My Meaningless Thoughts On the Game...

[LittleBoyBlue]

actually I just saw aikman on the news saying Dallas is a good team and that he thinks we will be right there in the end with philly and ny. He went as far as to say we have good players and he thinks the nfc rep for the superbowl will come from the east.

oh and aikman lost a couple of games on INT's returned for TD's. Had aikman had to grow up and play in this media environment he would be viewed very differently.

My suggestion is anyone that thinks romo is not good enough and on top of that thinks Jerry Jones the GM can go find another franchise qb well you need help and you are completely unrealistic.

You want "realistic".

How many points did Tony give them?

That game was very winnable. The Giants couldnt do anything against us until we kept giving them the ball back.

 

[Kangaroo]

actually I just saw aikman on the news saying Dallas is a good team and that he thinks we will be right there in the end with philly and ny. He went as far as to say we have good players and he thinks the nfc rep for the superbowl will come from the east.

oh and aikman lost a couple of games on INT's returned for TD's. Had aikman had to grow up and play in this media environment he would be viewed very differently.

My suggestion is anyone that thinks romo is not good enough and on top of that thinks Jerry Jones the GM can go find another franchise qb well you need help and you are completely unrealistic.

Right now Tony Romo looks like Danny White to me a good QB just can't seem to have what it takes to get to that final cusp.

Oh well time will tell but at this point I am labeling him as the next Danny White until proven other wise by Tony. A guy good enough to win a lot of games but never gets the Cowboys to the top of the heap

 

[burmafrd]

I am more worried about whats up with Newman and Ware. Newman looks like he has something wrong; so does Ware. Oh and those trying to say Newman is done are so far full of shyyyyytttttteeeee. Its not even pathetic. There is some kind of physical problem with both of them. Its not because before Newman is even 31 he is done; that is just plain stupid. Ware- I think he has some kind of foot problem because his quickness is not like it was.

 

[jeff]

I think the best thing for romo would be to sit out a game or two. Make him earn it back. (I would also consider trying to trade him if possible).

Besides, I'm really not sure that Kitna would do any worse. I'm relatively sure he would do better than Romo on Sunday night.

If it's really unacceptable, then do something about it and make some personnel decisions.

 

[Ken]

My Meaningless Thoughts On The Game
Yakuza Rich Blog

- I think Garrett will get a lot of the blame, but I actually didn't have too much of an issue with the playcalling this game. We simply had to pass the ball a little in the second half to keep the defense honest and that's what Garrett attempted. Unfortunately, the QB has to know that we need to protect the ball because the running game is working and at the very least you want to keep the defense honest. But, we simply do not have that in our QB.

We've added a QB-friendly O-Coordinator. We've spent millions on the O-Line. We've added a dynamic tailback unit consisting of Barber, Felix and Choice. We've got not one, but TWO dynamic tight ends. We then get rid of Owens because supposedly he was forcing the ball to him and that would give him room to grow. Instead, he showed that he's the same old Romo.

Put him against a team that is somewhat disciplined and not soft and if Romo doesn't have his 'A' game going the team will lose because of him. Let me make that clear, if the defense is pretty good (not great) and Romo is a little off, we will assuredly lose because of Romo. It's almost as good of a guarantee as you will find in the NFL.

I know this isn't popular, but we need to start looking for a way to replace him as soon as possible because in the NFL, you don't win playoff games if your QB cannot protect the ball. The Bears tried to disprove this in '06 and it burned them in the end. And the Bears in '06 had a ferocios defense that actually scored points for them and had an amazing special teams that scored points for them. But Grossman turned the ball over and all of that help from the defense and special teams couldn't get them a Lombardi Trophy. People talk about 'never winning a Super Bowl with Romo', well I'm hear to say that I don't see us winning a playoff game with Romo at the rate he's going.

I seriously mean this, if somehow a good QB is available in FA or via trade, I really think the team should take a good hard look at it. You have to give players chances to prove themselves in the NFL, but you also have to be very good to know when to stop giving them chances because they'll never meet the base level expectations that are set for them. We've got too much talent on this team with guys like Jay Ratliff, Kyle Kosier, Marc Colombo, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, etc who have shown a ton of heart and stepped up their games to let it be blown by a guy who simply cannot raise his level of play.

