The NFL wasn’t prepared for the 'Dak Attack,’ but the Cowboys were

[gimmesix]

This offense does not need a gun slinging, high TD, high interception QB. It needs a steady QB making the right decisions and leadership and while leaning on the running game. The defense does not need quick strike offense. The offense is humming along absolutely perfectly right now with the team together. It also needs a healthy QB that doesnt make negative plays. Sacks, picks, fumbles, ect....ect..... Never seen anyone better than Dak at that and almost never seen anyone worse than Romo at that. Romo was great when you needed a QB to win you EVERY game with miraculous comebacks. That is NOT what this team needs now.

Yes, because gun-slinging Romo was bad for this offense in 2014. All those long TD drives we had that year were negated by Romo's quick-strike ability. Sacks, picks, etc., were a problem.

I agree that the team needs a healthy QB, but there's some ridiculous blindness used to dismiss what Romo brings to this offense. We were 12-4 two seasons ago and nearly in the NFC Championship Game with Romo playing at MVP level. If Dak can top that, I'm all for it.

Yes, I know we're two years removed from 2014, but we're back to the same offensive plan that Romo succeeded in then and this Romo-led team was 3-1 in the games he played last year. It's silly to not believe Romo can guide this team as well as he did in 2014 if healthy.

That doesn't mean Dak can't guide it just as well or perhaps better (we don't know), just that your arguments are based on faulty premises.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

I have this bad habit of looking at the other side of the coin, which is why I'm trying to enjoy the moment with Dak instead of getting on the bus many are riding to the Cowboys' future. Other QBs have gotten off to great starts in their careers only to come crashing down.

An obvious example is Robert Griffin III. He had a 102.4 rating his rookie year with 20 TD passes and just 5 interceptions and look where he is now.

Matt Cassel made himself some money when he stepped in for Tom Brady and had an 89.4 rating, completing 63.4 percent of his passes with 21 TD passes and 11 interceptions. He's topped 60 percent as a passer only once since then. (Cassel didn't start until his fourth year, though.)

There are other QBs for a variety of reasons have taken falls and, of course, there are others like Russell Wilson who have been able to build on their first-year accomplishments. I believe Prescott will fall more in line with that, if for no other reason than because of our line and running game, but I'm hesitant to put that much on him.

What we're seeing is certainly an amazing start, but I prefer to sit back and see where it goes from here before getting to the point where some already seem to be. Empirical evidence is the only thing that will tell us what Prescott is going to be, and five games of evidence isn't enough for me to be ready to move on from Romo and go Dak to the Future.

The funny thing about Dak is that people are surprised at how he is playing, but if you go back and watch his college games he is pretty much playing exactly the same. He has always been a heady, dink and dunk QB who can't/won't throw often beyond 15-20 yards that can run a bit. Nothing has really changed.

This is a scouting report written before the draft (and there are tons more like this). This guy isn't even a scout, he's just a sports writer. If you read this report, isn't it uncanny how the things he liked about Dak have been exactly what he has done great for us, and the things he didn't the coaches have been very, very careful to stay away from?

http://www.phillyvoice.com/look-ahead-2016-quarterback-class-dak-prescott-edition/

 

[gimmesix]

I'm the same. Though a great argument for not replacing Dak right now is the fact the I'm really unwilling to interrupt his development. It would suck if we made the switch and it somehow stopped some of the crazy progress he's making right now. QBs are funny. There's a chance that could happen.

I do think that's a fair argument.

There's really two good sides to this QB issue IMO.

The team wants to reinsert Romo because it believes he's the QB to win with now based on his experience and skill. If he's healthy, it's hard to argue against that based on what he has shown over the years and how he led this offense in 2014. No one can really say until we see him out there that he isn't the best QB for now.

Then, there's the fact that the team is riding high right now behind a rookie QB who isn't making many mistakes and has a 112 QB rating. How do you take that guy out of the lineup? How could you not leave him in until he starts playing like a rookie ... if that ever happens?

