The Romo Problem

[TwoDeep3]

I stared to put this in a thread as an answer, but it occurs to me this may need its own space.

Romo has attained a level of understanding about this game that only the elite players have. Not to say the run of the mill QB's don't see it, perhaps. But an understanding of what works and what doesn't is where Romo is now.

What makes Peyton, Brady, Rogers, and Brees special. Certainly it's the talent they possess. But it also is a complete understanding of their teams strengths and weaknesses and what the defense is doing.

But there is one other aspect to the top flight QB.

And that is the collective intelligence of the team surrounding him.

Romo is audibling like crazy. He sees where the ball needs to go. But too many times the people who surround Tony are not on the same page. They do not have the understanding.

This comes down to it takes a team. But this is less the talent the team has than the brains the team has that surrounds Romo.

Factor in the offensive line weaknesses, and Romo now seems to appear as if he is struggling, and what is different between this year and the ones when he wqas in complete control?

He has a finite window for success on every play, but getting his pieces into place is not always a done deal.

I think the combination of the line play along with the intelligence factor, and that Romo is now not playing sand lot football but directing a team that doesn't see what he sees is the biggest reason he is not as successful this year.

Put the team around him that will protect him and get to the spot he deems necessary and this guy will take the team all the way.

And if this is the case, then how sad is it that a guy who is mentally and physically in the top level of the game has to suffer not only from a lack of talent, but the fact that his team doesn't have a big brain like Brad.

He is truly unique.

 

[skinsscalper]

Outstanding post, TD3. I agree 100%

 

[lwehlers]

the o-line is holding romo back for sure. the only two players that seem to be on the same page as romo is witten and austin. bryant is clueless he seems to me does not understand hot routes correctly. and oletree runs terrible routes and drops way to many passes. we really are missing robinson this year in the passing game. oletree and the rest of the young receivers do not know how to get open for romo when a play breaks down. the running game for the most part is just awlful except for the ravens game.

 

[Zordon]

the o-line is holding romo back for sure. the only two players that seem to be on the same page as romo is witten and austin. bryant is clueless he seems to me does not understand hot routes correctly. and oletree runs terrible routes and drops way to many passes. we really are missing robinson this year in the passing game. oletree and the rest of the young receivers do not know how to get open for romo when a play breaks down. the running game for the most part is just awlful except for the ravens game.

there has been miscommunication with miles and witten as well. plus witten has dropped more balls than anyone this year. but i guess certain players are immune from criticism.

 

[skinsscalper]

the o-line is holding romo back for sure. the only two players that seem to be on the same page as romo is witten and austin. bryant is clueless he seems to me does not understand hot routes correctly. and oletree runs terrible routes and drops way to many passes. we really are missing robinson this year in the passing game. oletree and the rest of the young receivers do not know how to get open for romo when a play breaks down. the running game for the most part is just awlful except for the ravens game.

The problem is that the WRs don't have a clue how to read coverage and adjust accordingly. The previous poster was correct. The only two who see what Tony sees and reacts accordingly are Witten and Austin. Ogletree has the physical talent to be adequate. He is what Romo said he was last season. Stupid. Ditto for Dez. All the talent in the world won't cover up the level of dumb in that kid.

 

[skinsscalper]

there has been miscommunication with miles and witten as well. plus witten has dropped more balls than anyone this year. but i guess certain players are immune from criticism.

I've been critical of Witten this season. But, there's truth to the claim that Witten is one of the few that sees what Tony is seeing.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

But there is one other aspect to the top flight QB.

And that is the collective intelligence of the team surrounding him.

Romo is audibling like crazy. He sees where the ball needs to go. But too many times the people who surround Tony are not on the same page. They do not have the understanding.

This comes down to it takes a team. But this is less the talent the team has than the brains the team has that surrounds Romo.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Great great observation. We are so limited in so many ways. Just look at the production we have lost with Robinson and with Murray's injuries and for the life of me I don't understand why Beasley can't get some looks top help Tony.

 

[Risen Star]

If you're right, TwoDeep, then that's a coaching issue. You can't just call all our players on offense stupid. That's too easy and not very realistic. If they don't know what he knows, something's wrong with the coaching.

 

[wileedog]

there has been miscommunication with miles and witten as well.

Minimal compared to anyone else on the team. And Romo never had these issues with guys like T.O., Crayton or Robertson. He did with Roy, but he was a guy known for his sloppy route running, which only further accentuates the point.

plus witten has dropped more balls than anyone this year. but i guess certain players are immune from criticism.

Guy was playing after rupturing his spleen. I think he is allowed a few off games. He's been money the last two weeks as he has gotten healthier.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

If you're right, TwoDeep, then that's a coaching issue. You can't just call all our players on offense stupid. That's too easy and not very realistic. If they don't know what he knows, something's wrong with the coaching.