I am officially on the Get Rid of Romo (but do it in a smart way) bandwagon and a firm believer we won't win a playoff game with him until proven otherwise. Sometimes you gotta know when to throw in a lousy hand.


- Congrats to Joe DeCamillis with another impressive performance on special teams. This is part of the problem with Romo. The special teams are entirely impressive and effective at helping Dallas win the field position battle. Unfortunately when the QB throws pick 6's and INT's in our own territory, that doesn't help matters.


- Here's the difference between an organization like the G-Men and the Cowboys. The G-Men can take a guy like Manningham, a productive but troubled player in college and turn him into a productive and inspired player in the NFL. I'm still trying to figure out when was the last time the Cowboys have done that.

- Terence Newman is officially a pretty decent starting corner. He's no longer the shutdown corner he once was. Not even close

- Jay Ratliff looks like the best player on the team right now.

- Don't get too down on O-Scan right now. Young CB's seem to struggle the most in their second year. Never really figured out why, but that's what happens throughout the league. Newman's worst year was his second year. So was Asomugha's. Champ Bailey was horrible his second season. It happens.

- Spencer is too inconsistent. He'll look really great one play, then lose gap control and/or containment on the next play. His play is part of the reason why we have no sacks. He can get the beat on offensive tackle, but then he'll over-commit. He's almost symbolic of how the team plays as a whole.

- Last week I got criticized for saying we probably won't get many sacks early on, and so far we are at a goose egg.

- I still hate the 'freezing the kicker' method. I think it's bush league, but I also think it isn't effective. Coming from a golf background, which has similarities to kicking, I think freezing the kicker doesn't work because if I miss the field goal on the first try, I can then go off what I did wrong and correct it. It's essentially a practice kick.


- I'll give Garrett a lot of credit, he not only found ways to use each tailback effectively, but found ways to open up things in the running game. 250 yards rushing and we lose. If that doesn't tell you how disappointed I am in #9, then I don't know what to tell you.

- But let's not completely blame Romo. This was the epitome of an undisciplined, soft football team. How many missed tackles were there? 10? 12? 15? 20??? Flozell's trip costs Dallas a huge play which eventually leads to the fluke INT (although the throw by Romo was horrible). Carpenter gets called for a defensive hold which would've had Feagles punting from his own 5. Just lovely.

- Well, they get the Panthers...a team they've usually played well against although that is usually at Charlotte for whatever reason. Dallas had a real chance of going 5-0 into the bye week, but now with Carolina in a must win situation and a QB that not only has seen me and other fans jump off the bandwagon, but I have to question what the team is thinking or how long they will put up with this crap. But of course this doesn't excuse the other dumb mistakes, but you have to come away with a win when you should win (Dallas should've dominated the scoreboard), especially when you are playing a divisional foe at home. Believe it or not, Garrett has drawn a lot of confidence from me in his playcalling and play design. Now he's just got to get it through Romo's thick skull that these turnovers can't be allowed. Garrett seemingly has read my mind with playcalling lately and how to improve it, hopefully he'll do the same with Romo. If not, this could be a 7-9 team this year...if we're lucky.





YAKUZA

Usually agree with everything you say, but I disagree with two points.

Romo....are you high?

Seriously? Where do you think we are going to find a pro bowl caliber qb to replace him with? He had a bad game, it happens. That int off Witten's foot was as freak of an int as I have seen. Two picks happens. He also threw a td and ran for another. He also zipped another through Crayton of all peoples hands.

How you can base this analysis off of this game is beyond me. Please point to some more games where you think you have evidence that Romo can't do it please...




We are soft....

How can you come up with that after holding the best rushing team in the league in check and smashing it down their throats for 250?

We have no pass rush, that is true. This is the real problem with this team as I see it right now.

Otherwise....spot on.

 

[TheSkaven]

As much as had a distaste for Romo's play yesterday, I feel that the defense was much worse. This is supposedly Wade, the defensive guru's defense we're talking about.

