On 4th and 3 we go deep?

[DFWJC]

He hit the throw and Dez made the catch.
He tried to stretch for the extra yard and it all got taken away. I don't blame him but that is what happened.

We could just as easily have tried to hit the short throw. The play could have been incomplete or the player could have fumbled or Romo could have been sacked...or we could have made a first down, saw Dez double covered again the rest of the game, and never had a real chance to score again.
So many ifs.

But to in hindsite say a play that had a pass and catch that succeeded, not succeed because the WR tried to advance the play beyond the catch is pretty wussy-like.
They hit the throw like they've been doing all season.

 

[links18]

I actually agree with the OP. I wasn't happy with the play at the time either. When talking about play selection, you have to analyze the probabilities before the play, not the outcome afterwards.

If I give a hypothetical situation, what do you choose: 4th and short, down one score, a couple minutes to play, in enemy territory. Should we (A) throw a fade up for grabs, or (B) run a high percentage route to move the chains?

Again, forget what happened or didn't happen on that play. In a "veil of ignorance" universe where I don't know what happens, I pick (B) every time. The odds of completing a slant, drag, option route to Witten, dump off to Murray, etc. are so much higher.

LOL, at the Rawlsian reference on a football forum. That one is gonna sail higher than a Teddy Bridgewater pass.....

 

[Hoov]

I'm sorry.

With 4 minutes to play and needing only short yardage to keep the drive going..

Romo goes deep and there is no options to choose from.

Who called this play and why?

Sure..

if it's less than a minute to play and its desparate..

roll the dice deep.

But not when it was done.

Cole Beasley?

Yep.

Jason Witten?

Yep.

A swing pass to Murray?

Romo roll out and look for Williams.

But chuck the ball on a lick and a promise with so much time and so little needed?

Sounds like somebody needs to be talked to and straightened out.

Maybe demoted.

I also did not like the kill kill play on 3rd and 1 that became a deep throw to t will followed by miss fg and leaving time on clock for Rodgers. In both cases I say just get the first

 

[Clove]

he hit the target and Dez our best WR made the catch. I have no issue going to my best WR on the team vs a lesser talented CB in a one on one. GB coverage was looking for the shorter routs this is why the safeties were playing up.

It's like trying to hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer when you need 1 point to win and there's a lane to drive in. You go for the higher percentage play.

Too many things can happen with a throw down the field like that that are mostly negative, as we've just witnessed.

 

[Clove]

I also did not like the kill kill play on 3rd and 1 that became a deep throw to t will followed by miss fg and leaving time on clock for Rodgers. In both cases I say just get the first

Romo is only part to blame, I'm sure it's a system thing and the right to call an Audible if things go a certain way, but the system we have doesn't account for things like, time in the game, big game, momentum, high low percentage , needing points vs big play, things of that nature. Going for the first down is a safe bet when you're on the road, hostile territory, playing against a QB who can strike fast.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's like trying to hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer when you need 1 point to win and there's a lane to drive in. You go for the higher percentage play.

Too many things can happen with a throw down the field like that that are mostly negative, as we've just witnessed.

and GB coverage was looking at the short routs that is why there was no safety at all down the field, they were looking for the short rout, they are not stupid they knew Dallas needed 3 they played exactly that way. As far as what would have happen there is no way of knowing. One thing for sure I will gladly go to Dez in the match up he had. Dallas did the same thing vs Houston on a 4th down play with the game in the balance.

 

[romothesavior]

LOL, at the Rawlsian reference on a football forum. That one is gonna sail higher than a Teddy Bridgewater pass.....

Ha, it's the philosophy major in me... Glad someone picked it up.

 

[Clove]

and GB coverage was looking at the short routs that is why there was no safety at all down the field, they were looking for the short rout, they are not stupid they knew Dallas needed 3 they played exactly that way. As far as what would have happen there is no way of knowing. One thing for sure I will gladly go to Dez in the match up he had. Dallas did the same thing vs Houston on a 4th down play with the game in the balance.

Listen, I'm all for gambling, I think Garrett has been fantastic in being aggressive, etc... The Houston game was not a win or go home game with a lethal QB who could strike at any point. You have to account for things like that.

If it's 4th down, but you play next week, or even if you're in the Super Bowl and all is on the line, maybe. But if you're trying to advance playing on the road, just hit Beasley who was wide open at the 1st down marker. He may or may not catch it, but it's a much safer bet. Had we got the first, we'd had a chance to continue on.

 

[joseephuss]

Romo and Dez made a great play. But it was too risky with the season on the line. Do it on 3rd or whatever, but 4th and 2 is to low of a percentage for me there.

It should have worked and was a ballsy play yet I would have went with a high % play in that situation. Since they went for it all, glad it was to Dez to go up and make a play.

Were the Packers playing zero coverage on third down leaving Dez one-on-one with no safety help?

 

[Tenkamenin]

I didn't like the decision at all. It is a very low % throw regardless of a one on one match up. I thought it was a very bad idea and took an amazing catch by Dez to even make it happen. There was also a lot of time left in the game, so we didn't need to go to the end zone. Very bad idea.

