My Vastly Different Take on the Romo INT

[TwoCentPlain]

Blaming WR Williams is in my opinion missing the big picture and who should shoulder the burden of blame. The more I see this play, the more I look to Romo for blame.

It is 3rd and 11 (basically 3rd and goal since they were so close). The team is in FG range. Don't do anything STUPID should be the philosophy. How does Romo look at that coverage and audible to a 4-5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 into the teeth of the defense is beyond me. The CB is clearly taking away the slant and there are two defenders nearby in the area. The odds of that slant picking up the first are slim to none. Further compounding the problem is Romo seems to audible to the slant to a rookie WR 3-4 seconds before the playclock expires and has to hurry up and beg for the ball to be snapped at 1 second. Romo is in shotgun and takes one or two small steps back and is under no pressure to speak of. Romo then forces the slant even though the WR is clearly not in any position to succeed. This appears to be Romo's first and only read on the play and he stubbornly forced the ball. Romo did not look anywhere else and was under no pressure and decided to force a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 with the CB draped on the WR.

Romo is a seasoned vet and should know better. A) It was a horrible play call and/or audible knowing the down and distance and field location from the get-go. B) Forced the pass while under no pressure. C) Romo had plenty of time to see the defense on that play and thought a slant would somehow work.

Sure, Williams is to blame for not running what he was supposed to. However, that play should have never been audibled to (or should have been audibled out if Callahan called it). And the ball definitely should have never left Romo's hand. Seems to me poor overall field management on the QB from the get-go on that play.

I could be wrong. Just a little different take on it. I'm not a Romo hater by the way. He played well and managed the game well overall.

I hope it was 3rd and 11 on that play or I make little sense

 

[dargonking999]

So what you're saying is that its Romo's fault. And we should agree with you because you aren't a Romo hater, and believe he had a good game?

Got it..

You're still wrong though

 

[jobberone]

Well, it is all on the WR. Romo has to be able to count on receivers protecting the ball on that route. In a timing offense it is vital receivers be where they're supposed to be as the ball goes to a point in space where the receiver should be and is thrown before the receiver makes his cut(s). Williams committed a huge no no. Now if you want to say Williams is not ready for that kind of responsibility and place the blame elsewhere then look to the receivers coach and Garrett.

 

[Denim Chicken]

You cant always count on converting a pass past the fist down marker. Sometimes you have to hope for RAC to make it.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

This is a timing offense. The WR must run the proper route. Especially in that situation. The slant was there, the WR had position, he broke off the route to head back outside but the problem is, the QB threw the slant. IF the WR runs the right route, at worst, we have short completion or incomplete pass. At best, he breaks a tackle and who knows what happens or we get the PI call, auto first down. Regardless, the WR MUST run the proper route, blaming anyone but the WR is pointless.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

So, some are on board with a last second audible to a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 in the red zone into the teeth of the coverage with CB showing tight coverage? That play had absolutely zero potential from the get-go. And that was the main and only read from the QB on that play.

 

[CATCH17]

So what you're saying is that its Romo's fault. And we should agree with you because you aren't a Romo hater, and believe he had a good game?

Got it..

You're still wrong though

Pretty much this.

It doesn't matter if it was a bad route adjustment. You still have to run the route and not quit on it.

 

[Risen Star]

It wasn't a slant. It was a curl. Yes, that's 100% on the WR.

 

[CATCH17]

So, some are on board with a last second audible to a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 in the red zone into the teeth of the coverage with CB showing tight coverage? That play had absolutely zero potential from the get-go. And that was the main and only read from the QB on that play.

I'm sick of the last second audibling as a whole.

It's still Williams fault 100%

 

[Yakuza Rich]

It's not a stupid play. I just think Romo tends to overthink some things and expects that his players will be on the same page. It's not Madden where you can just audible until your heart is content and the receivers will understand and a lot of it has to do with what Williams sees as the coverage.

I just think Romo should have hiked the ball earlier and not made that last audible or he should have called timeout, re-evaluated and come up with a new play.




YR

 

[jobberone]

This is a timing offense. The WR must run the proper route. Especially in that situation. The slant was there, the WR had position, he broke off the route to head back outside but the problem is, the QB threw the slant. IF the WR runs the right route, at worst, we have short completion or incomplete pass. At best, he breaks a tackle and who knows what happens or we get the PI call, auto first down. Regardless, the WR MUST run the proper route, blaming anyone but the WR is pointless.

Agreed. I think the CB physicaled him out of the pattern and that confounded the rookie WR. He has to learn that if the CB jumps the route esp that one he must prevent the INT. At worse he gets offensive PI and maybe even gets the call his way or it's incomplete.

It's quite possible that the CB just made a good play and great read on that play but I've been wondering if our opponents know something. Show a certain look and wait for the Boys to go to that hot read. That's a disturbing thought if we're that predictable.