What?? How can you blame the defense? They held the Giants to four field goals in their first four red zone attempts. They were constantly put into bad field position because of all the turnovers.

I'm disappointed about the lack of pressure and sacks, but this defense is NOT why the team lost the game on Monday.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I think the best thing for romo would be to sit out a game or two. Make him earn it back. (I would also consider trying to trade him if possible).

 

[The Great Number 8]

YR - I look forward to your posts. Seem unbiased and to the point.

Unfortunately I flew out Sunday morning to go to that game so Romo could just give it away.

Romo is pathetic. Aikman must have been shaking his head. While Romo is not even close to Aikman QB-wise, he could have made a "few" good decisions and he didnt. Aikman could have won that game last night in his suit. Alot of the lesser QB's in the league would have come away with a win simply by Trent Dilfering it.

Troy was my all time favorite player but he blew a game or two in his career.

I'm sure some others remember 3 and goal from the 3 against the Eagles, down 3 points and Troy gives up a 104 interception return for a TD. Should have thrown it away and kicked the game tying FG, but everyone has messed up at some point.

{Google james willis troy vincent return video and I know you can find it, but it's still too hard to watch. ******* Eagles}

I'm as mad as anyone they lost, and Romo was one of the main reasons they gassed it Sunday night, but since Tony's only lost something like 12 games in his career, it's not like he screws it up every week.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Although I appreciate the passion in your writing, your thread lost all credibility when you said let's start over with somebody like Tebow.

You went Bill Buckner. A pretty good career but in one fell swoop, you lost everything you worked for. No worries, there's a lot of guys out there better than Romo. It can't be that hard. Let's just go get two or three and bring them to camp next year.

Problem solved.

 

[RainMan]

They've said the same thing about so many QBs. Even the Manning bros.

They can't win the big one - until they do. It's really a stupid argument. The notion that Romo can't get any better is really short-sighted.

What you said.

We'll never win a playoff game -- heck, maybe never even make the playoffs again -- if Romo turns in many games like last night's. But to think the great quarterbacks don't consistently turn in some clunkers is a mistake. Didn't Drew Brees post like sub-70 QB ratings in all of the Saints losses (and there were quite a few) last season?

Romo has played great against top-tier teams. He has strung great games back-to-back-to-back. Stating otherwise, as proven by Adam earlier, is a fabrication. His problem is that pumpkin-of-a-game always does pop up and, to date, it does so at the most inopportune of times.

But getting back to what you said, I think it's important not to mistake a player "not" winning a playoff game with "can't" win a playoff game.

If, as the original poster suggested, Romo's problem is he simply is a game-killer when he's "off," the flip side is he's statistically one of the best when he's "on." I think, at this current stage right now, we have far -- FAR -- too much to lose by gambling that he will never be "on" more often.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

I know this isn't popular, but we need to start looking for a way to replace him as soon as possible because in the NFL, you don't win playoff games if your QB cannot protect the ball.

I admire that you are stepping out and saying this. For the first time, i am questioning Romo. He is a great player, but his turnovers are too much. And i fear he can’t change. Not that we does not want to change or isn’t taking the steps to change...but that he CAN’T change. His very make-up does not allow him to change. His brain does not see the risk in throwing it. It is kindof scary to think the Romo era is in danger. If he plays like this next week...it is in danger.

 

[RainMan]

What?? How can you blame the defense? They held the Giants to four field goals in their first four red zone attempts. They were constantly put into bad field position because of all the turnovers.

I'm disappointed about the lack of pressure and sacks, but this defense is NOT why the team lost the game on Monday.

The defense didn't cost us that game. But it sure seems likes whenever our defense is pressed in a get-off-the-field-or-lose-the-game situation, we tend to lose the game.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

The defense didn't cost us that game. But it sure seems likes whenever our defense is pressed in a get-off-the-field-or-lose-the-game situation, we tend to lose the game.

I rewatched the end of the game, the very last play the secondary didn’t get the play. They had no clue what to do. Wade for whatever reason didn’t give them a play. Hence why Hamlin was going ape-crap after the play. Wade is a horrible coach, plain and simple.

