On Romo's Awful Performance Last Night...

[zurielb]

When watching the game last night, I was at a complete loss to explain the multitude of turnovers that we experiences @ the hands of Romo. After sleeping on it I am gonna try to wildly speculate on the factors that lead to Bad Romo last night.

• I think Romo's inability to get in rhythm during the first few series every game finally came back to bite us. His continued propensity to overthrow receivers during those first few drives allowed the Bills defense to come out in zone package and just sit there waiting for the under-over thrown ball.
• The first point also applies to the receivers, running poor or simply incorrect routes on those first few drives. Witten looked sluggish on the first and second interceptions, but I put more blame on Romo's poor accuracy.
• I think we need to remind ourselves that Romo is still a young qb with less than a full season of starts under its belt. Sometimes he will play teams that come out on defensive packages that he hasn't seen, and will therefore make poor decisions. I think the Bills "creep" or "chaos" package that we saw yesterday was a perfect example of this. It seemed to confuse not only Romo but the whole Cowboy's offensive line. They came out daring us to beat them and we showed we couldn't execute.
• Did somebody had flashbacks to Romo's first start on that Giants game? On Romo's first play ever on a regular season game he rolled out to the right and threw an interception right into the DE hands (Osi?) that go returned for a touchdown.... the same thing happened last night.
  We have to point out that the pass blocking seemed to be fine in that play. Marc Colombo blocked Chris Kelsay despite him doing some stunts and twists, but inexplicably, Romo decided to roll out to the right despite the fact that he could've stayed in the pocket comfortably, got right in front of Chris Kelsay and the rest is history. It's almost like Romo is sometimes too mobile, or its too comfortable throwing outside of the pocket so he gets himself in that kind of trouble.

Ultimately Romo just made poor decisions throughout the game and turned a game that should've been an easy game into one of the greatest monday night games that I have seen in a while, but only because of Bills defense that was willing to challenge Romo because they had nothing else to loose. They are starting an ex-receiver on the safety position for gods sake!!! They have no business getting five interceptions, but yet they did.

At least Romo didnt came up with a 0.0 rating like Rex Grossman did on that Arizona game.

Other thoughts on the game:

• We finally have a fullback that can catch a pass on the flat. If Cricket can develop into a good blocker, that might be the thing that puts him above Oliver 'Brick Hands' Hoyte.
• Does our run blocking suck or what?
• Following the point above... why did the cowboys keep lining up on a single back formation and attempted to run out of it? The Bills are undersized and fast... Run straight at them!!! Sometimes good ol I formation with a fullback is the way to go.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Our inability to run the ball is going to be a big factor as this season progresses.

Our line isn't opening many holes and Julius is average at best. I was really sick seeing him in the game in the last 5 minutes inside the 20 and then Garrett calling for a run with him on first down that went for one yard.

 

[BigD]

Our line isn't opening many holes and Julius is average at best. I was really sick seeing him in the game in the last 5 minutes inside the 20 and then Garrett calling for a run with him on first down that went for one yard.

Not only that but when we were backed up on the 2, we give it to JJ two times in a row for and the end result was like one yard. I'm sorry, but situations like that call for a Barbarian, not JJ. Those were wasted plays in my book.

 

[Doctor32]

Our inability to run the ball is going to be a big factor as this season progresses.

Our line isn't opening many holes and Julius is average at best. I was really sick seeing him in the game in the last 5 minutes inside the 20 and then Garrett calling for a run with him on first down that went for one yard.

Agreed. It is concerning. Garrett's obvious philosophy is using the passing game to set up the running opps instead of vice versa.

 

[khiladi]

Our inability to run the ball is going to be a big factor as this season progresses.

Our line isn't opening many holes and Julius is average at best. I was really sick seeing him in the game in the last 5 minutes inside the 20 and then Garrett calling for a run with him on first down that went for one yard.

I think it has more to do with us being pass-happy. I started watching the game in the 3rd, and I saw Barber's numbers and he had only six carries or so. With the big offensive line, Dallas should at least attack early with the run.

 

[STSINAZ]

lets hope that romo isnt an enigma

 

[burmafrd]

And how has MB3 looked any better? You guys are so quick to blame JJ all the time and ignore that MB3 looked just as bad last night.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

[*]The first point also applies to the receivers, running poor or simply incorrect routes on those first few drives. Witten looked sluggish on the first and second interceptions, but I put more blame on Romo's poor accuracy.

I didn't see an accuracy issue on the interceptions.

First pick - miscommunication. Ball went high, but if they communicate correctly it may wind up being complete.

2nd Pick - Accurate throw, bad decision.

3rd Pick - Great play by DE.

4th Pick - Throw was late and Romo missed the defensive back.

5th Pick - Accurate throw, horrible decision. Probably the worst pick of the bunch.

[*]I think we need to remind ourselves that Romo is still a young qb with less than a full season of starts under its belt. Sometimes he will play teams that come out on defensive packages that he hasn't seen, and will therefore make poor decisions. I think the Bills "creep" or "chaos" package that we saw yesterday was a perfect example of this. It seemed to confuse not only Romo but the whole Cowboy's offensive line. They came out daring us to beat them and we showed we couldn't execute.

