Does Romo remind you of Jake Plummer?

[mr.jameswoods]

I don't mean that in strictly a negative sense. Yes, I'm not a fan of Plummber but I will admit he is a good QB when placed in the right system. This season, I kept asking myself who Romo reminded me of because his game looked so familiar and it finally hit me today.

Romo reminds me of Plummer in that he only seems comfortable throwing outside the pocket or on the move. When he is standing still is when he looks so incredibly uncomfortable. With Plummer, it was Jeckyl and Hyde. You keep Plummer in the pocket and he wasn't great. His confidence sank. He looked nervous and he couldn't get into rhythm. Plummer goes to Denver and Shanahan designs a system that suits his strengths and he makes the Pro Bowl. But in the playoffs, the best teams are aware of his limitations and can stop Shanahans runs and thus force Plummer to stay in the pocket; Jake struggles.

Romo is going down this dangerous path in my opinion. He looks great when he steps outside the pocket and throws on a bootleg or while moving. But if you keep him between the hashmarks, he is a different QB.

 

[Dale]

I don't mean that in strictly a negative sense. Yes, I'm not a fan of Plummber but I will admit he is a good QB when placed in the right system. This season, I kept asking myself who Romo reminded me of because his game looked so familiar and it finally hit me today.

Romo reminds me of Plummer in that he only seems comfortable throwing outside the pocket or on the move. When he is standing still is when he looks so incredibly uncomfortable. With Plummer, it was Jeckyl and Hyde. You keep Plummer in the pocket and he wasn't great. His confidence sank. He looked nervous and he couldn't get into rhythm. Plummer goes to Denver and Shanahan designs a system that suits his strengths and he makes the Pro Bowl. But in the playoffs, the best teams are aware of his limitations and can stop Shanahans runs and thus force Plummer to stay in the pocket; Jake struggles.

Romo is going down this dangerous path in my opinion. He looks great when he step outside the pocket and throw on a bootleg. But if you keep him between the hashmarks, he is a different QB.

Early on, I thought Romo excelled from within the pocket. Lately -- I don't know if it's because teams "know" him better -- he's definitely lost some of his touch from there.

I think the comaprison to Plummer is somewhat valid in that Romo has been more dangerous from outside the pocket. You mentioned the Garcia and McNabb comparison before, and I think that fits as well.

The difference, I would say, is that it seemed like Plummer had to be "coddled" more in Denver than Romo has here. Didn't Shanahan have to reduce plays or limit portions of the field or something? It seemed like he coached out of fear of Plummer making mistakes at times. Even with Romo's turnover flaws at times, I haven't noticed Parcells pulling in the reigns to that degree. In fact, it's seemed like more and more pressure has been placed on him the further we went into December.

The other difference, I would say, is that Plummer finally posted a positive TD/INT ratio when he had the league's best running attack behind him -- which again ties into my above point in the different amount of pressure placed on Romo. Denver was run, run, Plummer rollout; it hasn't really been that way, at least in these eyes, with Romo.

But, I realize you weren't saying the situations were identical -- just throwing out all my thoughts.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

Early on, I thought Romo excelled from within the pocket. Lately -- I don't know if it's because teams "know" him better -- he's definitely lost some of his touch from there.

I think the comaprison to Plummer is somewhat valid in that Romo has been more dangerous from outside the pocket. You mentioned the Garcia and McNabb comparison before, and I think that fits as well.

The difference, I would say, is that it seemed like Plummer had to be "coddled" more in Denver than Romo has here. Didn't Shanahan have to reduce plays or limit portions of the field or something? It seemed like he coached out of fear of Plummer making mistakes at times. Even with Romo's turnover flaws at times, I haven't noticed Parcells pulling in the reigns to that degree. In fact, it's seemed like more and more pressure has been placed on him the further we went into December.

The other difference, I would say, is that Plummer finally posted a positive TD/INT ratio when he had the league's best running attack behind him -- which again ties into my above point in the different amount of pressure placed on Romo. Denver was run, run, Plummer rollout; it hasn't really been that way, at least in these eyes, with Romo.

But, I realize you weren't saying the situations were identical -- just throwing out all my thoughts.

Well remember that initially, teams didn't gameplan for Romo and didn't limit him to the pocket. Romo was running all over the field and looking amazing. Then teams started to catch on and force him to throw exclusively from the pocket and he struggled. Look at how many throws he made where the pass was extremely low. He just didn't look he had his feet set or the confidence to make those throws.

Personally, I just want to win. If a certain system suits Romo and we win with that so be it. But the system we currently have doesn't seem to suit his strengths.