It's a very low percentage throw and catch to everyone else but a very high percentage pitch and catch for Romo and Dez. Both guys are our playmakers and playmakers make big plays in crucial moments.

 

[ufcrules1]

Would you have preferred for Romo to take a sack? That's pretty much the only other option. Everyone else was covered, so Tony did what he had to do.

I would have liked a play call that called for a 3-5 yard pass. Instead, the ball was just thrown deep to Dez and that is a low % play. I get it, I love Dez too but that doesn't change the fact that throwing the ball deep to anyone is a low% play and dangerous.

 

[Cebrin]

Were the Packers playing zero coverage on third down leaving Dez one-on-one with no safety help?

Yes

 

[Cebrin]

They were waiting for the under throw. No safeties deep. He threw it to the best hands on the field (both sides) and Dez caught it, just like Tony expected. If switching hands and cuffing the ball whilst extending your arm out isn't possession (you can't cuff like that unless you've possession), I've no ******* idea what a catch is.

 

[Miller]

Maybe with the way the refs have been these playoffs, Tony thought he's take a shot on 4th down and then they could go more conservative on 5th down......



All jokes aside, our best play all day on offense was Witten in the middle of the field. He was open all day and kept drives going. Thought that was the easy call.

 

[wileedog]

I would have liked a play call that called for a 3-5 yard pass. .

You don't think that is exactly what GB was sitting on?

The blitz was coming. The safeties were all up. Witt was doubled (that's how you know what GB was looking for, they doubled Witten of all people and left Dez alone in press coverage). Post-snap, Romo has time to make one read before an unblocked blitzer has him. He can either go to Dez 1 v 1 on a shorter CB, or look first to Beasely and hope he gets across the marker before he gets popped by a LB or safety.

I love Beasely, but if my season is on the line and the decision is a "safe" throw to him or a pass I have been throwing successfully all season to Dez Byrant, I know where I am looking first. GB was certainly expecting that short throw.

 

[Doomsday101]

Listen, I'm all for gambling, I think Garrett has been fantastic in being aggressive, etc... The Houston game was not a win or go home game with a lethal QB who could strike at any point. You have to account for things like that.

If it's 4th down, but you play next week, or even if you're in the Super Bowl and all is on the line, maybe. But if you're trying to advance playing on the road, just hit Beasley who was wide open at the 1st down marker. He may or may not catch it, but it's a much safer bet. Had we got the first, we'd had a chance to continue on.

I understand the ramifications I also understand Dez is the top WR and he and Romo in a one on one situation I will gladly take it. Romo saw it he took it and it was there. My only objection was the ruling not the play. Had Dez been dealing with a double then of course I look for the shorter rout

 

[ConstantReboot]

I'm sorry.

With 4 minutes to play and needing only short yardage to keep the drive going..

Romo goes deep and there is no options to choose from.

Who called this play and why?

Sure..

if it's less than a minute to play and its desparate..

roll the dice deep.

But not when it was done.

Cole Beasley?

Yep.

Jason Witten?

Yep.

A swing pass to Murray?

Romo roll out and look for Williams.

But chuck the ball on a lick and a promise with so much time and so little needed?

Sounds like somebody needs to be talked to and straightened out.

Maybe demoted.

I don't think of it as a right or wrong call. I think of it as a great call. Thats the time you go for the jugular.

 

[ufcrules1]

You don't think that is exactly what GB was sitting on?

The blitz was coming. The safeties were all up. Witt was doubled (that's how you know what GB was looking for, they doubled Witten of all people and left Dez alone in press coverage). Post-snap, Romo has time to make one read before an unblocked blitzer has him. He can either go to Dez 1 v 1 on a shorter CB, or look first to Beasely and hope he gets across the marker before he gets popped by a LB or safety.

I love Beasely, but if my season is on the line and the decision is a "safe" throw to him or a pass I have been throwing successfully all season to Dez Byrant, I know where I am looking first. GB was certainly expecting that short throw.

Of course that is what GB was expecting.. you know why? Because the % of completing a pass in that situation is drastically higher than throwing a deep ball to Dez. Just because they were expecting a play like that doesn't mean we wouldn't be successful at it.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

On 4th and 2 give it to your best player. I will never question that decision. This game wasn't lost on that catch. The defense went out there and couldn't stop Aaron Rodgers. They had every shot to get the ball back. If they couldn't stop Rodgers then.....I doubt they couldv'e stopped him after scoring a touchdown. I want this team to be aggressive. Not complacent and just getting by. That's what got them to 13-5 and now isn't the time to change that. Being complacent in part got us to 8-8.

 

[DFWJC]

It's like trying to hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer when you need 1 point to win and there's a lane to drive in. You go for the higher percentage play.

Too many things can happen with a throw down the field like that that are mostly negative, as we've just witnessed.

A 2 yard pass would not have been for the win. Your analogy sux