ESPN: Double Coverage: Is Romo better off without T.O.?...vid added

[Boyzmamacita]

Eli was still Eli without Plaxico. Only this time, when he overthrew a ball, there was no one big enough to catch it.

:laugh2:

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Exactly! There were no other WR's that made Eli look good.

I think Romo can look good without T.O. We will miss TO's production, but Romo has great rapport with Witten and good rapport with Crayton. The little bit we saw from Austin and Bennett is promising and don't count out Sam Hurd as a contributor. And yes, the running game will help Romo immensely. Garrett will find a way to utilize the three-headed monster at RB. He's not the dummy everybody is making him out to be. The O line is the question, but assuming that Flo is healthy again and Kosier or Holland can step it up, we'll be better up front than last year. The defense will be led by Wade from the start (a good thing) and the special teams will be vastly improved. Stories of the Cowboys demise are premature.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think Sparano rode him hard. I most certainly believe Romo needs that since success came to him so quick. I don't believe he responds well to kid gloves. He needs to be pushed, challenged and reminded where he comes from.

He also misses Chris Palmer and David Lee. Wade Wilson has done him no favors.

You would know this how? As was already pointed out, Sparano's duties with the Cowboys was OL and the running game.

 

[Alexander]

You would know this how?

I didn't say "I know". I said I thought. Just an observation from things he's said and Romo has said.

As was already pointed out, Sparano's duties with the Cowboys was OL and the running game.

Any holdover from the Parcells staff would have known about trying to "keep him on the reservation", they all worked with him for years. And from what we were told, Sparano's duties were not exclusive to simply the OL and running game. He had a hand in a lot of the overall offensive makeup. It is obvious even by looking at the difference between 2007 and 2008. The issue here is we lost three quality coaches who could be doing a better job at handling Romo than Phillips, Garrett and Wilson are. That's pretty obvious.

 

[MWILL]

I think Romo can look good without T.O. We will miss TO's production, but Romo has great rapport with Witten and good rapport with Crayton. The little bit we saw from Austin and Bennett is promising and don't count out Sam Hurd as a contributor. And yes, the running game will help Romo immensely. Garrett will find a way to utilize the three-headed monster at RB. He's not the dummy everybody is making him out to be. The O line is the question, but assuming that Flo is healthy again and Kosier or Holland can step it up, we'll be better up front than last year. The defense will be led by Wade from the start (a good thing) and the special teams will be vastly improved. Stories of the Cowboys demise are premature.

I agree with alot of what you said. I'm hoping Garrett (cause I have no choice) will do job well.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think Sparano rode him hard. I most certainly believe Romo needs that since success came to him so quick. I don't believe he responds well to kid gloves. He needs to be pushed, challenged and reminded where he comes from.

He also misses Chris Palmer and David Lee. Wade Wilson has done him no favors.

Sparano rode him hard when he was OC, or in 2007 when Romo had his best year?

You can "ride" him all you want, but there's not much you can do to a guy who has been given the job for the next several years via that monster contract... Which wasn't the case in 2006 and early 2007.

 

[Rampage]

I think Dallas just turned into the Giants (offensively)

Eli wasn't Eli without Plaxico.

that's what i'm afraid of

 

[Aven8]

If it was TO of 5 years ago,id say yes.Not now,TO is more worried about his acting career and selling stuff,the guy is older now.That being said RW11 kinda sucks,terrible trade so far.I think he is a glorified Keyshawn Johnson.

I don't understand where a lot of people are getting this??? He hasn't even played for us yet. He had a hurt foot when he came in at midseason, and Romo was hurt. Mike Martz said it himself, that there is NO was you can come in like that...the two offenses were way different...specifically timing wise. He came in midseason and got to play with BJ for 3 or 4 weeks.

I think Roy will be fine. We have enough weapons to get there. This season will come down to three things:
Health
Secondary Play
Offensive Line Play

It's really that simple! I'm sick of TO...let's move on.

 

[skinswin]

"JC: Matt, I don't know what this "trust" thing really is. It's a talent thing. The only thing I question is the thought that T.O.'s departure will allow Romo to get back to throwing to the open receiver. Defenses can take Witten and Williams out of being open with double coverage. If that happens, the running game advantage will be only marginal and Romo may not have anybody open. Ultimately, the Cowboys will be better without T.O. but I just think they are going to struggle this year because the drop-off is too vast from T.O. to Crayton or to Austin. If I'm right, you might be blogging more playoff games in Philadelphia or at Giants Stadium than Jerry Jones' new digs in Big D. "

Whatever the impact, if they double Witten and double Roy, the impact on the running game will be more than 'marginal,' and Romo will buy time and most definitely have somebody open.

We'll see if RW can make defenders double him with regularity.