 

[Dale]

Well remember that initially, teams didn't gameplan for Romo and didn't limit him to the pocket. Romo was running all over the field and looking amazing. Then teams started to catch on and force him to throw exclusively from the pocket and he struggled. Look at how many throws he made where the pass was extremely low. He just didn't look he had his feet set or the confidence to make those throws

I'd be interested to track the success of the running game when Romo was 5-1 versus 1-4. I think like, with any quarterback, that has had a direct effect on his play -- unless there's less a correlation than I'm remembering.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I'd be interested to track the success of the running game when Romo was 5-1 versus 1-4. I think like, with any quarterback, that has had a direct effect on his play -- unless there's less a correlation than I'm remembering.

Of course any running game will help open up the pass but a successful passing game will open up running lanes as well. If a QB and the passing game is successful at the start of a game, the running game usually opens up as well.

 

[Doomsday]

I think hes struggling vs zone coverages more then anything.

 

[Clove]

One of the problems is, the Cowboys don't have enough check downs in their offensive play book from what i've seen. Today was the only day that I saw Romo check down to JJ and Barber a ton.

Check downs can really help a QB.

 

[the kid 05]

One of the problems is, the Cowboys don't have enough check downs in their offensive play book from what i've seen. Today was the only day that I saw Romo check down to JJ and Barber a ton.

Check downs can really help a QB.

yeah, see donovan McNabb

 

[odog422]

I don't mean that in strictly a negative sense. Yes, I'm not a fan of Plummber but I will admit he is a good QB when placed in the right system. This season, I kept asking myself who Romo reminded me of because his game looked so familiar and it finally hit me today.

Romo reminds me of Plummer in that he only seems comfortable throwing outside the pocket or on the move. When he is standing still is when he looks so incredibly uncomfortable. With Plummer, it was Jeckyl and Hyde. You keep Plummer in the pocket and he wasn't great. His confidence sank. He looked nervous and he couldn't get into rhythm. Plummer goes to Denver and Shanahan designs a system that suits his strengths and he makes the Pro Bowl. But in the playoffs, the best teams are aware of his limitations and can stop Shanahans runs and thus force Plummer to stay in the pocket; Jake struggles.

Romo is going down this dangerous path in my opinion. He looks great when he steps outside the pocket and throws on a bootleg or while moving. But if you keep him between the hashmarks, he is a different QB.

Actually, my recollection is like Dale's, I also thought Romo excelled from the pocket early on. I remember thinking "so that's what our offense looks like when the QB drops back goes through his reads, and throws to the open guy."

Remember how all of a sudden our line looked great, because they were not being asked to sustain a pocket for 5-6 seconds?

The outside the pocket stuff was there, but it definitely did not seem to me to be the huge deal in his performance. I think there were only a few plays where he got outside the pocket early. It just so happens, as a result, big plays occurred because of defensive breakdowns.

I also think Tony ate the cheese a little and started looking to get out the pocket when it wasn't necessary trying to make a big play. Somewhere along the way IMO, he stopped doing what he had been doing - executing the offense - and felt the need to try to do more. In other words, get those big plays. Because they had happened outside the pocket, I think he started looking to get outside the pocket when he didn't necessarily have to.

 

[newlander]

I'm going to beat this drum until our draft next April: IT'S THE OFFENSIVE LINE. I truly believe that guys. Romo is very solid. Superior season for being a first time starter. I've been very impressed, when given time he can make throws in or out of the pocket. Remember the ATL game when he hit T.O. and they burned Hall? He stood right in the pocket and fired that ball deep. But Kosier, Rivera and Flo stunk up the joint most of the season. Gurode was VERY avg. and Colombo had a pretty solid season in my opinion. I believe with every fiber in my being that the line is to blame. It's also to blame for Julius Jone's inconsistencies. I know we were spoiled with our line play in the 90's but still, think of this: How good was Aikman when his line started to decline? That's right, he became pretty average!

 

[Sarge]

ROmo reminds me more of a poormans Brett Favorer...er.

 

[Hostile]

I will say this, slightly off topic from the original question, I believe Plummer will replace Bledsoe here.

I am not thrilled about that, but I expect it. No idea why.

 

[dragon_mikal]

I will say this, slightly off topic from the original question, I believe Plummer will replace Bledsoe here.

I am not thrilled about that, but I expect it. No idea why.

Oh my God. Why did you have to say that?

I'm already having nightmares about how we are going to fix our defense.

 

[Hostile]

Oh my God. Why did you have to say that?

I'm already having nightmares about how we are going to fix our defense.

Parcells likes him. From the moment Cutler took the reins in Denver and the speculation began that Plummer would be an off season casualty I've had this feeling in the pit of my stomach.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

One of the problems is, the Cowboys don't have enough check downs in their offensive play book from what i've seen. Today was the only day that I saw Romo check down to JJ and Barber a ton.

Check downs can really help a QB.

I agree.

 

[percyhoward]

Romo was extremely careful with his throws last night, probably overly cautious, as it turns out.