That's why I'm of the belief that you let Romo wait in the wings until the rookie in Prescott shows up. Quite frankly, Game 1 would have been one of those instances and the beginning of Game 2 would have been another one, so it isn't likely that everything is going to go smoothly for Prescott in every game.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Yes, because gun-slinging Romo was bad for this offense in 2014. All those long TD drives we had that year were negated by Romo's quick-strike ability. Sacks, picks, etc., were a problem.

I agree that the team needs a healthy QB, but there's some ridiculous blindness used to dismiss what Romo brings to this offense. We were 12-4 two seasons ago and nearly in the NFC Championship Game with Romo playing at MVP level. If Dak can top that, I'm all for it.

Yes, I know we're two years removed from 2014, but we're back to the same offensive plan that Romo succeeded in then and this Romo-led team was 3-1 in the games he played last year. It's silly to not believe Romo can guide this team as well as he did in 2014 if healthy.

That doesn't mean Dak can't guide it just as well or perhaps better (we don't know), just that your arguments are based on faulty premises.

He is not 2014 Romo. And this is NOT 2014 Cowboys. You act like EVERY single year of Romos life he was as good as 2014. Its ridiculous. Romo was more of a caretaker in 2014 then he ever was. leaned on the run game. What does going back to Romo do for 2016 or 2017 with Dak. In case you didnt notice 4-1 is a better win percentage than 12-4. 2 years older, 2 broken collarbones, and a broken back later and you really think Romo is going to be that good? Huge stretch. Pipe dream as far as I see it. This team is on a roll with Dak. Heaven forbid we get something other than the 2014 Romo. It could derail our entire year.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Yes, because gun-slinging Romo was bad for this offense in 2014. All those long TD drives we had that year were negated by Romo's quick-strike ability. Sacks, picks, etc., were a problem.

I agree that the team needs a healthy QB, but there's some ridiculous blindness used to dismiss what Romo brings to this offense. We were 12-4 two seasons ago and nearly in the NFC Championship Game with Romo playing at MVP level. If Dak can top that, I'm all for it.

Yes, I know we're two years removed from 2014, but we're back to the same offensive plan that Romo succeeded in then and this Romo-led team was 3-1 in the games he played last year. It's silly to not believe Romo can guide this team as well as he did in 2014 if healthy.

That doesn't mean Dak can't guide it just as well or perhaps better (we don't know), just that your arguments are based on faulty premises.

This is a different offense then the one we run with Romo. And we are winning without Dez. You want to go back to the old offense? No thank you.

 

[gimmesix]

The funny thing about Dak is that people are surprised at how he is playing, but if you go back and watch his college games he is pretty much playing exactly the same. He has always been a heady, dink and dunk QB who can't/won't throw often beyond 15-20 yards that can run a bit. Nothing has really changed.

This is a scouting report written before the draft (and there are tons more like this). This guy isn't even a scout, he's just a sports writer. If you read this report, isn't it uncanny how the things he liked about Dak have been exactly what he has done great for us, and the things he didn't the coaches have been very, very careful to stay away from?

http://www.phillyvoice.com/look-ahead-2016-quarterback-class-dak-prescott-edition/

And that's part of the hope that he can keep it up. A lot of QBs end up in a bad situation where they have to carry the offense or have to air the ball out. This offensive plan has allowed Dak not to have to try to be that guy. He can afford to make the 15-20-yard throws because the running game is such a threat.

Frankly, not to take anything away from Prescott, it's what every QB needs to succeed (even though not every QB can succeed with it). For too many years, we relied on Romo to carry this team without much of a running game and with suspect offensive lines. It didn't help that the defense always was terrible for a lot of those years. (We did the same to Aikman the first couple of years of his career, but Jimmy built that offense a lot quicker than Garrett has this one.)

Linehan deserves credit for coming in and recognizing what most of us fans already knew, we needed to pound the ball behind the offensive line that Garrett built and take the pressure off the QB to carry the team. When the team saw how well that worked, it became our formula but got sidetracked last year because some of those QBs who can't succeed with it had to step in for Romo.

