TLH: Tape Shows Why Tony Romo Is Elite

[NeonDeion21]

When discussing Tony Romo, the opinions vary widely as to whether or not he is a franchise quarterback. The pendulum seems to swing from “top tier quarterback” to “this guy doesn’t deserve to wear an NFL uniform”. Very few quarterbacks have this much range when it comes to public perception. Last week I wrote an article comparing Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo to the “second tier” quarterbacks and I debunked myths about him and his career using stats. This week, I will show you why Tony Romo is such an effective quarterback using the All-22 game

There are two things that make Tony Romo a special quarterback: his exceptionally quick release and his mobility. Romo specializes in making plays downfield even when the offensive line breaks down. He uses his quick feet to move around the pocket, all the while continuing to look downfield for the opportunity to make a play.

Below is a play where Tony Romo displays both his athleticism to escape the pass rush and then uses his quick release to make a pivotal play late in the game. In week three of the 2011 season, the Dallas Cowboys are trailing the Washington Commanders 16 to 15 with 2:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. What is important to note about this game is that in the previous week, Romo fractured his ribs against San Francisco and the offensive line has played poorly up to this point in the game. On third down and 21, the Cowboys needed to convert this play in order to have any chance at winning the game.

Read the rest at:http://thelandryhat.com/2013/06/16/the-tape-shows-why-dallas-cowboys-tony-romo-is-elite/

 

[Angus]

Thanks for the post. Interesting and informative.

 

[KJJ]

Not to get another Romo argument started but he is a franchise QB just not an elite QB in my opinion but he does have elite "skills."

 

[CyberB0b]

Getting intercepted on a dumpoff pass with 3:00 left in the last game of the season is a reason why he isn't elite.

 

[KJJ]

Getting intercepted on a dumpoff pass with 3:00 left in the last game of the season is a reason why he isn't elite.

That's exactly it it's those kinds of mistakes in make or break situations that keeps Romo from being an elite QB. All the QB's I consider "elite" have all made big plays in do or die games that resulted in winning championships.

 

[Eskimo]

Getting intercepted on a dumpoff pass with 3:00 left in the last game of the season is a reason why he isn't elite.

The big problem is your expectations.

What do you expect of a QB who is playing behind a weak OL, facing a fierce blitzing team, no running game, less than 3 minutes on the clock and missing his #1, #2 and #3 WRs. Moreover, he was playing again with broken ribs.

Yes, it'd have been great if he could have pulled a rabbit of his butt like he did against SF in 2011 when Dez and Romo were out and he hit Jesse Holley with the winner in OT. But I don't think any QB had much of a chance under those circumstances to be successful.

Moreover, that team wasn't going anywhere in the playoffs even if we got in. Dez wasn't going to play the next week, Romo had cracked ribs, the defense was decimated, the running game was absent.... We were dead men walking at the end of the year. It just wasn't going to be our year. The previous year we had a better chance if we got in but not last year.

If you want to blame Romo that's fine. But just remember the game like it actually was and not like it was a gimme situation that he blew. Those were very long odds to overcome and he didn't. Would it have been that much better if he turned it over on downs after 4 incomplete passes or if he took a sack there and then couldn't convert on 4th and long? Well you don't make great decisions with busted ribs when you're facing a blitz happy team with no weapons to defeat the blitz. The other guys are professionals too and they were operating with a fully loaded gun and Romo showed up with a butter knife.

 

[DFWJC]

Getting intercepted on a dumpoff pass with 3:00 left in the last game of the season is a reason why he isn't elite.

Like Peyton Manning vs Baltimore

Oh, that's right, but Peyton had his WRs on the field, was athome, and his Oline blocking for him.

It can happen to anyone, let alone when the deck is stacked against you in overwhelming fashion like it was in the game you referred to.

I'm sure it's happened, but I can't recall it happening after in history where a player overcame those odds.


Having said all that, I do have a hard time saying "elite". Maybe after this year

 

[NeonDeion21]

The big problem is your expectations.