I think we have to remind ourselves that even great QB's will throw 4 or 5 INT's, even to some lousy defenses. Brady threw 4 picks against a terrible Indy defense last year and then 4 picks against a bad KC defense in 2005 and 4 picks against the Bills in 2003.

I think we also need to remind ourselves that it's one thing to throw 5 picks in a game and come back the next week and play well and win the following game. But it's another thing to throw 4 picks in the first, 1 late pick in a crucial play late in the second half, and still wanting to make plays and make plays to drive 80 yards for a TD and then put the team in FG position with 20 seconds to win the game.

[*]
We have to point out that the pass blocking seemed to be fine in that play. Marc Colombo blocked Chris Kelsay despite him doing some stunts and twists, but inexplicably, Romo decided to roll out to the right despite the fact that he could've stayed in the pocket comfortably, got right in front of Chris Kelsay and the rest is history. It's almost like Romo is sometimes too mobile, or its too comfortable throwing outside of the pocket so he gets himself in that kind of trouble.

Personally, I think it was just a great play by Kelsay that was really lucky. 8 times out of 10 when a D-Linemen bats a pass, it goes straight downward and into the turf. This one popped straight up in the air for an easy catch by Kelsay in the end zone. Sure, you'd prefer for him to stay in the pocket, but that hasn't been a problem for Romo this year and rolling out occasionally when you don't need to isn't exactly a QB sin either.

Ultimately Romo just made poor decisions throughout the game and turned a game that should've been an easy game into one of the greatest monday night games that I have seen in a while, but only because of Bills defense that was willing to challenge Romo because they had nothing else to loose. They are starting an ex-receiver on the safety position for gods sake!!! They have no business getting five interceptions, but yet they did.

I personally hated the offensive gameplan which reminded me of the Seattle playoff game by sending the receivers deep up the sideline. I understand you think there's an advantage there with their poor secondary, but your QB is struggling, your WR is struggling, and the Bills secondary is playing a disciplined zone.

It seemed to me that Romo would make his first read with Owens and because of the Bills zone and the patterns they were calling for Owens (deep up the sideline), it was essentially taking Owens out of the play immediately. Where the Bills exceled was their LB's on Witten, so when Romo went to his second read...usually to Witten...they had him covered. The gameplan needed to have Owens run more crossing patterns and Romo needed to look for either Hurd or Crayton more. He started to do so in the second half and played much better.

Other thoughts on the game:

• We finally have a fullback that can catch a pass on the flat. If Cricket can develop into a good blocker, that might be the thing that puts him above Oliver 'Brick Hands' Hoyte.

• 
  
  Problem is he can't run block. Hoyte is very good at it.
  
  

  [*]Does our run blocking suck or what?

  
  Sure when your starting fullback is out and your QB is struggling.
  
  

  [*]Following the point above... why did the cowboys keep lining up on a single back formation and attempted to run out of it? The Bills are undersized and fast... Run straight at them!!! Sometimes good ol I formation with a fullback is the way to go.

See Cricket Anderson can't run block.





YAKUZA

 

[CowboyWay]

Our inability to run the ball is going to be a big factor as this season progresses.

Our line isn't opening many holes and Julius is average at best. I was really sick seeing him in the game in the last 5 minutes inside the 20 and then Garrett calling for a run with him on first down that went for one yard.

I agree. I don't look at "inflated stats". I look at the game. We simply can't run the ball when we need too. I we could run the ball on first down and get 5 yards, that allows the rest of the offense to do alot of things on 2nd and 3rd down. But when you constantly see 2nd and 9, you pretty much know whats coming after that.

This line should have dominated the bills line. And they didn't. I'm not putting it all on our RB's either.

 

[dbair1967]

Sure when your starting fullback is out and your QB is struggling.



See Cricket Anderson can't run block.

YAKUZA

I still think the bigger issue are the guys on the OL...they arnt moving anyone and too many plays there is alot of penetration...

David

 

[NextGenBoys]

I agree. I don't look at "inflated stats". I look at the game. We simply can't run the ball when we need too. I we could run the ball on first down and get 5 yards, that allows the rest of the offense to do alot of things on 2nd and 3rd down. But when you constantly see 2nd and 9, you pretty much know whats coming after that.

This line should have dominated the bills line. And they didn't. I'm not putting it all on our RB's either.

Agree. We cant run the ball consistently. We've also been a bit pass happy. 50 passes to 20 runs last night. That line needs to do their job run blocking for the first three quarters, and not just after the defense is tired late in the 4th.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I still think the bigger issue are the guys on the OL...they arnt moving anyone and too many plays there is alot of penetration...

David

You've got 6 blockers against 7 or 8 defenders. If Hoyte is in there it even things up a bit. I'm not really sold on Julius working better w/o a fullback and I really believe that Barber is a much better back with Hoyte around.




YAKUZA