 

[AdamJT13]

I rewatched the end of the game, the very last play the secondary didn’t get the play. They had no clue what to do.

The second sentence there is much more worrisome than the first. The defense should know what to do in that situation before it even happens.

If we ever have a fourth down inside the 20 with the clock ticking down the final seconds and we're down by four points, I sure hope Romo knows what to do instead of standing there waving his arms at the sideline, waiting for someone to tell him what to do.

 

[Clove]

Great post, I won't really comment on Romo until and or if it's apparent that our season is done. Then and only then will my honest opinions come out. But usually during the season, I try my hardest to keep positive and hope for the best.

This team has a long ways to go, but thankfully, I know we can get things done. Will we? We'll see.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

My Meaningless Thoughts On The Game
Yakuza Rich Blog

- I think Garrett will get a lot of the blame, but I actually didn't have too much of an issue with the playcalling this game. We simply had to pass the ball a little in the second half to keep the defense honest and that's what Garrett attempted. Unfortunately, the QB has to know that we need to protect the ball because the running game is working and at the very least you want to keep the defense honest. But, we simply do not have that in our QB.

We've added a QB-friendly O-Coordinator. We've spent millions on the O-Line. We've added a dynamic tailback unit consisting of Barber, Felix and Choice. We've got not one, but TWO dynamic tight ends. We then get rid of Owens because supposedly he was forcing the ball to him and that would give him room to grow. Instead, he showed that he's the same old Romo.

Put him against a team that is somewhat disciplined and not soft and if Romo doesn't have his 'A' game going the team will lose because of him. Let me make that clear, if the defense is pretty good (not great) and Romo is a little off, we will assuredly lose because of Romo. It's almost as good of a guarantee as you will find in the NFL.

I know this isn't popular, but we need to start looking for a way to replace him as soon as possible because in the NFL, you don't win playoff games if your QB cannot protect the ball. The Bears tried to disprove this in '06 and it burned them in the end. And the Bears in '06 had a ferocios defense that actually scored points for them and had an amazing special teams that scored points for them. But Grossman turned the ball over and all of that help from the defense and special teams couldn't get them a Lombardi Trophy. People talk about 'never winning a Super Bowl with Romo', well I'm hear to say that I don't see us winning a playoff game with Romo at the rate he's going.

I seriously mean this, if somehow a good QB is available in FA or via trade, I really think the team should take a good hard look at it. You have to give players chances to prove themselves in the NFL, but you also have to be very good to know when to stop giving them chances because they'll never meet the base level expectations that are set for them. We've got too much talent on this team with guys like Jay Ratliff, Kyle Kosier, Marc Colombo, Roy Williams, Jason Witten, etc who have shown a ton of heart and stepped up their games to let it be blown by a guy who simply cannot raise his level of play.

I am officially on the Get Rid of Romo (but do it in a smart way) bandwagon and a firm believer we won't win a playoff game with him until proven otherwise. Sometimes you gotta know when to throw in a lousy hand.


- Congrats to Joe DeCamillis with another impressive performance on special teams. This is part of the problem with Romo. The special teams are entirely impressive and effective at helping Dallas win the field position battle. Unfortunately when the QB throws pick 6's and INT's in our own territory, that doesn't help matters.


- Here's the difference between an organization like the G-Men and the Cowboys. The G-Men can take a guy like Manningham, a productive but troubled player in college and turn him into a productive and inspired player in the NFL. I'm still trying to figure out when was the last time the Cowboys have done that.

- Terence Newman is officially a pretty decent starting corner. He's no longer the shutdown corner he once was. Not even close

- Jay Ratliff looks like the best player on the team right now.

- Don't get too down on O-Scan right now. Young CB's seem to struggle the most in their second year. Never really figured out why, but that's what happens throughout the league. Newman's worst year was his second year. So was Asomugha's. Champ Bailey was horrible his second season. It happens.

