Risk/Reward

[Chocolate Lab]

Again... The coach doesn't have to give him the pass option.

And some people act like every team with a big lead trying to run out the clock doesn't face a stacked box. Do people really think we're the only ones who see this late in the game? You run the ball anyway because your first concern isn't scoring or even moving the ball. It's making the other team fight you AND the clock as much as possible.

 

[Bluestang]

Again... The coach doesn't have to give him the pass option.

And some people act like every team with a big lead trying to run out the clock doesn't face a stacked box. Do people really think we're the only ones who see this late in the game? You run the ball anyway because your first concern isn't scoring or even moving the ball. It's making the other team fight you AND the clock as much as possible.

I agree with you on limiting options. JG deserves equal blame too.

I thought they should have forced the run regardless of the pre-snap read, but I've also seen Romo ad-lib on his own outside of the intended play. 2010 vs Houston comes to mind and that ended up as TD to Roy Williams.

Lets just hope that Linehan can be that change.

 

[TwoDeep3]

No it didn't, but the play was actually a run with a pass option and Romo went with the second option because of the pre-snap read.

However, with the Packers crowding the LOS in the second half to stop their leaky run defense it begs the question how many run plays were "Kill, Kill, Kill" 'ed into that second option?

A few people mentioned it earlier, but the Patriots game went conservative and we lost. Now they try to be aggressive and they lose. I've reviewed games on my own extensively and I've seen countless times were Romo has changed the play to pass from a run because of a stacked box. I've even posted a few of those threads here at one point.

The problem has been where this team tries to go for the throat and misses and gets countered in the back of the head for a knockout.

My concern with Romo is that this will never change with him, and he will make those calls when he sees the coverage dictate the play. And the scary part about that is that the OL is turning into a huge strength for this team and Romo's mindset doesn't seem to change.

I have wondered aloud here many times if Romo is changing plays to pass plays and why the coaching staff don't limit his ability to free lance.

 

[Bluestang]

I have wondered aloud here many times if Romo is changing plays to pass plays and why the coaching staff don't limit his ability to free lance.

I simply don't know why.

What I do believe is that the staff has come to the conclusion that they will live and die with those decisions made on the field. Romo gives us the best chance to win and that is what the coaching staff is betting on when they allow him to make those decisions.

It's not like Romo is the sole reason that this teams falls short, but to say that he hasn't played a role is not true either. He can make magic out of a broken play but he can also torpedo a play too.

How much you limit Romo is such a fine line because it really can go either way with his body of work.

 

[Ashwynn]

Jimmy was aggressive and forced the issue in game management and play calling. While he relied on Norv to actually call the plays, he had input and when to risk.

One of my favorite stories is the '92 NFC Championship game.

Rice just scored a touchdown and the 9ers pulled within three. The momentum had shifted and it appeared as if the 9ers were the best team.

Norv called down to Jimmy and asked him what he wanted to do when they got the ball.

I think Norv said something like, "Do you want to run out the clock or what?"

Jimmy said, "I want to score."

Well don't we all.

But if you recall, Jimmy went for a fourth and one and didn't make it earlier in the game. So the I want to score comment was not an isolated risk, but a calculated keep the pressure on the other team decision throughout the game.

The question is this.

Dallas miraculously makes the NFC Championship game. Garrett somehow has the team poised late in the game. He has to make the decision to go for broke or play it safe.

Which would you do?

Be aggressive or be passive and try to run out the clock?

Now we have to assume the defense is playing at an NFL top ten level and not the community college strata we saw last year.

You shouldn't predicate your response on "Well,. the defense couldn't beat Slippery Rock if they were spotted twenty points."

So, no guts no glory, or milk the clock and say a mumbled prayer?

I've always said you play to win. Sometimes that means sitting on the run and killing the clock, sometimes it means balls to the walls 80 yards in three plays. Johnson was a master at knowing which situation he was in against any given foe. Thats what made him so good, and the players ability to execute what ever path he chose (thats a key part too, if you cant run the ball, no sense in trying to run the ball). Johnsons Cowboys could do both at will.

Man I miss them Cowboys.

 

[Ashwynn]

I have wondered aloud here many times if Romo is changing plays to pass plays and why the coaching staff don't limit his ability to free lance.

Probably because they thought it was at least not a bad call or even the right call?

I don't have a problem with Romo calling his plays. With a great O line, his decisions will look a lot better going forward. Romo is not an idiot when it comes to football and X's and O's.

 

[Ashwynn]

Yup and that's the problem we have we relied to heavily on a defense that was never that strong while we never put up any points.

Heres to hoping with the improved Oline this year, this will change in a big way. At least on the offensive side, Cant say if the D will be better or worse, hard to replace Ware with a bunch of 7th rounders and actually get better.

 

[lostar2009]

Heres to hoping with the improved Oline this year, this will change in a big way. At least on the offensive side, Cant say if the D will be better or worse, hard to replace Ware with a bunch of 7th rounders and actually get better.

Yeah I know, our best bet this year is to let Romo rack the points up early then finish the game with ball control. Chewing up the play clock with the run game. But in regards to the D I think it may be solid this year mid of the pack but nothing special. I would rather have a group of young guys with a question mark than a group of vets with a question mark. Also hopefully next year we will draft a few studs on the dline and some how find a rangey safety.

 

[Risen Star]

Depends on the circumstances. Parcells was right going ultra conservative with a wide-eyed Tony Romo with less than a full season starting under his belt against the Seahawks in that playoff game.

Garrett would be wrong doing the exact same thing this year. The hand is different. You shouldn't play it the same.

With these cards you attack, attack, attack on offense because that's pretty much all we've got. We can't win a field position battle.

 

[Kaiser]

It's easy to go the "No guts, no glory" route if you have the goods to bring it home..

And you could have the goods in the days before a salary cap - or you could after the Vikings gave you a crazy return for Hershel Walker. Post salary cap is all about craptastic parity ball and you have to be very good and very lucky to have a dominant team.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

You have to know your team to make those decisions. As a fan who watches every game very carefully, I can tell you that over the last 3-4 years, I have zero confidence in our O Line getting a running first down outside of one yard. 3rd and 2+ was a passing down because the line just couldn't be trusted to get it done. That was not the case in the 90's. Hopefully, with the new picks on the OL, that will change and we can actually have a balanced offense. I find it very hard to believe that JG doesn't want to run more, especially on short yard situations, but I don't think he could up to now. We will see if that changes if this OL is as good as it should be.

 

[Blitzen32]

Again... The coach doesn't have to give him the pass option.

This particular coach doesn't seem to have to worry about consequences of doing his job poorly. That helps.

 

[Idgit]

http://cowboyszone.com/2014/06/error-anatomy-tony-romos-critical-green-bay-interception.html

It's just one play but here's what happened in that GB game.

10 men within 6 yds of the LOS. What is your call?

This is great. Thanks for the link.