 

[Direwolf63]

From a strictly execution perspective, it was all on Williams. But questioning why Williams is the target on that play is legitimate. You've got Dez. You've got Miles. You've got Witten. You've even got DeMarco out of the backfield as an option. Why are you going to a rookie playing his first game in such a crucial situation? In an offense that is timing based when it is imperative that the WR and QB are on the same page?

I guess if it works nobody asks those questions. But it didn't.

 

[Risen Star]

It's not a stupid play. I just think Romo tends to overthink some things and expects that his players will be on the same page. It's not Madden where you can just audible until your heart is content and the receivers will understand and a lot of it has to do with what Williams sees as the coverage.

I just think Romo should have hiked the ball earlier and not made that last audible or he should have called timeout, re-evaluated and come up with a new play.




YR

I think that's Monday morning QBing at its finest.

It's typical rookie growing pains. He'll learn from it.

 

[jobberone]

So, some are on board with a last second audible to a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 in the red zone into the teeth of the coverage with CB showing tight coverage? That play had absolutely zero potential from the get-go. And that was the main and only read from the QB on that play.

If he beats the CB then he probably scores. But you're right. See my post above for further thoughts. Not sure why they weren't using the big TEs on that play. I have to go look at it. Perhaps they showed blitz and it was the right call for that formation.

 

[Jenky]

Blame the coaching staff. Dwayne Harris should have been the #3. All he does is make plays and if Williams can't beat him out, he shouldn't be starting over him. Dwayne Harris rarely messes up.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think that's Monday morning QBing at its finest.

It's typical rookie growing pains. He'll learn from it.

Uh...I felt that way right when the play happened. In fact, when he made that last audible, my heart sunk. I would guess that so many of our bad plays on offense over the years have come from those last second audibles. Sometimes, you just have to run the play and execute.




YR

 

[dstovall5]

So, some are on board with a last second audible to a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 in the red zone into the teeth of the coverage with CB showing tight coverage? That play had absolutely zero potential from the get-go. And that was the main and only read from the QB on that play.

Why does it matter if it was a "last second audible"? Williams should always be able pick up the audible regardless of the amount of time on the clock, what you said is just silly. If Williams can't pick up the audible then he'll find himself riding the pine a whole lot this season. He's already ran the wrong route before, so this isn't his first mistake in this regard.

As for the play having "zero potential from the get-go", yet again another silly statement. Slants go for 10 yards all the time. Also, since you can predict the future and know what plays will and wont work. Can you fly down to Dallas and tell BC your secrets to predicting the future, I think with your future predicting ability this team can finally get over that hump.

 

[ufcrules1]

Blaming WR Williams is in my opinion missing the big picture and who should shoulder the burden of blame. The more I see this play, the more I look to Romo for blame.

It is 3rd and 11 (basically 3rd and goal since they were so close). The team is in FG range. Don't do anything STUPID should be the philosophy. How does Romo look at that coverage and audible to a 4-5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 into the teeth of the defense is beyond me. The CB is clearly taking away the slant and there are two defenders nearby in the area. The odds of that slant picking up the first are slim to none. Further compounding the problem is Romo seems to audible to the slant to a rookie WR 3-4 seconds before the playclock expires and has to hurry up and beg for the ball to be snapped at 1 second. Romo is in shotgun and takes one or two small steps back and is under no pressure to speak of. Romo then forces the slant even though the WR is clearly not in any position to succeed. This appears to be Romo's first and only read on the play and he stubbornly forced the ball. Romo did not look anywhere else and was under no pressure and decided to force a 5 yard slant on 3rd and 11 with the CB draped on the WR.

Romo is a seasoned vet and should know better. A) It was a horrible play call and/or audible knowing the down and distance and field location from the get-go. B) Forced the pass while under no pressure. C) Romo had plenty of time to see the defense on that play and thought a slant would somehow work.

Sure, Williams is to blame for not running what he was supposed to. However, that play should have never been audibled to (or should have been audibled out if Callahan called it). And the ball definitely should have never left Romo's hand. Seems to me poor overall field management on the QB from the get-go on that play.

I could be wrong. Just a little different take on it. I'm not a Romo hater by the way. He played well and managed the game well overall.

I hope it was 3rd and 11 on that play or I make little sense

Nice right up, I like seeing different perspectives. We are horrible at getting into the endzone when we get inside the redzone and it has been that way for years. What causes it? I also question why he would be throwing to the rookie there, why he would audible to the rookie with barely any time on the clock, and why he would be throwing a slant pass on 3rd and 11.

 

[Risen Star]

Uh...I felt that way right when the play happened. In fact, when he made that last audible, my heart sunk. I would guess that so many of our bad plays on offense over the years have come from those last second audibles. Sometimes, you just have to run the play and execute.

And there have been a ton of big plays that have come from the last second audibles.

You can do this with any offense.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

body language says it all.

Look at Williams on the bench and it is clear who is at fault. sorry OP, no sale.