Why I'm Excited About Tony Romo

[rcaldw]

As someone who has been clear about my disappointment in Tony Romo's attitude (at least the attitude he has expressed) about leadership, I also wanted to talk about what I like in our QB. I think sometimes Tony's biggest fans (and I count myself as a Romo fan), think that if we criticize some aspect of his game, or wish that some things would change about him, that we can't really be his fans.

So, let me be clear about what I like about the guy and why I'm excited and hopeful about the future. Maybe some others who have been critical of him can chime in as well.

Not in any particular order:

1. He has better arm strength than I originally thought. It isn't as big as some, but big enough to make all the throws that need to be made.

2. He has charisma. I think there is a difference between leadership and charisma. They sometimes go together, but not always. Even when I have wished for more leadership from Tony, I have never been able to deny that the guy has charisma about him. He has a flair about his game and I do think when he gets in a hot streak, or makes a play that very few guys could make it sparks the team.

3. He is a playmaker. Some of the plays I've seen him make are pure instinct and an instinct that very few possess. I'm an old schooler and I can tell you that very few have had what Tony has in this area. At times he reminds me of Roger in this area, sometimes a little bit of Fran Tarkenton, but it is, in my opinion, the most special part of his game. Just one example is the snap over the head, track it down, escape the rush, and make a play kind of stuff. Just unreal.

4. He sees the field well. Now, I know that last year this ability wasn't as apparent. I happen to believe it is T.O. factor. The worst thing that a QB with Romo's instincts can do is begin to have a quota in his head. "How many has so and so caught now?" Romo needs to be free, truly free, just to get the ball to whomever he chooses. When he plays like that, he sees the field very well.

5. He likes to play attack football. This can also be his Achilles, and it leads to his turnover problems, but I like the attitude. In fact, and this may sound strange, but I don't think I was ever more proud of the guy than when he waived off Wade Phillips in Philly. Don't get me wrong, that was a NEGATIVE ON PHILLIPS, but it wasn't a negative on Romo in my book. Tony understood the place we were in that game. We just could not afford to punt there. It didn't work out in the end, but it was still the right call, and it is MORE of that attitude that will help this team.

6. He is accurate. This was something that I so appreciated in Aikman and I appreciate it in Romo too. Just compare Donovan McNabb to Romo, and you will see this difference in their game.

If Romo can maximize these things (and I'm sure many other qualities that I haven't mentioned), and avoid the bad play in the crucial moments, there is no reason we can't have many super seasons.

 

[I LOVE ME SOME ME!]

As someone who has been clear about my disappointment in Tony Romo's attitude (at least the attitude he has expressed) about leadership, I also wanted to talk about what I like in our QB. I think sometimes Tony's biggest fans (and I count myself as a Romo fan), think that if we criticize some aspect of his game, or wish that some things would change about him, that we can't really be his fans.

So, let me be clear about what I like about the guy and why I'm excited and hopeful about the future. Maybe some others who have been critical of him can chime in as well.

Not in any particular order:

1. He has better arm strength than I originally thought. It isn't as big as some, but big enough to make all the throws that need to be made.

2. He has charisma. I think there is a difference between leadership and charisma. They sometimes go together, but not always. Even when I have wished for more leadership from Tony, I have never been able to deny that the guy has charisma about him. He has a flair about his game and I do think when he gets in a hot streak, or makes a play that very few guys could make it sparks the team.

3. He is a playmaker. Some of the plays I've seen him make are pure instinct and an instinct that very few possess. I'm an old schooler and I can tell you that very few have had what Tony has in this area. At times he reminds me of Roger in this area, sometimes a little bit of Fran Tarkenton, but it is, in my opinion, the most special part of his game. Just one example is the snap over the head, track it down, escape the rush, and make a play kind of stuff. Just unreal.

4. He sees the field well. Now, I know that last year this ability wasn't as apparent. I happen to believe it is T.O. factor. The worst thing that a QB with Romo's instincts can do is begin to have a quota in his head. "How many has so and so caught now?" Romo needs to be free, truly free, just to get the ball to whomever he chooses. When he plays like that, he sees the field very well.

5. He likes to play attack football. This can also be his Achilles, and it leads to his turnover problems, but I like the attitude. In fact, and this may sound strange, but I don't think I was ever more proud of the guy than when he waived off Wade Phillips in Philly. Don't get me wrong, that was a NEGATIVE ON PHILLIPS, but it wasn't a negative on Romo in my book. Tony understood the place we were in that game. We just could not afford to punt there. It didn't work out in the end, but it was still the right call, and it is MORE of that attitude that will help this team.

6. He is accurate. This was something that I so appreciated in Aikman and I appreciate it in Romo too. Just compare Donovan McNabb to Romo, and you will see this difference in their game.

