Shrouds of offensive murkiness

[erod]

While we quibble over backup quarterbackiness and ponder every imaginable trade scenario to make defensive salad out of chicken ish, the lead is getting buried.

This offense has much to prove. Ever since Demarco Murray went division AWOL and Dez got his dough, this unit has been suspended in hopeful animation. A brief glimpse of a game and a half last year left us wanting more. A WHOLE lot more.

The ball moved, but the scoreboard didn't. Romo looked antsy, and the pass protection seemed confused. The run game flashed but didn't dominate as hoped, albeit with a two-bit criminal in the lead role. There wasn't the zip we expected, and the first two wins felt cheap and undeserved.

Then, in a flash, it was over. We read Romo's lips, "it's broken." Season over.

Since then, here we've sat in a frozen pause, still wondering if all is right in Cowboy world. Was that just a blip in the process, or does this thing have more monkeys than wrenches. Is Romo really OK, and can he stay that way? Is Zeke the Demarco on Red Bull that we hoped? Is Dez' foot cool, or will lis' franc rear it's historically ugly head.

The unsure wince in our hedged hope is apparent in this over-fascination with backup quarterbacks. We obviously lack trust in the result of those first 10 hits on Romo. We need to see those, though we can't bring ourselves to look. He's either fine, or he's done. There's nothing in between.

Zeke seems like the surest bet, even though he's a rookie. His pedigree behind that line is where the real money is being played.

Dez remains Dez, a freak show of eclectic proportions, somewhat unpredictable but mostly all good. Is he ready to return to being that guy in Green Bay that caught the ball, or is he the guy with no explosion or niftiness that we saw late last season?

We hesitate because we know just how good the offense has to be early on. The defense will find itself as we go if given the chance, but that requires football perfection from the offense really soon. Like almost now.

The whole thing feels like an enigma in a maze wrapped in a riddle. Reason doesn't apply yet because too many boxes remain unchecked.

Where are we anyway? I don't know. You don't know. They don't know. Nobody knows.

Let's hope soon we know for sure.

 

[JDSmith]

I know.

The offense will be better than it was in 2014. Our defense will be better than it was in 2014. Our playoff record will be better than it was in 2014.

Other than that, I'm not sure.

 

[RS12]

A lot of people over look the fact that Romo played poorly in all but two of the quarters he played last year. He played well second half of the Miami game and that was really it. I think he has a lot to prove for starters. By all rights they should have lost the Giants game where Coughlin went brain dead.

 

[erod]

A lot of people over look the fact that Romo played poorly in all but two of the quarters he played last year. He played well second half of the Miami game and that was really it. I think he has a lot to prove for starters. By all rights they should have lost the Giants game where Coughlin went brain dead.

Don't judge the Miami or Carolina games. Romo knew he wasn't right. He knew that collar bone wasn't ready.

But he was iffy the first two games. They all were.

 

[RS12]

Don't judge the Miami or Carolina games. Romo knew he wasn't right. He knew that collar bone wasn't ready.

But he was iffy the first two games. They all were.

My opinion isnt changing until I see that a decline hasnt begun. I am skeptical and I think every body should be. The whole back stiffness thing without even being breathed on yet is not a step in the right direction either.

 

[Tabascocat]

I hope Garrett doesn't rest the offense too much in camp, they need to get clicking on all cylinders before week 1. Last year was bad, they were not ready to play.

I know they need to limit injuries but coming out cold and not on the same page is unacceptable!

 

[sbark]

My opinion isnt changing until I see that a decline hasnt begun. I am skeptical and I think every body should be. The whole back stiffness thing without even being breathed on yet is not a step in the right direction either.

Somewhat of a decline in Romo, but after 2014--teams as usual, sat down a studied Garrett/Linehan's scheme.....the poor teams slowed it down, the good to better defensive teams (Carolina) had its tendencies completely down pat........

now does a return to a dominate running game take away the better teams abilities to jump on the passing game tendencies----might well, but then we might come full circle to a Tony that just lost a few fps in velocity, a millisecond of quick release etc.....

and I don't see the ability of Garrett/Linehan to adjust to teams jumping all over tendencies, or Romo's slight change in ability.

 

[Proximo]

I think he has a lot to prove for starters.

He's proven plenty during his career; more than enough to earn the benefit of the doubt in many fans' minds.

 

[Proximo]

My opinion isnt changing until I see that a decline hasnt begun. I am skeptical and I think every body should be.

Bro, just because YOU are skeptical doesn't mean everybody should be. I for one will need to see him play pretty poorly during this season in order to conclude he's in full on decline mode. Saying he's in decline based on 2015 is poor analysis in my opinion. But, to each their own.

 

[RS12]

Bro, just because YOU are skeptical doesn't mean everybody should be. I for one will need to see him play pretty poorly during this season in order to conclude he's in full on decline mode. Saying he's in decline based on 2015 is poor analysis in my opinion. But, to each their own.

Keep wearing the homer goggles if it gets you through the night.

 

[Proximo]

Keep wearing the homer goggles if it gets you through the night.

LOL. Try harder next time.

 

[JDSmith]

Keep wearing the homer goggles if it gets you through the night.

Keep wearing the dunce cap if it keeps your head warm.

