Romo and Spencer - Please Discuss

[Champsheart]

I am curious of 2 things. Both Romo and Spencer are keys to us this year, I known the coaches want to put both of these players in the best situations to be successful.

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense, with a few exceptions. My question is how much different is it rushing from one side to the other, and how long does it usually take to transition. Has this slowed his progress some?


For Romo: I have heard JG say more than once they are trying to get Romo to stay in the pocket longer, they do not want him to start scrambling to early, they want him to allow the play to develop. This is a timing offense so that does make some sense.
BUT..
Romo makes some of his best plays on the run and throwing after breaking outside the pocket. Teams we played last year did everything the could to keep him in the pocket, that is how they game planned him, dont let him break containment.

Thoughts?

 

[dallasfan]

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense, with a few exceptions. My question is how much different is it rushing from one side to the other, and how long does it usually take to transition. Has this slowed his progress some?

I doubt switching from right to left, will slow you down, as far technique goes. Only difference is that's the side the tight end is on. IMO, he'll be fine, there will be some growing pains, but the more he plays, the more comfortable he'll get.

 

[bounce]

For the DE one, I can't say how difficult a transition it is - but I would say somewhat tough. You have to pretty much learn the opposite of everything you've learned. Now, he's coming from the QBs strong side (as most are righties) but you're generally facing the weaker tackle of the two, but also usually the TE. I'm sure it's not as easy as just switching sides. There will be growing pains.

As for Romo, I'd rather he learn to stay in the pocket - but not completely abandon his mobility, IF IT'S NEEDED. Games are won in the pocket, for the most part. Getting outside the pocket and breaking containment are well and good for a play every now and again, but playing outside the pocket also leads to more inaccurate passing. The line now looks to be good enough to give him time to let the play happen. If it breaks down, and he has to move, great. But, I'd rather he stay in. And this is completely different from Bledsoe - because Bledsoe didn't even move around in the pocket. Brady, Manning, Favre, et al are pocket passers - but still move around a lot. That's how I see Romo being most successful.

 

[Champsheart]

I doubt switching from right to left, will slow you down, as far technique goes. Only difference is that's the side the tight end is on. IMO, he'll be fine, there will be some growing pains, but the more he plays, the more comfortable he'll get.

I actually would think there would be a pretty substantial difference technique wise. Everything is the opposite and I would not think it would be natural for a while. Kind of like some players having trouble switching from LT to RT, I could be wrong though and have never done it.

 

[Nors]

I like Rolling Romo around some. He does throw well on the run. But he has to prove he can make quick reads and get the ball out of the pocket consistently. Watch Wade Phillips face when Romo starts running around and making mistakes. He out of character shows anger. I think he quitely has concerns about Romo. Probably the same advise Parcells gave him.

Big year developmentally for Tony.

 

[YosemiteSam]

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense, with a few exceptions. My question is how much different is it rushing from one side to the other, and how long does it usually take to transition. Has this slowed his progress some?

It has an effect for a few reasons. First, if you only train from the right side, switching to the left side is like learning to do something with you other hand. It's possible, right from the get go, but take time to master. On top of that, switching from one side to the other means facing different competition too. The left tackle is usually a better player than the right tackle. (for the most part anyhow) Then you are also playing strong side vs weak side which can matter technique wise as the offense has has more options from one side to the other.

 

[Hostile]

Moving right to left is harder for some people than it is for others. The reason is really simple too. They get used to pushing off with a different foot. It's kind of a comfort zone thing. It depends on how much you think about that action as to how fast you adapt to it. If you line up and the thought crosses your mind to make sure to push off on the correct foot then your read and reaction is delayed by that split second. It may not seem like much, but it sure can be. It can be overcome and one thing will push it out of the mind faster than anything else. Success. It's addicting and once you feed the addiction instead of the dread, you're past it.

