Romo is throwing the fewest passes of his career which is a good thing

[Red Dragon]

Tony Romo is throwing the fewest pass attempts of his career to date, and that's a good thing. It means he can rely on the running game more and not have to do so much.


(All figures rounded up or down to the nearest whole number and do not include playoff games.)

• In the 2006 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2007 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2008 season, Romo averaged 35 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2009 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2010 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2011 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2012 season, Romo averaged 41 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2013 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2014 season to date, Romo has averaged 31 pass attempts in games that he started.

There's not a whole lot of difference, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Romo's pass attempts per game dip into the upper 20s as the season goes on.

 

[CashMan]

Tony Romo is throwing the fewest pass attempts of his career to date, and that's a good thing. It means he can rely on the running game more and not have to do so much.


(All figures rounded up or down to the nearest whole number and do not include playoff games.)

• In the 2006 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2007 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2008 season, Romo averaged 35 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2009 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2010 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2011 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2012 season, Romo averaged 41 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2013 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2014 season to date, Romo has averaged 31 pass attempts in games that he started.

There's not a whole lot of difference, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Romo's pass attempts per game dip into the upper 20s as the season goes on.

Less forced passes?

 

[Red Dragon]

Less forced passes?

Perhaps less playing from behind with a deficit.

 

[Galian Beast]

It has a lot of factors, less forced passes, less blitzing, more favorable looks, more effective play action, less hits on the QB, less pressure. When we give Romo a defense too... forget about it.

 

[Galian Beast]

Tony Romo is throwing the fewest pass attempts of his career to date, and that's a good thing. It means he can rely on the running game more and not have to do so much.


(All figures rounded up or down to the nearest whole number and do not include playoff games.)

• In the 2006 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2007 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2008 season, Romo averaged 35 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2009 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2010 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2011 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2012 season, Romo averaged 41 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2013 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2014 season to date, Romo has averaged 31 pass attempts in games that he started.

There's not a whole lot of difference, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Romo's pass attempts per game dip into the upper 20s as the season goes on.

It should be noted that 2007 and 2011 were also Romo's best years. And that while we won a playoff game in 2009, statistically Romo was still better in 2007 and 2011.

Obviously asking him to do less is better. Once you get into that 35 plus range... you're probably hurting yourself.

 

[Idgit]

Less forced passes?

Fewer trailing-in-the-fourth quarter situations, I'd imagine. Just a couple games can make that per-game average go up significantly. You'd really probably want to see passing attempts as a % of overall offensive plays to see if the rate he's passing at is what's at issue.

 

[LandryFan]

Fewer trailing-in-the-fourth quarter situations, I'd imagine. Just a couple games can make that per-game average go up significantly. You'd really probably want to see passing attempts as a % of overall offensive plays to see if the rate he's passing at is what's at issue.

Great point on passes as overall % of plays. There is a recent article (or post on this site) that shows the run/pass ratios in the last several years, and the difference is astounding! I may be slightly off on these figures, but on first down plays alone, we're running at a 74/26 clip on run vs pass this year vs 46/54 clip last year. I know that we're running the ball over 50% overall this year, which is a drastic change from years past.

 

[nablives]

They seemed like a team that had always set up the run with the pass until this season. I think they wanted him to go out there and Peyton Manning his way to victories. That was always a dumb idea. I think circumstances forced them to run the ball this season, but screw it, whatever the reasons, I'm just glad they're doing it.

 

[Doomsay]

I'm sure that it couldn't be a scheme change.

 

[AdamJT13]

Perhaps less playing from behind with a deficit.

The difference is almost entirely in the second half of games. Romo has thrown an average of 17.3 passes in the first half this season -- compared with 18.0 last year, 18.25 in 2012 and 16.9 in 2011. But he's needed to throw an average of only 12.9 times in the second half, compared with 17.7 last year, 21.4 in 2012 and 17.5 in 2011.

It helps that we've trailed by a touchdown or more in the second half for a grand total of only four plays since Week 1.

 

[LandryFan]

The difference is almost entirely in the second half of games. Romo has thrown an average of 17.3 passes in the first half this season -- compared with 18.0 last year, 18.25 in 2012 and 16.9 in 2011. But he's needed to throw an average of only 12.9 times in the second half, compared with 17.7 last year, 21.4 in 2012 and 17.5 in 2011.

It helps that we've trailed by a touchdown or more in the second half for a grand total of only four plays since Week 1.

As always, thanks for your great research/knowledge!

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Tony Romo is throwing the fewest pass attempts of his career to date, and that's a good thing. It means he can rely on the running game more and not have to do so much.


(All figures rounded up or down to the nearest whole number and do not include playoff games.)

• In the 2006 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2007 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2008 season, Romo averaged 35 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2009 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2010 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2011 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2012 season, Romo averaged 41 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2013 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2014 season to date, Romo has averaged 31 pass attempts in games that he started.

There's not a whole lot of difference, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Romo's pass attempts per game dip into the upper 20s as the season goes on.

It is over the course of 16 games if we keep up the running game.

 

[percyhoward]

Attempts & Win %
NFL, 2006-14 (Cowboys, 2006-14)
<27 .728 (.875)
27-29 .619 (.773)
30-32 .544 (.684)
33-35 .455 (.667)
36+ .346 (.367)

 

[percyhoward]

When they rush for 100+ yards and hold the opponent under 28 points, Romo's teams are 45-3 in the regular season. (.938)

Over the same time period, the rest of the league is 1,399-458-4 (.753) when that happens.

 

[Sarge]

Having a good running game will do that.

 

[FLcowboy]

Tony Romo is throwing the fewest pass attempts of his career to date, and that's a good thing. It means he can rely on the running game more and not have to do so much.


(All figures rounded up or down to the nearest whole number and do not include playoff games.)

wonder if this is causing Witten's decline, as cited in another thread.

• In the 2006 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2007 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2008 season, Romo averaged 35 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2009 season, Romo averaged 34 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2010 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2011 season, Romo averaged 33 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2012 season, Romo averaged 41 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2013 season, Romo averaged 36 pass attempts in games that he started.
• In the 2014 season to date, Romo has averaged 31 pass attempts in games that he started.

There's not a whole lot of difference, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Romo's pass attempts per game dip into the upper 20s as the season goes on.