 

[gimmesix]

He is not 2014 Romo. And this is NOT 2014 Cowboys. You act like EVERY single year of Romos life he was as good as 2014. Its ridiculous. Romo was more of a caretaker in 2014 then he ever was. leaned on the run game. What does going back to Romo do for 2016 or 2017 with Dak. In case you didnt notice 4-1 is a better win percentage than 12-4. 2 years older, 2 broken collarbones, and a broken back later and you really think Romo is going to be that good? Huge stretch. Pipe dream as far as I see it. This team is on a roll with Dak. Heaven forbid we get something other than the 2014 Romo. It could derail our entire year.

Romo has had at least a 90 passer rating every year of his career except last year, so yes, he's been that good.

You want to dismiss 2014, the last year Romo really played, because it doesn't fit your narrative. 2014 was his banner year because the coaches provided him with a running game that kept the offensive burden from strictly being on his shoulders. If you do not see the parallels this year, you are delusional. If you do not see that a healthy Romo has the ability to repeat that 2014 success, you're delusional.

The only question with Romo will be if he's healthy. If he is, there's no reason to think he cannot repeat the numbers he put up in 2014 with the same offensive plan. If he isn't healthy, he shouldn't play. If he plays and it's clear he's not the same player, he should be pulled.

Again, I have no problem rolling with Prescott until he falters (if he falters), but it's silly to dismiss Romo like you do.

I can live with the fact that you don't want to disrupt this roll Dallas is on. I can live with the appreciation for Prescott not throwing interceptions (even though a little luck has been involved there, as it usually is for any QB). But you don't have to resort to dismissing what Romo has done to make that argument. It speaks of desperation to support an otherwise sound position.

 

[gimmesix]

This is a different offense then the one we run with Romo. And we are winning without Dez. You want to go back to the old offense? No thank you.

Did you somehow miss 2014?

 

[Super_Kazuya]

And that's part of the hope that he can keep it up. A lot of QBs end up in a bad situation where they have to carry the offense or have to air the ball out. This offensive plan has allowed Dak not to have to try to be that guy. He can afford to make the 15-20-yard throws because the running game is such a threat.

The problem is that national media and our beer gut fan base are giving Dak all of the credit for the wins and making it seem like replacing him with another QB would be the end of the world. Somehow I get the feeling our coaching staff is fully aware of all of the game planning, smoke and mirrors and lucky breaks that have been needed to land a dink and dunk QB on pace for 13 TD passes on the cover of SI.

 

[gimmesix]

The problem is that national media and our beer gut fan base are giving Dak all of the credit for the wins and making it seem like replacing him with another QB would be the end of the world. Somehow I get the feeling our coaching staff is fully aware of all of the game planning, smoke and mirrors and lucky breaks that have been needed to land a dink and dunk QB on pace for 13 TD passes on the cover of SI.

I don't think dink and dunk is a fair assessment of his skills, unless your definition of dink and dunk is different than mine. And I do think Dak deserves a lot of credit for what he's doing. However, I do agree that the plan has a lot to do with the success as opposed to him playing for a team without a great offensive line and running game.

He has to execute that plan, though, and we saw last year that not every QB can do that. Throughout the history of the game, most players who have great seasons didn't do it in a vacuum, so we can't hold it against Prescott for succeeding in the circumstances he's been given. Now, we don't know if he would be able to still play well individually in worse circumstances, which most of the all-time greats have done, but fortunately we're not having to find that out.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Romo has had at least a 90 passer rating every year of his career except last year, so yes, he's been that good.

You want to dismiss 2014, the last year Romo really played, because it doesn't fit your narrative. 2014 was his banner year because the coaches provided him with a running game that kept the offensive burden from strictly being on his shoulders. If you do not see the parallels this year, you are delusional. If you do not see that a healthy Romo has the ability to repeat that 2014 success, you're delusional.