Re: Romo not respecting coaches: anybody with any access to the team hear any word of this? Is it anything more than the fact that Romo had significant respect for Parcels because he's a strong personality and a HoF coach? Is there really any issue with disrespect? I know Romo's commented in the past that Garrett's a 'good kid,' but I took that in stride at the time. I find it hard to give credit to, but Mosely does have sources and doesn't make stuff up wholesale.

thats the problem with your offense late in the season and moneytime,it depends to much on romo buying time..when teams figure you out late in the season,romo's ability to create gets cut drastically and what he does well is not a advantage to you anymore..the bigger the game the less romo's escape ability have a impact..That should be a major concern for you cowboy fans..

 

[ScipioCowboy]

thats the problem with your offense late in the season and moneytime,it depends to much on romo buying time..when teams figure you out late in the season,romo's ability to create gets cut drastically and what he does well is not a advantage to you anymore..the bigger the game the less romo's escape ability have a impact..That should be a major concern for you cowboy fans..

It could be worse for us; Jason Campbell could be the Cowboys' starting quarterback.

 

[MWILL]

that's what i'm afraid of

I thought you wanted #81 gone.

Or are you worried that Dallas didn't get a suitable replacement for T.O.

 

[Rampage]

I thought you wanted #81 gone.

Or are you worried that Dallas didn't get a suitable replacement for T.O.

I wanted #81 gone. I'm some what confident in Roy #11. But Romo is a big ? to me right now without #81.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Romo's plus 60 completition percentage is incredible considering how often he throws under pressure and how many times our receivers have dropped very catchable balls.

Every route Owens ran was designed for the big play. Those routes demanded longer drops, making Romo more vulnerable. We are going to be a more timing based, possession oriented passing game this year. Keep Romo upright and healthy - and protect him down the stretch. Our offensive line and coaching staff hasn't done that thus far. Garrett constantly dialing up long winded routes for a receiver that takes a while to get going was a recipe for disaster.

A healthy Miles Austin to stretch the field, and an 'inspired' Roy Williams will suffice. But I still wish we would've grabbed another young speedy WR similar to Terry Glenn. Outside of Witten, TG was the only receiver I can say that Romo 'trusted'. I can't say that Romo had any chemistry with Owens because you never really knew where he would be on any given route - unless he was running a double move to get loose, or a deep crossing route. Everything else he ran was very mediocre. His hands between the hashes were suspect and he dissapeared in big games.

We're gonna miss his big plays and the matchup problems he created, but our offense needed continuity. Owens couldn't provide that on a weekly basis when we needed him to.

Romo is the least of my worries. I'm more worried about Flo holding up another full season.

 

[28 Joker]

The Cowboys have as much or more talent than any team in the NFL.

There isn't a talent problem in Dallas.

There are plenty of weapons on this team, and teams, such as the Titans, have won with far less.

 

[Apollo Creed]

The Cowboys have as much or more talent than any team in the NFL.

There isn't a talent problem in Dallas.

There are plenty of weapons on this team, and teams such as the Titans have won with far less.

The Titans are a talented team defensively, and they run the ball extremely well. A real QB and a talented WR could put them over the hump.

 

[28 Joker]

The Titans are a talented team defensively, and they run the ball extremely well. A real QB and a talented WR could put them over the hump.

You made a nice post above this one, Apollo Creed. I read it and was agreeing.

That WR out of Rutgers is going to really help them (Britt).

The Titans are a blue-collar team. They play solid defense, are strong in the kicking game, and they run the football. Dallas can do these things. An infusion of the blue-collar mentality is going to help the Cowboys, and I think we are already seeing it.

Losing Haynesworth will be tough, but that team has some good players on it. One of them is Micheal Griffin. The Titans are going to be moving Chris Johnson around this year, but he's still going to get his carries. He had 16.7 carries per game.

The Cowboys don't have to become the Giants, but they need to make sure that their running game with Marion Barber and Felix Jones is the difference in this division. Both of these guys can catch the football.

In my opinion, Felix Jones is the most explosive weapon in this divison and the most dangerous. He's a running back by land, a receiver by air, he can be moved around some (in the slot or at WR), and he can return kicks. Felix Jones is an inside/outside or edge homerun threat every time he touches the football. Felix can take a simple circle route or dump off and get 30+ yards or much more. Blitz happy defenses better fear him, because he can destroy them.

Also, I don't see a WR better than Roy Williams in this division. I sure know that I don't see a better TE, Jason Witten. Defensively, I expect the Cowboys to be flying around very fast and being very, very strong. I expect special teams to be much better, too.

I'm going to agree with Nate Newton; it's going to come down to Marion Barber and Felix Jones and the offensive line. I like my chances. Romo is going to have the support he needs to lead the team to victories, imo.