- Spencer is too inconsistent. He'll look really great one play, then lose gap control and/or containment on the next play. His play is part of the reason why we have no sacks. He can get the beat on offensive tackle, but then he'll over-commit. He's almost symbolic of how the team plays as a whole.

- Last week I got criticized for saying we probably won't get many sacks early on, and so far we are at a goose egg.

- I still hate the 'freezing the kicker' method. I think it's bush league, but I also think it isn't effective. Coming from a golf background, which has similarities to kicking, I think freezing the kicker doesn't work because if I miss the field goal on the first try, I can then go off what I did wrong and correct it. It's essentially a practice kick.


- I'll give Garrett a lot of credit, he not only found ways to use each tailback effectively, but found ways to open up things in the running game. 250 yards rushing and we lose. If that doesn't tell you how disappointed I am in #9, then I don't know what to tell you.

- But let's not completely blame Romo. This was the epitome of an undisciplined, soft football team. How many missed tackles were there? 10? 12? 15? 20??? Flozell's trip costs Dallas a huge play which eventually leads to the fluke INT (although the throw by Romo was horrible). Carpenter gets called for a defensive hold which would've had Feagles punting from his own 5. Just lovely.

- Well, they get the Panthers...a team they've usually played well against although that is usually at Charlotte for whatever reason. Dallas had a real chance of going 5-0 into the bye week, but now with Carolina in a must win situation and a QB that not only has seen me and other fans jump off the bandwagon, but I have to question what the team is thinking or how long they will put up with this crap. But of course this doesn't excuse the other dumb mistakes, but you have to come away with a win when you should win (Dallas should've dominated the scoreboard), especially when you are playing a divisional foe at home. Believe it or not, Garrett has drawn a lot of confidence from me in his playcalling and play design. Now he's just got to get it through Romo's thick skull that these turnovers can't be allowed. Garrett seemingly has read my mind with playcalling lately and how to improve it, hopefully he'll do the same with Romo. If not, this could be a 7-9 team this year...if we're lucky.





YAKUZA

Romo knows your off the bandwagon


Too much knee jerk from you for me. But I agree that Garett was good and is getting underrated. Seems to always get better. I think he and Romo are going to hit the books and make people look silly

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

The defense didn't cost us that game. But it sure seems likes whenever our defense is pressed in a get-off-the-field-or-lose-the-game situation, we tend to lose the game.

I rewatched the end of the game, the very last play the secondary didn’t get the play. They had no clue what to do. Wade for whatever reason didn’t give them a play. Hence why Hamlin was going ape-crap after the play. Wade is a horrible coach, plain and simple.

A better coach throws a timeout in there somewhere. When your getting gashed and your rushers are gassed. I would have been fine w/ using all the remainig timeouts there

 

[Fletch]

Again, as bad as Romo played last night, he led the team to 31 points and the lead with 2 minutes to go.

Not absolving Romo, he played very badly, but he still put this team in position to win.

Yep, and once again, the defense failed to stop a 50 plus yard drive with 3 minutes left in the game. We were winning, but this defense has yet to learn how to play together.

The season is still young. And this team can right the ship.

 

[Bleu Star]

Good OP Yakuza. You can only defend the Heartbreak Kid for so long... Eventually he will break the hearts of even his most dedicated supporters. Romo or whoever, I want to see a QB focused on balling out.. Not a tabloid darling... I want a football player that only knows one thing and that's selling out for the win every single time. Romo needs a caretaker to keep him in line... That caretaker is currently not employed by the Dallas Cowboys.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Good OP Yakuza. You can only defend the Heartbreak Kid for so long... Eventually he will break the hearts of even his most dedicated supporters. Romo or whoever, I want to see a QB focused on balling out.. Not a tabloid darling... I want a football player that only knows one thing and that's selling out for the win every single time. Romo needs a caretaker to keep him in line... That caretaker is currently not employed by the Dallas Cowboys.

I dont want the class clown to be the leader of my team. You need a strong personality that people look up to. The only thing certain about Romo is that he will be turn the ball over in crunch time and find Jason Witten on the out.

Franchise QB's (with a few exceptions) are found in the first round. Make it happen Jerry. A replacement needs to be groomed.