The only question with Romo will be if he's healthy. If he is, there's no reason to think he cannot repeat the numbers he put up in 2014 with the same offensive plan. If he isn't healthy, he shouldn't play. If he plays and it's clear he's not the same player, he should be pulled.

Again, I have no problem rolling with Prescott until he falters (if he falters), but it's silly to dismiss Romo like you do.

I can live with the fact that you don't want to disrupt this roll Dallas is on. I can live with the appreciation for Prescott not throwing interceptions (even though a little luck has been involved there, as it usually is for any QB). But you don't have to resort to dismissing what Romo has done to make that argument. It speaks of desperation to support an otherwise sound position.

Whatever, you can dream of the 2014 Romo while I drool over 4-1 and Dak the current sensation. When and if Romo is ever ready to go again this might be a more fitting conversation. But at this point Romo is played a few games in two years and counting. And he is 36 and injury prone.

Talking about how great Romo could be is a waste of time. And its a guess anyway.

Im sure you will find other guys that would go toe to toe with you. Im going to enjoy the present and the future.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Did you somehow miss 2014?

Did you somehow miss 2015?

Drool all you want over Romo in 2014, great year. This was the most recent Romo in 2015 for 3 games.

Year
Team
CMP% 68.6
YDS 884
TD 5
INT 7
Rating 79.4

The ONLY thing impressive here is yards. But when you throw 7 picks you have to make up for it by making comebacks and taking risks.

Romo was rusty against the Giants and played even worse when he returned from injury against Miami and Carolina before he got hurt again. This is more if an indication of the QB you might see more so then two years ago.

 

[gimmesix]

Whatever, you can dream of the 2014 Romo while I drool over 4-1 and Dak the current sensation. When and if Romo is ever ready to go again this might be a more fitting conversation. But at this point Romo is played a few games in two years and counting. And he is 36 and injury prone.

Talking about how great Romo could be is a waste of time. And its a guess anyway.

Im sure you will find other guys that would go toe to toe with you. Im going to enjoy the present and the future.

Everything's a guess at this point, but I agree that we'll see concerning Romo and Prescott. We need to be enjoying what we've got and let the future take care of itself. I'm just not too keen on letting anyone make unsubstantiated claims about Romo, just like I don't care for the same being done about Dak. We don't have to diss one to praise the other.

Ultimately, I don't care how it plays out just as long as the result is us winning. Players come and go so my loyalty always lies with the team and what's best for the team. We'll see what that is.

 

[gimmesix]

Did you somehow miss 2015?

Drool all you want over Romo in 2014, great year. This was the most recent Romo in 2015 for 3 games.

Year
Team
CMP% 68.6
YDS 884
TD 5
INT 7
Rating 79.4

The ONLY thing impressive here is yards. But when you throw 7 picks you have to make up for it by making comebacks and taking risks.

Romo was rusty against the Giants and played even worse when he returned from injury against Miami and Carolina before he got hurt again. This is more if an indication of the QB you might see more so then two years ago.

2015 was set to be much like 2014 as far as the offense goes if Romo was healthy. Romo's numbers were the worst of his career with a small sample size yet we were still 3-1. He also started off the season with a 103.3 passer rating, completing 80 percent of his passes, which is why we beat the Giants despite his two interceptions. Ultimately, how his season looks came down to the Carolina game, where a still rusty Romo threw three interceptions and had a 27.2 rating.

Go ahead and hold that season against him if you will, like it is the standard he set for his career. Ignore a full season in 2014 when he was one of the best in the league and assume that small sample size in 2015 shows what kind of quarterback he is now. Even if that were the case, we were still 3-1 with him, just like we're 4-1 with Dak now, and our scoring is similar to what it was last year despite a better running game, so it's not like we've proven to be better without him.

Your argument, as it has been throughout this thread against Romo, is weak. I'm willing to let it go and move on, but if you keep throwing out trash, I'm going to call it for what it is. The only thing 2015 shows is we certainly don't need to put Romo out there if he's not healthy.

 

[nobody]

In Jerry's defense, Weeden does have some beautiful balls.

