The Romo Problem

[Yakuza Rich]

I think he tries to make the perfect call. And what happens is he'll start to audible and the defense will show a different look and now that audible doesn't look as good...so we check into something else. Then the defense changes again.

I don't know if I would label it a higher understanding. Sometimes you just have to run the play. Sometimes when a defense is stacking the box and ready to blitz...you just have to run the ball anyway. Otherwise the defense knows that when they stack the box, you won't run the ball. And as Dom Capers said, he kept blitzing the Cowboys offense because when he did, they would throw the ball every time. And he no longer had to worry about a tailback getting past the first wave of blitzers and getting an easy big gain.

Sometimes you have to take your poison. Sometimes you have to throw the ball away and get them on the next play.

I'll give Romo a little golf adage, you can't win the game on one play, but you can lose it on one play.






YR

 

[Zordon]

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.

then that is a mental issue b/c the doctors cleared him to play. there is nothing physically wrong with him at this point, it's all in his head. he's played better the past few weeks but if he's scared of contact then he can't play football. you are going to get hit regardless so might as well make the catch.

him, dez, ogletree, and miles all make too many mental errors and drop too many balls. whether it be physical issues or mental issues, they are rarely on the same page as romo for an entire series, much less an entire game. these guys have been together for 3,4,5+ years...so lack of continuity is not an excuse. they need to fix whatever disconnect there seems to be if we are going to keep up with the giants offense next week.

 

[wileedog]

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?

Can't answer that question unless we know how much leeway Romo is given to audible.

Looks to me like Romo is given two plays, and if he doesn't like the initial one he "kills" it into the 2nd one. I don't think he is up there pulling stuff out of the play book willy nilly.

How do we know the 2nd one he was given then would have been anything better?

Doesn't excuse the WRs walking back anyway.

 

[DandyDon1722]

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.

No, its just that hes not the hack that you wished he was so you could justify these laughable assertions.

 

[Bluestang]

this doesn't explain the overthrows does that accounts for 18 points

 

[wileedog]

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.

I never said the entire problem was Romo or it was never his fault. I'm sure more than 1 time he has thought he has seen something that wasn't there.

But it is obvious though he has way more problems with certain receivers, particularly Roy, Dez and Tree. Particularly since there have been plenty of WRs and a TE he has almost never had similar communication problems with.

Ultimately I see it as a coaching and personnel failure. Its the OC and HCs responsibility for the offense to understand the playbook and hot reads and make sure everyone is seeing the same thing. Its about preparation and attention to detail.

 

[big dog cowboy]

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.

This is an outstanding post!

 

[percyhoward]

We aren't running the ball any better than last year, and we aren't protecting any better than last year.

Ogletree isn't the deep threat that Robinson was, and he isn't the scoring threat that Robinson was, and he isn't a possession receiver either.

Overall it's a downgrade, and the pressure is on everyone else on the offense to step up to compensate.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

this doesn't explain the overthrows does that accounts for 18 points

Yeah because he's the only quarterback in the league to overthrow a receiver.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I never said the entire problem was Romo or it was never his fault. I'm sure more than 1 time he has thought he has seen something that wasn't there.

But it is obvious though he has way more problems with certain receivers, particularly Roy, Dez and Tree. Particularly since there have been plenty of WRs and a TE he has almost never had similar communication problems with.

Ultimately I see it as a coaching and personnel failure. Its the OC and HCs responsibility for the offense to understand the playbook and hot reads and make sure everyone is seeing the same thing. Its about preparation and attention to detail.

Excellent point.

And what do Roy, Dez and Tree have in common?

MIT will never call them to be guest lecturers.

 

[erod]

Terrific OP.

Romo is like a an entrepreneur in Communist North Korea. He has to succeed in spite of JJerry Jong-il.

 

[Risen Star]

We aren't running the ball any better than last year, and we aren't protecting any better than last year.

Ogletree isn't the deep threat that Robinson was, and he isn't the scoring threat that Robinson was, and he isn't a possession receiver either.

Overall it's a downgrade, and the pressure is on everyone else on the offense to step up to compensate.

percy speaks the truth.

I bet you can't believe we're on pace to repeat those 5 rushing TDs from last year.

 

[BIGDen]

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.

This was the best post you have ever written IMO. I totally agree and it pains me to watch this organization continue to waste the few years we have left with this special player.

 

[BrassCowboy]

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

Witten has been a solid TE and catching over 70 passes a year consistantly, so he has a few games after being injured and you *****ing or are you just stating what you observed?

The past few games he has gotten back to the same great TE we have gotten used to, but yeah the first few games have been bad of his so I guess your opinion does not really matter anyways because Witten deserves a few bad games.

Austin, on the other hand, kind of agree. My feeling is he is a little overrated. Yeah, he grew into his position a little but you can't disguise mediocrity/good for very long.

I am sure you do agree with the sentiment that Dez at the present moment is not on the same page with Romo and this offense and Ogletree, well its ogletree.

Overall though, the OP is 100% correct in saying that Romo is one of the very few players on this offense that seems to have the game down and has it together.

 

[BrassCowboy]

great post OP

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Excellent post. Tony Romo is a great football player and while he's struggled a little bit this season eventually he's going to get it going and start playing great football. Romo was terrific today. Completed over 70 percent of his passes, had a touchdown pass, but most importantly he didn't turn the football over. That's the key. Just limit the turnovers and eventually this offense will get back on track.

We're still all waiting for the breakout game for the offense. It's been a struggle to say the least so far this season. Next week we go up against defense that while very tough and physical has gaven up alot of points this season. The offensive line has played very well the last couple of weeks. You can't blame the lack of offensive production on them.

The recievers have got to be more consistent catching the football and also as we saw today with Austin protecting the football. Huge fumble by him that probably cost is points. Dez Bryant continues to just be wildly inconsistent. Played pretty well against the Ravens, but didn't do much today. He needs to get his head into the game and start catching the football on a consistent basis. Also Ogeltree has been a non factor since Week 1 against the Giants. He needs to get back on track.

 

[Aven8]

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.

This.

Outside of Dez, they all can't be stupid. It's coaching. Romo is a vet, but this team needs to be sharp. It's been 6 years with the same offense. Austin, Otree, and Dez are vets now. Get on the page or get off! it's pathetic really.

 

[Kangaroo]

Excellent point.

And what do Roy, Dez and Tree have in common?

MIT will never call them to be guest lecturers.

Him an Austin have been off sync quite a few times in the last few years and at some key times in big games. The only guy he seems to not be out oi sync with is Witten.

 

[Bluestang]

percy speaks the truth.

I bet you can't believe we're on pace to repeat those 5 rushing TDs from last year.

A factor in this problem is the penalties we have in the redzone.

It goes back to what TD3 said about the intelligence of the players in critical situations which has been a problem with this team even with Parcells.

 

[Bluestang]

I would add the comment in the OP about stupid players extending to the defense too.

In this game and in the Ravens game we had 3rd down penalties that gave them new life to score touchdowns.

This is a team problem.