Of course, health in all areas will be critical. LT will be critical.

Felix Jones should carry the football at least 12-15 times per game, and he can carry it 16-20 times per game. Felix should be catching 3-5 passes per game, too. The Cowboys most explosive weapon needs the football in his hands.

Feed Felix Jones the rock!

 

[Dodger]

I'm just counting on my fingers here but I don't see the problem, in fact I hope teams DO try to double both Williams and Witten. That would mean Jones & Barber will have a field day! So Romo doesn't throw for 4000+ yards, I think a more balanced offense would take us farther anyway.

Also, it's not like Owens was catching 100+ passes for 1800 yards folks. He only caught 69 last year for just over 1000 yards. That is not very difficult to replace IMO. Williams has had as good a season as Owens best year here (with half the TDs though) so I don't see the reason for all this hand-wringing about Owens being gone.

I know many will disagree, and that's fine, but there are some good points here.

So teams double Williams. Crayton has proven to be a decent receiver...not a monster by any means, but good enough to beat single coverage more often than not. And I seriously doubt Witten, as good as he is, will draw double coverage all day long. And believe it or not, Austin will have some excellent opportunities when he's on the field. No one will be doubling him.

That and Romo has shown in the past that he is more than capable of finding the open receiver, and if no one gets open, he'll check down to Barber or Jones.

As for Owens, I think you're right. It's not as if he had the year of all years in 2007. There were plenty of receivers across the NFL, many with arguably lesser talent, who had just as good, if not better, production in 2007, guys like Dwayne Bowe, Antionio Bryant, Derrick Mason, Lance Moore, Steve Breaston, Kevin Walter...

Kevin Walter's stats: 60-899-8. Not quite the numbers of Owens, but very close.

So, seriously? Is the team that terrible that none of the receivers can duplicate the output of a Kevin Walter?

I doubt that.

 

[MWILL]

I wanted #81 gone. I'm some what confident in Roy #11. But Romo is a big ? to me right now without #81.

I feel that way too. I don't think we saw the real RW #11 last season.

 

[28 Joker]

Romo's plus 60 completition percentage is incredible considering how often he throws under pressure and how many times our receivers have dropped very catchable balls.

Every route Owens ran was designed for the big play. Those routes demanded longer drops, making Romo more vulnerable. We are going to be a more timing based, possession oriented passing game this year. Keep Romo upright and healthy - and protect him down the stretch. Our offensive line and coaching staff hasn't done that thus far. Garrett constantly dialing up long winded routes for a receiver that takes a while to get going was a recipe for disaster.

A healthy Miles Austin to stretch the field, and an 'inspired' Roy Williams will suffice. But I still wish we would've grabbed another young speedy WR similar to Terry Glenn. Outside of Witten, TG was the only receiver I can say that Romo 'trusted'. I can't say that Romo had any chemistry with Owens because you never really knew where he would be on any given route - unless he was running a double move to get loose, or a deep crossing route. Everything else he ran was very mediocre. His hands between the hashes were suspect and he dissapeared in big games.

We're gonna miss his big plays and the matchup problems he created, but our offense needed continuity. Owens couldn't provide that on a weekly basis when we needed him to.

Romo is the least of my worries. I'm more worried about Flo holding up another full season.

In 2007, Garrett's offense hummed. Owens torched the better CBs and beat safeties, and the pass protection was excellent. Flozell Adams was dominant.

In 2008, the protection broke down, and Owens couldn't get open vs physical press coverage. As a result, Romo was caught holding the ball more and took hits. There were times last year when Garrett needed to tone the deep balls down or reign Romo in from always looking for the kill shot, deep down the field.

Dallas needed 2 or 3 yards on fourth down at Pittsburgh and the ball ended up going 30+ yards down the field. Two or three yards probably means 3 points right there. The Cardinals game was frustrating, because Romo didn't have the time to go deep in that game. As a result, he took a beating. Guys were not open, and he didn't have the time.

I do think Jason Garrett can get the job done. Remember, he is a really young coordinator, and I think his adjustments are coming. I like what I'm hearing. He is going to be able to operate more freely without Owens lurking.

Garrett ran into LT and LG problems and a WR who went from a 9.4 YPA against Joyner's red corners, to a 2.0 YPA against Joyner's red corners (14 games counted). His top WR wasn't getting open. This is a big reason that Roy Williams was acquired during the season, imo.

It just broke down, but now I think things around Valley Ranch are getting fixed.

I expect this team to be very dangerous if healthy.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Every route Owens ran was designed for the big play. Those routes demanded longer drops, making Romo more vulnerable.

I doubt that it was EVERY route. But I see what you are saying.

It just boggles my mind why we didnt use the shorter slant routes with Owens. Imagine if Romo and Owens got that route locked in and sync'd.

Anyhooo