I'll uh, take your word on that one, Idgit!

 

[nobody]

I had forgotten that

Oddly enough, I actually believe Jerry on this ONE since there is corroborating evidence from other people that know Dak.

 

[Idgit]

I'll uh, take your word on that one, Idgit!

They're lovely. Some of the nicest I've seen.

Too bad he can't fit them in anywhere unless the receiver is wide open or else he'd have been a decent backup QB.

 

[CowboyRoy]

2015 was set to be much like 2014 as far as the offense goes if Romo was healthy. Romo's numbers were the worst of his career with a small sample size yet we were still 3-1. He also started off the season with a 103.3 passer rating, completing 80 percent of his passes, which is why we beat the Giants despite his two interceptions. Ultimately, how his season looks came down to the Carolina game, where a still rusty Romo threw three interceptions and had a 27.2 rating.

Go ahead and hold that season against him if you will, like it is the standard he set for his career. Ignore a full season in 2014 when he was one of the best in the league and assume that small sample size in 2015 shows what kind of quarterback he is now. Even if that were the case, we were still 3-1 with him, just like we're 4-1 with Dak now, and our scoring is similar to what it was last year despite a better running game, so it's not like we've proven to be better without him.

Your argument, as it has been throughout this thread against Romo, is weak. I'm willing to let it go and move on, but if you keep throwing out trash, I'm going to call it for what it is. The only thing 2015 shows is we certainly don't need to put Romo out there if he's not healthy.

My theory is beginning to be taken up by the entire NFL landscape. And other posters that were like you are waffling and dumping on the Dak bandwagon that I have been on since preseason. My theory is unfolding right before your eyes. Continue to ignore it if it pleases you.

I dont ignore nothing. I just take into account recent events. I also take into account age, his injury nature and the nature of his back issue. I also look at how rusty he has come back recently.

I also look at his entire career which was good, but not like 2014. It appears the only fact YOU look at is 2014 and some magical guess that after two years, several injuries and age he will play EXACTLY like the best year of his career despite everything else.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Everything's a guess at this point, but I agree that we'll see concerning Romo and Prescott. We need to be enjoying what we've got and let the future take care of itself. I'm just not too keen on letting anyone make unsubstantiated claims about Romo, just like I don't care for the same being done about Dak. We don't have to diss one to praise the other.

Ultimately, I don't care how it plays out just as long as the result is us winning. Players come and go so my loyalty always lies with the team and what's best for the team. We'll see what that is.

Agreed, but some posters are better at guessing than others.

 

[gimmesix]

My theory is beginning to be taken up by the entire NFL landscape. And other posters that were like you are waffling and dumping on the Dak bandwagon that I have been on since preseason. My theory is unfolding right before your eyes. Continue to ignore it if it pleases you.

I dont ignore nothing. I just take into account recent events. I also take into account age, his injury nature and the nature of his back issue. I also look at how rusty he has come back recently.

I also look at his entire career which was good, but not like 2014. It appears the only fact YOU look at is 2014 and some magical guess that after two years, several injuries and age he will play EXACTLY like the best year of his career despite everything else.

No, I assume if he's healthy that he would play at the standard he's established throughout his career. The difference in 2014, which is what you either can't or won't see, is that Dallas with Linehan as its offensive coordinator decided we needed to run the ball and run the ball often and not put everything on the shoulders of the running back.

That game plan allowed Romo to play even better because he wasn't burdened with having to pass to win. Because it's the same plan we're using now (modified slightly for Dak), it's the only comparable standard we have for his play ... and he started off that season rusty coming off back surgery. (His injuries in 2015 make it impossible to use that season as a standard.)

If Romo returns to the starting role and is healthy (which is a big if), then I expect to see the 2014 Romo because we are using the same game plan we used in 2014.

I'm curious, though, why you say your theory is unfolding right before my eyes when Jerry Jones is saying Romo will be the starter when he returns? I'm not saying I agree with Jones, but that would seem to go against your position that Dak should remain the starter and Romo should be traded in the offseason.