ESPN: Despite drops, Romo still confident in WR

[Avaj]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4785620

IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo insists that he still has confidence in struggling receiver Roy Williams.

Williams, who leads the league with 10 drops this season, said Wednesday that he didn't blame Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for not getting the ball to him in the second half of Sunday night's win over the Washington Commanders. Williams perceived that as proof that Romo and Garrett had lost confidence in him after he failed to catch two passes that hit him in the hands before halftime, one of which was rebounded by Commanders safety Reed Doughty for Romo's only turnover of December.

"No one has lost any confidence in Roy," Romo said Thursday, adding that he appreciated that Williams wanted to improve. "Roy is going to be a huge part of this going forward. He knows that. Hopefully, we're all going to have some good football ahead of us."

Williams has failed to fulfill expectations since arriving from Detroit in a blockbuster trade last season. He has only 38 catches for 596 yards this season, while Miles Austin has emerged as a Pro Bowler since getting his first start in October while Williams nursed a rib injury.

In the middle of the season, Williams explained his struggles by saying that the passes Romo had thrown to him weren't as accurate as the ones thrown to Austin, a statement that brought criticism although it was true at the time.

However, Romo's throws to Williams have been on target recently. They just haven't come his way often. Romo targeted Williams only seven times in the last two weeks. He caught two passes for 18 yards and a touchdown; four other throws hit him in the hands.

After Sunday's win, Williams said he'd drop fewer balls if given more opportunities. He reflected on that statement over the next few days and reversed field.

"That's not on them," Williams said, referring to Romo and Garrett. "I don't blame them. I blame myself. I've got to get my crap together and try to help this team win some games in the playoffs."

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips both expressed confidence in Williams on Wednesday afternoon. Although Williams said if he didn't improve, he would "mess around and be on the sideline," there is no indication that his starting job is in jeopardy.

"I think we'll continue to give him the opportunity to make plays," said Jones, who gave Williams a five-year, $45 million contract extension last year. "He'll be on the field."

 

[Hoofbite]

Lost Confidence?

Nah, just gained significantly more confidence in everyone else.

 

[03EBZ06]

Supporting his teammate through media is fine, but Romo and Red's actions say otherwise when RW was only targeted seven times in two games and RW didn't even targeted after the second drop (resulting in INT) during the game against the skins.

 

[Sarge]

He is saying all the right things but his actions speak far louder. I don't blame him....at all.

 

[gimmesix]

Supporting his teammate through media is fine, but Romo and Red's actions say otherwise when RW was only targeted seven times in two games and RW didn't even targeted after the second drop (resulting in INT) during the game against the skins.

Romo has always said he throws to the open receiver. On some plays, Williams might be his first read and not be immediately open. On others, he might not be the primary read and that player comes open. Coverage often dictates where the pass should go.

Don't read into the number of targets too much. Romo found Williams for the touchdown against the Commanders because Williams worked his way open. If Williams is open, and the play is not designed to go elsewhere or coverage doesn't dictate it go elsewhere, I have no doubt that Romo will throw it to him.

Now, I do think we can say Romo likely has more confidence and a better rapport with Austin, but that doesn't mean he won't throw it to Williams if that's where the ball needs to go.

 

[bbgun]

More pablum for the masses. I'd love to know how Tony speaks about him in private.

 

[RS12]

What he is saying and what he is thinking likely not the same thing. Just Tony being a leader and trying to keep the troops together for the playoff run.

 

[Hoofbite]

He is saying all the right things but his actions speak far louder. I don't blame him....at all.

Who could blame him?

I love the way this situation is being handled.

 

[TheSport78]

Supporting his teammate through media is fine, but Romo and Red's actions say otherwise when RW was only targeted seven times in two games and RW didn't even targeted after the second drop (resulting in INT) during the game against the skins.

That's because Roy is getting triple-teamed!

 

[MapleLeaf]

Romo has always said he throws to the open receiver. On some plays, Williams might be his first read and not be immediately open. On others, he might not be the primary read and that player comes open. Coverage often dictates where the pass should go.

Don't read into the number of targets too much. Romo found Williams for the touchdown against the Commanders because Williams worked his way open. If Williams is open, and the play is not designed to go elsewhere or coverage doesn't dictate it go elsewhere, I have no doubt that Romo will throw it to him.

Now, I do think we can say Romo likely has more confidence and a better rapport with Austin, but that doesn't mean he won't throw it to Williams if that's where the ball needs to go.

...to the plays called, but it would be an eye opener if plays called by Garrett put the "X" receiver as the third or fourth option.

It would also be interesting to see Garrett's combinations sheet and see the amount of combinations dialed up for Roy were being ignored.

