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The Texas three-step: Romo is hard to reach
The Vikings are preparing for quick-rhythm passes from the Dallas QB.
By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: January 13, 2010 - 6:36 AM
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The Vikings led the NFL in sacks this season, but getting their hands on Dallas quarterback Tony Romo might be a tall order Sunday.
The Vikings figure to see plenty of three-step drops and quick-hitting passes from Romo in an effort to neutralize their full-bore pass rush. Opponents have used that blueprint successfully against the Vikings late in the season, and it worked effectively for the Cowboys in their playoff victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
The Vikings still have to be mindful of deep passes to Pro Bowl wide receiver Miles Austin, but they expect to face a steady diet of screens, slants and quick throws in their divisional playoff game.
"He does have a lot of three-step rhythm throws," Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "They're getting it out quick and not letting him hold it. But that's just part of the game. That's the way teams play these days. It's stuff we have to defend. If they catch it, we have to tackle them."
Defending against any quick- hitting passing attack puts a premium on tackling and not allowing short catches to turn into long gains. Missed tackles that created explosive plays hurt the Vikings at times late in the season. That can't happen against a Cowboys offense that, like the Vikings, has a number of playmakers.
"Tackling is obviously a big deal," Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. "You get those short screens and swing passes and things like that, you have to be able to get guys up there and tackle so you don't have any bleeding yardage. It's imperative for us to stop the run and be good tacklers."
It's not that Dallas relies strictly on a short-passing game. Romo's 8.2-yard completion average tied for fourth among NFL quarterbacks, so he certainly throws the ball downfield.
But he's also effective when he's taking quick drops and getting rid of the ball. According to the official statistics from Saturday's playoff game, the majority of Romo's passes against the Eagles were categorized as short. He attempted seven screen passes, five slants and five curl routes, according to play-by-play statistics.
"If they want to throw quick, we have to push as long as we can, get our hands up, try to knock balls down," Williams said. "If not, then we have to turn and run to the ball and hopefully our guys are close enough to make the tackles and get them down. You can't let the guys get the big yardage after the catch and that's what makes that quick passing game so successful -- if you don't get the guy down and you let him just run it and get so many yards after the catch."
The Vikings are familiar with that strategy. The Arizona Cardinals had success with a quick-hitting passing game against the Vikings in a 30-17 victory on Dec. 6. The Panthers and Bears followed with a similar plan. That blueprint is particularly effective if the Vikings don't tackle well.
"Fundamentally, you've got to tackle and then you've got to bat some balls down," Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "You've got to get a couple of breaks in that area. You can negate a lot of those short passing situations by getting off the field and your offense scoring points. When you're in a close game, those short passes affect it and how you do that is tackle and then you can work on forcing fumbles. When they're catching it quick, if you're hitting them quick, you can always knock the ball out."
The Vikings can disrupt the Cowboys' timing by being physical with their receivers at the line. The defensive linemen say they also need to get their hands in passing lanes when they aren't able to collapse the pocket around Romo. The Vikings have been pretty good at that, particularly Williams and Allen, who combined for 11 pass breakups this season.
It might not be as rewarding as a sack, but it's something to counter a three-step drop.
"All you can do is try to get your hands up and knock some balls down," Allen said. "It comes down to the same things. Fundamentally we have to stop the run, put them in third-and-long situations and force them to beat us down the field."
The Vikings are preparing for quick-rhythm passes from the Dallas QB.
By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune
Last update: January 13, 2010 - 6:36 AM
Featured comment
The Vikings led the NFL in sacks this season, but getting their hands on Dallas quarterback Tony Romo might be a tall order Sunday.
The Vikings figure to see plenty of three-step drops and quick-hitting passes from Romo in an effort to neutralize their full-bore pass rush. Opponents have used that blueprint successfully against the Vikings late in the season, and it worked effectively for the Cowboys in their playoff victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.
The Vikings still have to be mindful of deep passes to Pro Bowl wide receiver Miles Austin, but they expect to face a steady diet of screens, slants and quick throws in their divisional playoff game.
"He does have a lot of three-step rhythm throws," Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "They're getting it out quick and not letting him hold it. But that's just part of the game. That's the way teams play these days. It's stuff we have to defend. If they catch it, we have to tackle them."
Defending against any quick- hitting passing attack puts a premium on tackling and not allowing short catches to turn into long gains. Missed tackles that created explosive plays hurt the Vikings at times late in the season. That can't happen against a Cowboys offense that, like the Vikings, has a number of playmakers.
"Tackling is obviously a big deal," Vikings linebacker Ben Leber said. "You get those short screens and swing passes and things like that, you have to be able to get guys up there and tackle so you don't have any bleeding yardage. It's imperative for us to stop the run and be good tacklers."
It's not that Dallas relies strictly on a short-passing game. Romo's 8.2-yard completion average tied for fourth among NFL quarterbacks, so he certainly throws the ball downfield.
But he's also effective when he's taking quick drops and getting rid of the ball. According to the official statistics from Saturday's playoff game, the majority of Romo's passes against the Eagles were categorized as short. He attempted seven screen passes, five slants and five curl routes, according to play-by-play statistics.
"If they want to throw quick, we have to push as long as we can, get our hands up, try to knock balls down," Williams said. "If not, then we have to turn and run to the ball and hopefully our guys are close enough to make the tackles and get them down. You can't let the guys get the big yardage after the catch and that's what makes that quick passing game so successful -- if you don't get the guy down and you let him just run it and get so many yards after the catch."
The Vikings are familiar with that strategy. The Arizona Cardinals had success with a quick-hitting passing game against the Vikings in a 30-17 victory on Dec. 6. The Panthers and Bears followed with a similar plan. That blueprint is particularly effective if the Vikings don't tackle well.
"Fundamentally, you've got to tackle and then you've got to bat some balls down," Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. "You've got to get a couple of breaks in that area. You can negate a lot of those short passing situations by getting off the field and your offense scoring points. When you're in a close game, those short passes affect it and how you do that is tackle and then you can work on forcing fumbles. When they're catching it quick, if you're hitting them quick, you can always knock the ball out."
The Vikings can disrupt the Cowboys' timing by being physical with their receivers at the line. The defensive linemen say they also need to get their hands in passing lanes when they aren't able to collapse the pocket around Romo. The Vikings have been pretty good at that, particularly Williams and Allen, who combined for 11 pass breakups this season.
It might not be as rewarding as a sack, but it's something to counter a three-step drop.
"All you can do is try to get your hands up and knock some balls down," Allen said. "It comes down to the same things. Fundamentally we have to stop the run, put them in third-and-long situations and force them to beat us down the field."