If Romo can maximize these things (and I'm sure many other qualities that I haven't mentioned), and avoid the bad play in the crucial moments, there is no reason we can't have many super seasons.

TO was a problem when Tony had a top 10 all time regular season for a quarterback? The excuses he is gettin now is just getting funny. Romo is good but hes just not clutch. He needs to learn from Donovan. Funny you mention him because he will throw it to his running backs or just short passes to other players and have them make plays. That is what you have playmakers for. If you are not clutch you should get the ball out very quickly. But, that goes back to deep passing Jason Garrett.

 

[rcaldw]

TO was a problem when Tony had a top 10 all time regular season for a quarterback? The excuses he is gettin now is just getting funny. Romo is good but hes just not clutch. He needs to learn from Donovan. Funny you mention him because he will throw it to his running backs or just short passes to other players and have them make plays. That is what you have playmakers for. If you are not clutch you should get the ball out very quickly. But, that goes back to deep passing Jason Garrett.

I think T.O. became more of a problem when the losing started. When he then became more vocal, and management publicly agreed that he needed the football more, I think the ability to just "go play", became more limited as Romo felt more pressure to get him the football. If you have ever played QB on any level you know the difference between just playing, letting the game come to you, find the open guy, vs., pressing to get a particular guy the football. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Tony felt some of that, and I think it limits your ability to see the field like you normally would.

 

[rcaldw]

I also respect Donovan. What I meant with that comparison are the accuracy issues. Donovan throws an unusual amount of dirt balls.

 

[Clove]

Romo was not all that accurate last year. Hopefully this changes.

 

[rcaldw]

Romo was not all that accurate last year. Hopefully this changes.

When Tony is healthy he makes some throws into some very tight spots, and some of those throws I haven't seen since Aikman retired. I think he has plenty of accuracy.

 

[TheCount]

4. He sees the field well. Now, I know that last year this ability wasn't as apparent. I happen to believe it is T.O. factor. The worst thing that a QB with Romo's instincts can do is begin to have a quota in his head. "How many has so and so caught now?" Romo needs to be free, truly free, just to get the ball to whomever he chooses. When he plays like that, he sees the field very well.

Not really. I love Romo but field vision is something he certainly needs to improve on.

 

[hendog]

For the last time. He didn't waive off Wade and his decision to punt. It was being told to him in helmet receiver that we were going to go for it. Maybe JG waived off Wade? Not sure, but Tony didn't.

 

[Nav22]

If I could improve one SPECIFIC aspect of Romo's game, it's his inaccuracy on the deep ball. I think he misses open guys deep downfield far too often.

As deadly as he can be at times, imagine how much more dangerous we could be if Romo went from being a mediocre deep ball passer to a great one.

 

[yentl911]

I think it is obvious that Romo gives us the best chance to win each week. It was hopeless when BJ and BB were in there and I for one sincerely appreciate what Romo brings to the table.

Yes, he does need to protect the ball better and look at more wide receivers in their patetrns but in the overall scheme of things he really hasn;t played much but has still played pretty well.

One thing I would like to add, I hope the coaching staff does more play action, roll-outs, etc.. this year. It just looks like Tony is much more comfortable and accurate when outside the pocket. I think we kind of went away from that this year. Plus, he has some pretty decent improv skills to make plays out there too.

 

[cml750]

TO was a problem when Tony had a top 10 all time regular season for a quarterback? The excuses he is gettin now is just getting funny. Romo is good but hes just not clutch. He needs to learn from Donovan. Funny you mention him because he will throw it to his running backs or just short passes to other players and have them make plays. That is what you have playmakers for. If you are not clutch you should get the ball out very quickly. But, that goes back to deep passing Jason Garrett.

TO became a problem when DB's started jamming him at the line causing him to get off his route and thus not be open. Because off TO's attitude when he doesn't get many balls thrown his way, it forces Romo to look for him. Because it was taking TO longer to try to get open(because of the jam at the line) it forced Romo to look at him more and longer. If TO could learn to beat the jam or become a "team player"(not crying when he isn't thrown to when he is not open) then Romo would not have to concentrate so much on getting him the ball.

BTW- I do agree with you about Garrett's penchant for the deep ball. He should worry more about moving the ball and take shots down the field occasionally to either hit a home run or keep the defenses honest.

 

[5Countem5]

5. He likes to play attack football. This can also be his Achilles, and it leads to his turnover problems, but I like the attitude. In fact, and this may sound strange, but I don't think I was ever more proud of the guy than when he waived off Wade Phillips in Philly. Don't get me wrong, that was a NEGATIVE ON PHILLIPS, but it wasn't a negative on Romo in my book. Tony understood the place we were in that game. We just could not afford to punt there. It didn't work out in the end, but it was still the right call, and it is MORE of that attitude that will help this team.