 

[Champsheart]

Moving right to left is harder for some people than it is for others. The reason is really simple too. They get used to pushing off with a different foot. It's kind of a comfort zone thing. It depends on how much you think about that action as to how fast you adapt to it. If you line up and the thought crosses your mind to make sure to push off on the correct foot then your read and reaction is delayed by that split second. It may not seem like much, but it sure can be. It can be overcome and one thing will push it out of the mind faster than anything else. Success. It's addicting and once you feed the addiction instead of the dread, you're past it.

Hos, you really stated what I was thinking, I just did not know for sure.
I have been watching Spencer and I have noticed he has had a lot of problems getting off blocks. Obviously he is switching from DE to OLB, so he is having to think about a lot of things, but I also started thinking switching to the other side also may be having an impact as well. I am curious to see how much we do end up moving Ware to the weak side and where that ends up putting Spencer. He may end up playing a lot on the right anyway.
We are really going to need him this year so hopefully these things start to become more natural fairly quickly, and he starts to taste that success you are talking about.

 

[dallasfan]

I actually would think there would be a pretty substantial difference technique wise. Everything is the opposite and I would not think it would be natural for a while. Kind of like some players having trouble switching from LT to RT, I could be wrong though and have never done it.

But unlike lineman, ends move around so I'd imagine it would be no big deal

 

[Garret]

I played DE in college and moving sides was not that big of deal for me because I was used to playing the strongside end everyplay. I had to learn both sides, the techniquie dosent really change though. But I have to admit I played RDE better because I;m left handed and It allowed me to get a good a good shot at the linemens chest with my dominant hand. I think Spencer will be fine he just needs to build up a litle comfort level.

 

[sbark]

Romo- teams were trying to flush him out of the pocket to his left, and throw back away from his body............

I would hope JG and Saprano have planned, controlled rollouts in the playbook somewhere to keep the pass rush off balance.........

really think with Bigg Davis planted on the interior right side is a huge upgrade, There were so many times last year Rivera got just shoved into Romo's lapp forceing him, of course to his left, toward the best pass-rusher for most teams...........

 

[Champsheart]

Romo- teams were trying to flush him out of the pocket to his left, and throw back away from his body............

..

I really disagree with this. Countless times it was stated Defenses where doing everything they could to contain Romo in the pocket. Never once did I hear anyone talking about flushing him out, and Romo made some huge plays rolling to his left, how did you like that rocket to Witten to win the Giants game?

 

[Hostile]

Hos, you really stated what I was thinking, I just did not know for sure.
I have been watching Spencer and I have noticed he has had a lot of problems getting off blocks. Obviously he is switching from DE to OLB, so he is having to think about a lot of things, but I also started thinking switching to the other side also may be having an impact as well. I am curious to see how much we do end up moving Ware to the weak side and where that ends up putting Spencer. He may end up playing a lot on the right anyway.
We are really going to need him this year so hopefully these things start to become more natural fairly quickly, and he starts to taste that success you are talking about.

CH, when I was coaching I had a very unusual way of talking to D-linemen. I told them they had to look at it as if no 1/2 of a man could block them. My reasoning was simple. If you are a defender it does you very little good to face the man in front of you square up. That means he is at full strength as are you. He'll win some. You'll win some. It kind of depends on who is the most rested most of the time.

However, I taught my D-linemen to think about going not at the man in front of them, but around him on one side or the other. So I wanted them to aim at either his right hand or left hand, not the center of his chest. This effectively makes the O-lineman a one handed guy as it pertains to power. let's say you run at his right hand. You're now making him work full power with his right hand and the left hand is little more than a push on the right shoulder. If you get a good enough jump...holding.

I preached this to them all the time. It got them thinking about attacking rather than pushing off. I'll admit though, that this is just a philosophy and few approach it that way. In reality an O-lineman with good footwork can bring himself right back to square up in front of you. But by putting the idea in their heads that no 1/2 of a man could overpower them I hoped it would make them more confident in their own power.