What are we as fans looking at here? Has both Garrett and Romo lost confidence in dialing or throwing to Roy unless he is:

a. completely left uncovered.

b. comes uncovered in a scramble play.

Confidence to me is shown when:

a. the ball comes to you with the game on the line.

b. the pass is thrown even though the defender has good coverage.

c. the pass is thrown before you make your break.

What do we see with play calling in the recent pass in terms of Roy?

 

[gimmesix]

What do we see with play calling in the recent pass in terms of Roy?

So much depends on the defense.

The long play to Witten against Washington is a good example of taking advantage of the defense. Romo read the defense, saw the coverage against Witten and hit him over Landry. The play might not have been intended to necessarily get that coverage against Witten, but it drew it, the QB recognized it and they made a play.

Miles Austin has also mentioned plays where Romo gave him a signal what to run because of the defense he saw. I do think that is an indication of the rapport between the two of them that Romo likely does not have with Williams, but it doesn't indicate that Romo has lost confidence in Williams.

I think often Williams is a little slower to get open than Austin (he lacks Austin's burst), so the read takes Romo to Austin. Is Romo more likely to throw it to Williams in coverage or Austin in the open?

I'm a big believer in what Romo has said over and over again about throwing it to the open receiver, so that tells me that Witten and Austin are simply getting open more than Williams. (Doesn't mean that Williams isn't getting open, just that the others are uncovering quicker.)

I've seen very few plays I can say are specifically dialed up for Williams. The two TD passes against the Giants come to mind.

 

[RS12]

I'm a big believer in what Romo has said over and over again about throwing it to the open receiver, so that tells me that Witten and Austin are simply getting open more than Williams.

I'm a big believer that they are also catching it more than RW.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm a big believer that they are also catching it more than RW.

No doubt about that, but as a quarterback, you can't hesitate to throw it to the open man. If you do, you're most likely toast.

If you lose confidence in a player to the point where you are looking to not throw him the ball, then you better tell your coach to get him out of the game because you're handicapping yourself.

I think what Williams fails to realize in believing they've lost confidence in him is simply that Austin is the better receiver. He gets in and out of his routes better, he gets open quicker, he comes back to the ball better, he has a better rapport with his quarterback and he catches the ball better.

That's not a real knock against Williams. Austin is playing like one of the best receivers in the league.

 

[Tractor1]

"No one has lost any confidence in Roy," Romo said Thursday"


Romo's statement is most likely true. A QB must gain confidence in a receiver before he's able to lose it. Based on production that has never happened.

 

[MapleLeaf]

So much depends on the defense.

The long play to Witten against Washington is a good example of taking advantage of the defense. Romo read the defense, saw the coverage against Witten and hit him over Landry. The play might not have been intended to necessarily get that coverage against Witten, but it drew it, the QB recognized it and they made a play.

...read the Witten play.

Roy is on the field side, Miles in is the slot inside of him and Witten is on the boundary side.

Miles crosses over taking with him the db and one safety. The other safety, Landry, drops down on the play action and is caught too deep in.

Witten releases and crosses over with Miles and Barber releases as a safety valve taking a lb with him.

Romo released the pass to Witten as he separates from Landry, but based on where Landry was at play action it wouldn't have been an unreasonable expectation for him to look at Roy's direction.

Romo should have seen Doughty sliding towards Miles, Landry biting on the play action telling him that the deep field side where Roy was heading was single coverage.

Why he didn't pass there I don't know...the camera coverage doesn't show us what happens to Roy Williams.

Those who attended the game could maybe let us in on what we couldn't see.

Was he open? Was he covered? I have some suspicions on the Roy Williams situation, but I can't be completely certain without the game tape.

If I could get my hands on that DVD I could be certain about more of my opinions.

 

[gimmesix]

Why he didn't pass there I don't know...the camera coverage doesn't show us what happens to Roy Williams.

Based on Romo's reaction, it appeared he read Witten all the way on that play. I don't remember seeing him look anywhere else, which tells me he recognized what coverage he had and hit his money player.

Could he have read the coverage and passed to Williams instead? I don't know. But he noticed what they were doing against Witten and took advantage of it.

My memory could be wrong, but I think Romo made Witten his first read based on the coverage (if he wasn't his first read to start with).

 

[Stash]

I'm not gonna hammer Roy Williams. That's been done plenty already. And deservedly so. But he's stepped up and admitted he needs to improve and is said to be working on it.

I just have to say that I'm so impressed with Tony Romo and how savvy he's become and how much of a leader he's grown into. I think that's the main reason why I feel better about this team.

Tony Romo.