 

[RS12]

Keep wearing the dunce cap if it keeps your head warm.

Please text me the directions to planet sunshine so I can join you. You know, the place where you never met a turd you couldnt polish.

 

[BlueStar22]

Bottom linel, "the league's best offensive line" have to be responsible for keeping Romo on the field.

 

[Frosty]

Somewhat of a decline in Romo, but after 2014--teams as usual, sat down a studied Garrett/Linehan's scheme.....the poor teams slowed it down, the good to better defensive teams (Carolina) had its tendencies completely down pat........
and I don't see the ability of Garrett/Linehan to adjust to teams jumping all over tendencies, or Romo's slight change in ability.

Anybody else ever look at Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett record as HC/OC, what QB have they developed, what team have they taken from rags to riches, have they been in a Superbowl or Division Championship as a coach how bout winning back to back seasons....where have they succeeded as Coaches..

Linehan
St Louis 8-8, 3-13, 0-4 Fired / OC of the Detroit Lions, and OC at Miami under Nick Saban horrendous adventure as NFL HC....

Garrett
QB coach at Miami under Nick Saban, OC of Dallas and then HC of Dallas
record 5-3, 8-8, 8-8, 8-8, 12-4, 4-12. ( inherited pro-bowl players, Romo, Witten, Dez, DWARE)

Neither have ever won anything or developed an elite player as Head Coach / Coach.....

 

[jday]

I know.

The offense will be better than it was in 2014. Our defense will be better than it was in 2014. Our playoff record will be better than it was in 2014.

Other than that, I'm not sure.

I'll have what your having (both in the metaphorical and literal sense)!

 

[theebs]

A lot of people over look the fact that Romo played poorly in all but two of the quarters he played last year. He played well second half of the Miami game and that was really it. I think he has a lot to prove for starters. By all rights they should have lost the Giants game where Coughlin went brain dead.

He wasn't good in the 4th qtr against the giants? thats a pretty strong stance to take.

and the giants game was the only game he was healthy, as aikman said later in the year that shot from damontre moore week 1 on the last drive hurt his back and he played hurt in week 2. The offensive line got a ton of penalties and he had a td taken off the board to escobar that was crazy and had a huge play dropped down the sideline by dunbar if I remember correctly.

He was not ready to play vs miami but because of who he is he was out there, He got his rear end beat by their d line and hung in there to make a few great plays in the second half to win the game. his throw to williams on 3rd down for six was great and the drive with the td to dez was very good.

Playing on 3 days rest against carolina he had no chance. I don't even care about that game.

to say he wasn't good and should have lost to the giants when he lead two td drives and frustrated the giants coaching staff like you can't believe is just being foolish. they tried to attack and he picked them apart and then they stayed back and he picked them apart. I guess to some that is playing bad.

 

[theebs]

My opinion isnt changing until I see that a decline hasnt begun. I am skeptical and I think every body should be. The whole back stiffness thing without even being breathed on yet is not a step in the right direction either.

that didn't just pop up. what happened is wade wilson mentioned and people started freaking out.

Its a thing that will always be apart of Romo being the qb here. He is going to have to go through all the stretching and the program he went through in '14 to stay loose on gamedays.

Although I am sure to you he didn't play well in '14 and it was just demarco murray.

 

[RS12]

He wasn't good in the 4th qtr against the giants? thats a pretty strong stance to take.

and the giants game was the only game he was healthy, as aikman said later in the year that shot from damontre moore week 1 on the last drive hurt his back and he played hurt in week 2. The offensive line got a ton of penalties and he had a td taken off the board to escobar that was crazy and had a huge play dropped down the sideline by dunbar if I remember correctly.

He was not ready to play vs miami but because of who he is he was out there, He got his rear end beat by their d line and hung in there to make a few great plays in the second half to win the game. his throw to williams on 3rd down for six was great and the drive with the td to dez was very good.

Playing on 3 days rest against carolina he had no chance. I don't even care about that game.

to say he wasn't good and should have lost to the giants when he lead two td drives and frustrated the giants coaching staff like you can't believe is just being foolish. they tried to attack and he picked them apart and then they stayed back and he picked them apart. I guess to some that is playing bad.

My eyes and the stats say it. He threw some horrendous picks last year. Some he had no business throwing.

 

[theebs]

My eyes and the stats say it. He threw some horrendous picks last year. Some he had no business throwing.

Against carolina yes, it was just like the eagles thanksgiving game in '14. his body could not handle the difficult game 4 days before plus the travel. He got hammered against the dolphins.

Against the giants it was just part of the game. I mean they were figuring out the backfield and he lost dez early in the game for an IV, then for good in the second half with the injury.

I wouldn't be surprised if he turns the ball over against the giants again this year, he knows spagnulo's defense inside out and will take chances against them. Spagnuolo hasn't beaten Romo since the 07 playoff game. Those two drives in the fourth quarter you seem to be forgetting for some reason showed he was on top of his game.

The eagles game was a penalty filled mess where we had a TD by escobar taken off the board and then couldn't punch it in.

anyway, I am so tired of defending this kind of thing. If you like him great, If you don't great.

I am going to sit in my seat and enjoy every game the guy plays because his time is almost over and he has been one of the all timers.