What do you expect of a QB who is playing behind a weak OL, facing a fierce blitzing team, no running game, less than 3 minutes on the clock and missing his #1, #2 and #3 WRs. Moreover, he was playing again with broken ribs.

Yes, it'd have been great if he could have pulled a rabbit of his butt like he did against SF in 2011 when Dez and Romo were out and he hit Jesse Holley with the winner in OT. But I don't think any QB had much of a chance under those circumstances to be successful.

Moreover, that team wasn't going anywhere in the playoffs even if we got in. Dez wasn't going to play the next week, Romo had cracked ribs, the defense was decimated, the running game was absent.... We were dead men walking at the end of the year. It just wasn't going to be our year. The previous year we had a better chance if we got in but not last year.

If you want to blame Romo that's fine. But just remember the game like it actually was and not like it was a gimme situation that he blew. Those were very long odds to overcome and he didn't. Would it have been that much better if he turned it over on downs after 4 incomplete passes or if he took a sack there and then couldn't convert on 4th and long? Well you don't make great decisions with busted ribs when you're facing a blitz happy team with no weapons to defeat the blitz. The other guys are professionals too and they were operating with a fully loaded gun and Romo showed up with a butter knife.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Great post.

 

[CyberB0b]

The big problem is your expectations.

What do you expect of a QB who is playing behind a weak OL, facing a fierce blitzing team, no running game, less than 3 minutes on the clock and missing his #1, #2 and #3 WRs. Moreover, he was playing again with broken ribs.

Yes, it'd have been great if he could have pulled a rabbit of his butt like he did against SF in 2011 when Dez and Romo were out and he hit Jesse Holley with the winner in OT. But I don't think any QB had much of a chance under those circumstances to be successful.

Moreover, that team wasn't going anywhere in the playoffs even if we got in. Dez wasn't going to play the next week, Romo had cracked ribs, the defense was decimated, the running game was absent.... We were dead men walking at the end of the year. It just wasn't going to be our year. The previous year we had a better chance if we got in but not last year.

If you want to blame Romo that's fine. But just remember the game like it actually was and not like it was a gimme situation that he blew. Those were very long odds to overcome and he didn't. Would it have been that much better if he turned it over on downs after 4 incomplete passes or if he took a sack there and then couldn't convert on 4th and long? Well you don't make great decisions with busted ribs when you're facing a blitz happy team with no weapons to defeat the blitz. The other guys are professionals too and they were operating with a fully loaded gun and Romo showed up with a butter knife.

I'm not saying it is all Romo's fault. I am saying he is not elite. Elite QBs get the job done. That is why they are elite.

The 2010 Packers were decimated by injuries. They had over 15 players on IR when they were in the playoffs. Among the injured were their starting RB, SS, ILB, TE, and a bunch of role players. Their offensive line was horrible and they had no running game to speak of. Rodgers still got it done. He is elite.

Romo is not elite. He is very good, but not elite. He needs help that the Cowboys aren't giving him.

 

[Eskimo]

I'm not saying it is all Romo's fault. I am saying he is not elite. Elite QBs get the job done. That is why they are elite.

The 2010 Packers were decimated by injuries. They had over 15 players on IR when they were in the playoffs. Among the injured were their starting RB, SS, ILB, TE, and a bunch of role players. Their offensive line was horrible and they had no running game to speak of. Rodgers still got it done. He is elite.

Romo is not elite. He is very good, but not elite. He needs help that the Cowboys aren't giving him.

Is Payton elite - didn't get the job done against the Ravens.

Is Flacco elite because the Broncos Safety blew his coverage responsibility.

Is Brady not elite because he got beat by Flacco?

Is Rogers not elite because he has been beaten two consecutive playoffs despite being surrounded by excellent offensive players and a good defense headed by Dom Capers and Clay Matthews?

Tony Romo has come through in many late game situations. He didn't last year because his team was wiped out. It's as simple as that. Sometimes the guys across from you are just better than you are no matter how good your QB is.