 

[BBQ101]

Romo makes some of his best plays on the run and throwing after breaking outside the pocket. Teams we played last year did everything the could to keep him in the pocket, that is how they game planned him, dont let him break containment.
Thoughts?

I think one of the main reasons that the coaching staff wants to keep Romo in the pocket is ball security. A quarterback can better "feel" the pressure when in the pocket, and not having to move around allows a QB to keep the ball protected with both hands while checking down his reads.

When a QB gets flushed form the pocket, that is when you start seeing the ball come down, and being held in one hand as you scramble about. This makes it easier for the defenders to get a hand out and slap the ball out of the QB's hand. Additionaly, when out of the pocket, a QB looses much of the "feel" of where the rushing defenders are which makes it easier to loose ball security. Lastly, ball throwing mechanics (and thus consitancy and accuracy) go down as you scramble about, which can lead to the other loss of ball security (the int).

One thing that Romo, and most QBs need to get better on is protecting the ball. For a QB that means limiting ints and fumbles. Romo really needs to work on protecting the ball more (how many times did he loose the ball last year?). I think staying in the pocket will naturally help him better protect the ball.

That being said, Romo certainly has a nack for making the great throw when on the move. Also, nothing gets a defense fits more than being able to apply good pressure on a QB and have him flushed out of the pocket, only to have him make a spectacular play.

BBQ

 

[big dog cowboy]

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense

I thought we were going to move our guys around to confuse the offense.

 

[Doomsday101]

I am curious of 2 things. Both Romo and Spencer are keys to us this year, I known the coaches want to put both of these players in the best situations to be successful.

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense, with a few exceptions. My question is how much different is it rushing from one side to the other, and how long does it usually take to transition. Has this slowed his progress some?


For Romo: I have heard JG say more than once they are trying to get Romo to stay in the pocket longer, they do not want him to start scrambling to early, they want him to allow the play to develop. This is a timing offense so that does make some sense.
BUT..
Romo makes some of his best plays on the run and throwing after breaking outside the pocket. Teams we played last year did everything the could to keep him in the pocket, that is how they game planned him, dont let him break containment.

Thoughts?

Garrett in my opinion is right. A QB must allow the designed play to take place and try and hit the WR on time and to do that you must remain in the pocket. Romo does have the ability to move out of the pocket when things break down and that is a great asset to have but I don't care to see an offense where the QB is running around and WR are trying to find the open space, that is like running an offense by the seat of your pants and your not going to win many games like that.

 

[CoCo]

I thought we were going to move our guys around to confuse the offense.

Naw, we're just saying that to confuse them.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Spencer will learn to play both sides to cover where ever Ware is not at.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

Thinking about it.....how many people here would be comfortable eating with your left hand (assuming you are right handed) which is a task you are VERY used to doing? I would think you would be relearning to control the impulses and having to get to a point where it would be natural again. I have never switched (I played nose guard/middle LB) but I would think it would be like a right hand/left hand thing

 

[RomoIsBack]

I am curious of 2 things. Both Romo and Spencer are keys to us this year, I known the coaches want to put both of these players in the best situations to be successful.

For Spencer: In college almost every highlight I have seen he was always lined up on the right DE position. With the Cowboys he has mostly lined up on the Left side of the defense, with a few exceptions. My question is how much different is it rushing from one side to the other, and how long does it usually take to transition. Has this slowed his progress some?


For Romo: I have heard JG say more than once they are trying to get Romo to stay in the pocket longer, they do not want him to start scrambling to early, they want him to allow the play to develop. This is a timing offense so that does make some sense.
BUT..
Romo makes some of his best plays on the run and throwing after breaking outside the pocket. Teams we played last year did everything the could to keep him in the pocket, that is how they game planned him, dont let him break containment.

Thoughts?

i agree the saint expose us on keepin romo in the pocket cuz when he was out the pocket we was great