Possible, but a teacher cannot guarantee the success of students.

Stupid is really really hard to fix.

 

[Zordon]

Minimal compared to anyone else on the team. And Romo never had these issues with guys like T.O., Crayton or Robertson.



Guy was playing after rupturing his spleen. I think he is allowed a few off games. He's been money the last two weeks as he has gotten healthier.

health had nothing to do with the drops. stop making excuses for the man simply b/c he's jason witten.

 

[RS12]

Besides coaching issues, I think Romo is surrounded by a few who arent bright, and a few who dont care long as the checks dont bounce.

 

[wileedog]

health had nothing to do with the drops. stop making excuses for the man simply b/c he's jason witten.

You know this how?

Its coincidence then that he has dropped less balls the further he is removed from the injury?

If anything the fault for Witten is he probably shouldn't have gone on the field less than 100%.

 

[TwoDeep3]

If you're right, TwoDeep, then that's a coaching issue. You can't just call all our players on offense stupid. That's too easy and not very realistic. If they don't know what he knows, something's wrong with the coaching.

I disagree. And here's why.

Dez will NEVER have the understanding of a defense like Tony now exhibits. Just won't happen.

I fear Ogletree will also be the brother-in-law that is forever out of a job and has some ugly girl knocked up because he can't think.

It's almost like Romo is now speaking a different language than the team around him.

Do you believe all players know all the assignments of all their team mates on every play?

I bet Romo does. I bet Lee does.

I think Murray may end up being like that.

I doubt many more on this team know the assignments of all the players on their side of the ball.

Now factor in the defense and what they are showing and what they ultimately will do.

He's on another level now and that means he has to calm his play and understand what he gets from them. In other words dumb it down a bit.

Or get smarter players.

 

[Deep_South]

there has been miscommunication with miles and witten as well. plus witten has dropped more balls than anyone this year. but i guess certain players are immune from criticism.

I think Witten is still worried about his spleen. If you go back and look at the play in which the ball went right between his hands, it is clear he saw the defender coming and looks around at him right after the miss. Ditto on a play last week. He is getting better, but I think he is still afraid of getting knocked out for the season.

 

[yimyammer]

If you're right, TwoDeep, then that's a coaching issue. You can't just call all our players on offense stupid. That's too easy and not very realistic. If they don't know what he knows, something's wrong with the coaching.

seems to me it could be an indictment on whoever is responsible for selecting the players that make up the roster, why keep players that don't have the mental acumen to play the game Tony is playing?

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

I stared to put this in a thread as an answer, but it occurs to me this may need its own space.

Romo has attained a level of understanding about this game that only the elite players have. Not to say the run of the mill QB's don't see it, perhaps. But an understanding of what works and what doesn't is where Romo is now.

What makes Peyton, Brady, Rogers, and Brees special. Certainly it's the talent they possess. But it also is a complete understanding of their teams strengths and weaknesses and what the defense is doing.

But there is one other aspect to the top flight QB.

And that is the collective intelligence of the team surrounding him.

Romo is audibling like crazy. He sees where the ball needs to go. But too many times the people who surround Tony are not on the same page. They do not have the understanding.

This comes down to it takes a team. But this is less the talent the team has than the brains the team has that surrounds Romo.

Factor in the offensive line weaknesses, and Romo now seems to appear as if he is struggling, and what is different between this year and the ones when he wqas in complete control?

He has a finite window for success on every play, but getting his pieces into place is not always a done deal.

I think the combination of the line play along with the intelligence factor, and that Romo is now not playing sand lot football but directing a team that doesn't see what he sees is the biggest reason he is not as successful this year.

Put the team around him that will protect him and get to the spot he deems necessary and this guy will take the team all the way.

And if this is the case, then how sad is it that a guy who is mentally and physically in the top level of the game has to suffer not only from a lack of talent, but the fact that his team doesn't have a big brain like Brad.

He is truly unique.

I don't think i've ever disagreed with a post of yours, but i tend to think romo is a regulator.

extremely tough, exciting, and statistically great QB. But the more and more games i've seen since the 11-5 season, i tend to think he just can't win the game for you.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

If he has such an elite understanding of the game, why would he not audible out of the play call last week that sent two receivers sprinting down field, when all they needed was quick slants, quick-outs to the sidelines or a draw play?

 

[DMAC]

Minimal compared to anyone else on the team. And Romo never had these issues with guys like T.O., Crayton or Robertson. He did with Roy, but he was a guy known for his sloppy route running, which only further accentuates the point.



Guy was playing after rupturing his spleen. I think he is allowed a few off games. He's been money the last two weeks as he has gotten healthier.

One playoff win in his entire career, must have never had intelligent players around him.

And how do we know it's always the receivers who are at fault? Couldn't Romo occasionally make a mistake on the route?

Oh yeah, Romo is Mr Perfect in some people's eyes on this board.