingent on this board saying he's not the answer and that we need someone to push him.

I predict Aikman would have ran Wade out of Dallas days after the Eagles loss, like he did Chan. Maybe we do need Romo to be more like Aikman.

What was Beurlein's, Kosar's and Garrett's combined record filling in for Aikman when he was out with injury playing with the same teams? Wasn't it like 8-0? How did we look for 3 games without Romo this year?

 

[Idgit]

I predict Aikman would have ran Wade out of Dallas days after the Eagles loss, like he did Chan. Maybe we do need Romo to be more like Aikman.

What was Beurlein's, Kosar's and Garrett's combined record filling in for Aikman when he was out with injury playing with the same teams? Wasn't it like 8-0? How did we look for 3 games without Romo this year?

I don't know the record, but those were some great backup leaders we had at that point. It's not fair to compare them to Brad Johnson, who hasn't led anything well since he was at Tampa Bay.

 

[Stash]

I don't know the record, but those were some great backup leaders we had at that point. It's not fair to compare them to Brad Johnson, who hasn't led anything well since he was at Tampa Bay.

He won't let those facts get in the way.

He's rolling.

 

[rcaldw]

I remember 1990 when Dallas had just won 4 straight, had gotten their record to 7-7 and just needed one more win to the make the playoffs.

Aikman went down in Philly with a separated shoulder. In came their version of Brad Johnson, Babe Laughenberg. Dallas went 0-2 and missed the playoffs.

Btw, Roshi's boy, Emmitt was there for both of those losses. Guess the running game couldn't carry the Cowboys without Aikman for that season huh?

Oh, and check the Cowboys record without Aikman from 2001 forward during the years when Emmitt was there. Emmitt single handedly carried the team then didn't he?

Roshi makes simplistic arguments because HE HAS TO. He doesn't have a real leg to stand on. Fact is, Romo has to step it up, period. He just does. And producing a thousand straw man arguments to try to avoid that fact won't change it.

 

[Bleu Star]

I remember 1990 when Dallas had just won 4 straight, had gotten their record to 7-7 and just needed one more win to the make the playoffs.

Aikman went down in Philly with a separated shoulder. In came their version of Brad Johnson, Babe Laughenberg. Dallas went 0-2 and missed the playoffs.

Ewww. I remember that chain of events almost as if it occurred yesterday.

 

[superpunk]

I remember 1990 when Dallas had just won 4 straight, had gotten their record to 7-7 and just needed one more win to the make the playoffs.

Aikman went down in Philly with a separated shoulder. In came their version of Brad Johnson, Babe Laughenberg. Dallas went 0-2 and missed the playoffs.

Btw, Roshi's boy, Emmitt was there for both of those losses. Guess the running game couldn't carry the Cowboys without Aikman for that season huh?

Oh, and check the Cowboys record without Aikman from 2001 forward during the years when Emmitt was there. Emmitt single handedly carried the team then didn't he?

Roshi makes simplistic arguments because HE HAS TO. He doesn't have a real leg to stand on. Fact is, Romo has to step it up, period. He just does. And producing a thousand straw man arguments to try to avoid that fact won't change it.

In the other corner, we have people clamoring him to become more of a "leader".

These ones do this without knowing how much of a 'leader" he is already. They're just working off of stupid assumptions which disregard almost everything we know about Romo, and how he rose to the NFL. All they know is they'd like him to do more of "it", whatever "it" is. And until he does more of this magical "it", which can't be defined but apparently results in wins, these ones will look down on Romo.