The last time I checked Payton Manning is widely considered elite and his brother isn't but he has won only one SB while his brother has won two. This is despite the fact Payton has been in the league about 6 more years and has made the playoffs several more times than Eli has. Could it have something to do with the team around them since Eli won with two defenses that were dominant in the playoffs?

The bottom line is that it is a team game and the QB is the most important player on the field on offense but he can't do it alone and he contributes virtually nothing to special teams and defense. I figure a QB might account for 20% of a team's chances of winning a game. 42.5% to the defense, 42.5% to the offense and about 15% to special teams. On the offensive side the QB contributes little to the running offense which is 45% of the snaps and probably about 25% of the offensive output. Now of the remaining 75% of the offense a portion goes to the OL, a portion goes to the receivers and a portion goes to the QB. Let's say the QB gets 1/2 of the credit and the other half will be split between OL and the receivers. I honestly think I'm a bit generous here to the QB in saying that the running game is only 25% responsible for the offensive output and that the QB fully accounts for as much of the success of the passing offense as the OL and receivers combined. That is 1 guy is as important as the other 10 on the field. I've never seen anyone give up 10 starters for 1 QB but let's just say it's true.

This then gives the QB's portion of the success of the team as 0.5 * 0.75 * 0.425 or about 16% or 1/6th.

Now for validation of this 1/6th number what portion of a team's cap are the best QB's presently occupying. To me it seems it is around $20M of a $120M cap or about 1/6th.

So that still leaves another 5/6ths of the team that accounts for the wins and losses.

It is a team game and the QB is a small part of it. Romo is doing his share and it is time to put the other 5/6ths of the team around him in shape so that we can win games.

I'm not hung up on elite or not elite. I know he is better than Eli, Big Ben and Flacco but those teams won when they had good teams around those guys. I know Brady and Peyton have been the best in the team for a long time but in the last 9 years they only have 1 SB between them. If you throw in Brees you got 2/9. If you throw in Rogers and Favre you've got 3/9. So arguably the 5 best QBs of the last decade have only accounted for 3 of the SB wins. You know why - it is a team game.

So while I agree with most that Romo isn't the best QB in the league. I think he's every bit as good as many QBs who have had a SB victory in the last decade. The problem here has been the GM/HC combo hasn't built a roster good enough to win the SB except maybe the 2007 season which was derailed by TO's injury in week 16.

I think this team might be good enough to get there this year. It largely depends on how we do with the new OL and the enhanced commitment to the zone blocking scheme and the new 4-3 defense being installed by Kiffin/Marinelli and what they manage to do with the aged DL and young Safeties.

 

[burmafrd]

Is Payton elite - didn't get the job done against the Ravens.

Is Flacco elite because the Broncos Safety blew his coverage responsibility.

Is Brady not elite because he got beat by Flacco?

Is Rogers not elite because he has been beaten two consecutive playoffs despite being surrounded by excellent offensive players and a good defense headed by Dom Capers and Clay Matthews?

Tony Romo has come through in many late game situations. He didn't last year because his team was wiped out. It's as simple as that. Sometimes the guys across from you are just better than you are no matter how good your QB is.

The last time I checked Payton Manning is widely considered elite and his brother isn't but he has won only one SB while his brother has won two. This is despite the fact Payton has been in the league about 6 more years and has made the playoffs several more times than Eli has. Could it have something to do with the team around them since Eli won with two defenses that were dominant in the playoffs?

The bottom line is that it is a team game and the QB is the most important player on the field on offense but he can't do it alone and he contributes virtually nothing to special teams and defense. I figure a QB might account for 20% of a team's chances of winning a game. 42.5% to the defense, 42.5% to the offense and about 15% to special teams. On the offensive side the QB contributes little to the running offense which is 45% of the snaps and probably about 25% of the offensive output. Now of the remaining 75% of the offense a portion goes to the OL, a portion goes to the receivers and a portion goes to the QB. Let's say the QB gets 1/2 of the credit and the other half will be split between OL and the receivers. I honestly think I'm a bit generous here to the QB in saying that the running game is only 25% responsible for the offensive output and that the QB fully accounts for as much of the success of the passing offense as the OL and receivers combined. That is 1 guy is as important as the other 10 on the field. I've never seen anyone give up 10 starters for 1 QB but let's just say it's true.

This then gives the QB's portion of the success of the team as 0.5 * 0.75 * 0.425 or about 16% or 1/6th.

Now for validation of this 1/6th number what portion of a team's cap are the best QB's presently occupying. To me it seems it is around $20M of a $120M cap or about 1/6th.

So that still leaves another 5/6ths of the team that accounts for the wins and losses.

It is a team game and the QB is a small part of it. Romo is doing his share and it is time to put the other 5/6ths of the team around him in shape so that we can win games.

I'm not hung up on elite or not elite. I know he is better than Eli, Big Ben and Flacco but those teams won when they had good teams around those guys. I know Brady and Peyton have been the best in the team for a long time but in the last 9 years they only have 1 SB between them. If you throw in Brees you got 2/9. If you throw in Rogers and Favre you've got 3/9. So arguably the 5 best QBs of the last decade have only accounted for 3 of the SB wins. You know why - it is a team game.

So while I agree with most that Romo isn't the best QB in the league. I think he's every bit as good as many QBs who have had a SB victory in the last decade. The problem here has been the GM/HC combo hasn't built a roster good enough to win the SB except maybe the 2007 season which was derailed by TO's injury in week 16.

I think this team might be good enough to get there this year. It largely depends on how we do with the new OL and the enhanced commitment to the zone blocking scheme and the new 4-3 defense being installed by Kiffin/Marinelli and what they manage to do with the aged DL and young Safeties.

does not matter what you post; the haters will never believe. Romo would have to be the SB MVP three years in a row for them to shut up.

 

[5Stars]

Is Payton elite - didn't get the job done against the Ravens.

Is Flacco elite because the Broncos Safety blew his coverage responsibility.

Is Brady not elite because he got beat by Flacco?

Is Rogers not elite because he has been beaten two consecutive playoffs despite being surrounded by excellent offensive players and a good defense headed by Dom Capers and Clay Matthews?

Tony Romo has come through in many late game situations. He didn't last year because his team was wiped out. It's as simple as that. Sometimes the guys across from you are just better than you are no matter how good your QB is.

The last time I checked Payton Manning is widely considered elite and his brother isn't but he has won only one SB while his brother has won two. This is despite the fact Payton has been in the league about 6 more years and has made the playoffs several more times than Eli has. Could it have something to do with the team around them since Eli won with two defenses that were dominant in the playoffs?

The bottom line is that it is a team game and the QB is the most important player on the field on offense but he can't do it alone and he contributes virtually nothing to special teams and defense. I figure a QB might account for 20% of a team's chances of winning a game. 42.5% to the defense, 42.5% to the offense and about 15% to special teams. On the offensive side the QB contributes little to the running offense which is 45% of the snaps and probably about 25% of the offensive output. Now of the remaining 75% of the offense a portion goes to the OL, a portion goes to the receivers and a portion goes to the QB. Let's say the QB gets 1/2 of the credit and the other half will be split between OL and the receivers. I honestly think I'm a bit generous here to the QB in saying that the running game is only 25% responsible for the offensive output and that the QB fully accounts for as much of the success of the passing offense as the OL and receivers combined. That is 1 guy is as important as the other 10 on the field. I've never seen anyone give up 10 starters for 1 QB but let's just say it's true.

This then gives the QB's portion of the success of the team as 0.5 * 0.75 * 0.425 or about 16% or 1/6th.

Now for validation of this 1/6th number what portion of a team's cap are the best QB's presently occupying. To me it seems it is around $20M of a $120M cap or about 1/6th.

So that still leaves another 5/6ths of the team that accounts for the wins and losses.

It is a team game and the QB is a small part of it. Romo is doing his share and it is time to put the other 5/6ths of the team around him in shape so that we can win games.

I'm not hung up on elite or not elite. I know he is better than Eli, Big Ben and Flacco but those teams won when they had good teams around those guys. I know Brady and Peyton have been the best in the team for a long time but in the last 9 years they only have 1 SB between them. If you throw in Brees you got 2/9. If you throw in Rogers and Favre you've got 3/9. So arguably the 5 best QBs of the last decade have only accounted for 3 of the SB wins. You know why - it is a team game.

So while I agree with most that Romo isn't the best QB in the league. I think he's every bit as good as many QBs who have had a SB victory in the last decade. The problem here has been the GM/HC combo hasn't built a roster good enough to win the SB except maybe the 2007 season which was derailed by TO's injury in week 16.

I think this team might be good enough to get there this year. It largely depends on how we do with the new OL and the enhanced commitment to the zone blocking scheme and the new 4-3 defense being installed by Kiffin/Marinelli and what they manage to do with the aged DL and young Safeties.

Rookie mistake, my friend. All of those QB's won the SB, so you cannot mention Romo with those guys. At least that's what I hear from the "experts".

Payton Manning for some reason is thought of as the greatest QB to ever play that position since football was invented, yet he only has one SB while his goofy brother has two.

For some odd reason some posters cannot see the forest for the trees because unless Romo wins a SB with his team, he will always be a choker, kinda like Marino because he never won a SB, but, again, he was one of the greatest QB's to play the game so he does not count either.

Go figure...



I have a friend that says he has 8 million people that follow him on a daily basis either on twitter or other forums, and they all agree with him.

Until Romo wins a SB, he's always going to be consider a busted, un-drafted, over paid player that will always take all the heat for not getting into the post season. They seldom talk about the others on the team, it's all Romo.

 

[Echo9]

I'm not saying it is all Romo's fault. I am saying he is not elite. Elite QBs get the job done. That is why they are elite.

The 2010 Packers were decimated by injuries. They had over 15 players on IR when they were in the playoffs. Among the injured were their starting RB, SS, ILB, TE, and a bunch of role players. Their offensive line was horrible and they had no running game to speak of. Rodgers still got it done. He is elite.

Romo is not elite. He is very good, but not elite. He needs help that the Cowboys aren't giving him.

Did Rodgers have his top 3 WRs out with injury and a cracked ribs at the time?

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

That's exactly it it's those kinds of mistakes in make or break situations that keeps Romo from being an elite QB. All the QB's I consider "elite" have all made big plays in do or die games that resulted in winning championships.

Thats the problem.

ND21 and Eskimo have put forth solid arguments based on objective data, yet its ignored by many here who "know better." All the Romo discussions here boil down to 2 perspectives.

Perspective #1 - facts, reality, reason and what is.

Perspective #2 - whatever an individual decides he wants to see and acknowledge, viewed thru his OWN perspective of life, the world and football, and all objectivity and reality is thrown out the window.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I have a friend that says he has 8 million people that follow him on a daily basis either on twitter or other forums, and they all agree with him.

You too? You dont say . . . . . . . . . . .

I had a poster here tell me that as well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . but he tells me I'm the one out of touch.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Did Rodgers have his top 3 WRs out with injury and a cracked ribs at the time?

Doesnt matter. If Romo really was elite he would get it done regardless. At least thats what some here would say!

 

[5Stars]

You too? You dont say . . . . . . . . . . .

I had a poster here tell me that as well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . but he tells me I'm the one out of touch.

What you talking about, Willis...

 

[Aven8]

He is elite. I remember that game also. It was magic as always.

He's the only reason we tune in folks. When he is gone, then you can whine.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

What you talking about, Willis...

Is it this guy?

Or, this guy?

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

He is elite. I remember that game also. It was magic as always.

He's the only reason we tune in folks. When he is gone, then you can whine.

BINGO!