You do realize that even Tony said he didn't waive off Phillips, right?

I really like Romo but people continually giving him credit for this is hilarious.

 

[Vtwin]

T Funny you mention him because he will throw it to his running backs or just short passes to other players and have them make plays. That is what you have playmakers for.

It was very noticable to me this season the huge difference in the amount of plays made by the checkdown to Barber.

In 07 a ton of first downs were earned by getting the ball to Barber on the checkdown, not nearly as many in 08.

 

[BIGDen]

If I could improve one SPECIFIC aspect of Romo's game, it's his inaccuracy on the deep ball. I think he misses open guys deep downfield far too often.

As deadly as he can be at times, imagine how much more dangerous we could be if Romo went from being a mediocre deep ball passer to a great one.

His "inaccuracy and lack of being clutch" is not "accurate". He also hit numerous deep balls in 06 and 07. Last year was clearly a result of injury. He has been very accurate overall. Last year he dealt with an injury to his throwing hand. Even if he was pain-free (which is doubtful), he had issues with follow-through which is natural after that type of injury. Anybody who has ever thrown a ball of any kind knows that follow-through is critical for accuracy. Add-in constant pass-rushers in his face and one is not going to be as accurate. Call them excuses if you want, but they are true. Do you think he just lost ability while in his prime or something?

In less than 3 full seasons he has led this team to numerous 4th quarter comebacks. His QB rating at the end of halves and the end of games was always exceptional. Those are "clutch moments". The pass to Witten against Seattle in the playoffs was clutch. Witten's 1st down was taken away and that led to the fluke ending. Romo's pass to Crayton was clutch in the 4th quarter of the playoffs. Even Aikman has said it likely would have have sealed the game. But big mouth Crayton was not clutch and he dropped it. Just like Fasano dropped a TD earlier. Romo played more than well enough to win those games and he has shown his ability to be clutch numerous times. How soon we forget. The Giants game this year was a huge win where he showed toughness and his TD pass to Crayton was big-time. He may have started slowly against Baltimore's mighty D, but he drove the team down the field twice for scores in the 4th quarter only to have his D let him down. Those were clutch drives.

He definitely needs to do a better job of protecting the ball when he's scrambling and not forcing the deep pass at times. But the reason he has made 2 Pro Bowls, led his team to the playoffs twice (barely losing both - not choking), and is re-writing the Cowboys record book is because he's very, very good. It takes 22 players plus special teams to win a game. Romo deserves some blame, but deserves a hell of a lot more credit based on how he has played thus far in his career.

 

[Ferrumz]

His "inaccuracy and lack of being clutch" is not "accurate". He also hit numerous deep balls in 06 and 07. Last year was clearly a result of injury. He has been very accurate overall. Last year he dealt with an injury to his throwing hand. Even if he was pain-free (which is doubtful), he had issues with follow-through which is natural after that type of injury. Anybody who has ever thrown a ball of any kind knows that follow-through is critical for accuracy. Add-in constant pass-rushers in his face and one is not going to be as accurate. Call them excuses if you want, but they are true. Do you think he just lost ability while in his prime or something?

In less than 3 full seasons he has led this team to numerous 4th quarter comebacks. His QB rating at the end of halves and the end of games was always exceptional. Those are "clutch moments". The pass to Witten against Seattle in the playoffs was clutch. Witten's 1st down was taken away and that led to the fluke ending. Romo's pass to Crayton was clutch in the 4th quarter of the playoffs. Even Aikman has said it likely would have have sealed the game. But big mouth Crayton was not clutch and he dropped it. Just like Fasano dropped a TD earlier. Romo played more than well enough to win those games and he has shown his ability to be clutch numerous times. How soon we forget. The Giants game this year was a huge win where he showed toughness and his TD pass to Crayton was big-time. He may have started slowly against Baltimore's mighty D, but he drove the team down the field twice for scores in the 4th quarter only to have his D let him down. Those were clutch drives.

He definitely needs to do a better job of protecting the ball when he's scrambling and not forcing the deep pass at times. But the reason he has made 2 Pro Bowls, led his team to the playoffs twice (barely losing both - not choking), and is re-writing the Cowboys record book is because he's very, very good. It takes 22 players plus special teams to win a game. Romo deserves some blame, but deserves a hell of a lot more credit based on how he has played thus far in his career.

QFT, it amazes me how so many people feel that just because we lost the game Romo all of a sudden isn't a clutch player. But no, it's far too easy to put all the blame at Romo's feet and say he's not clutch then to simply look at the whole picture. Lest we not forget that we wouldn't be in the position to win if it weren't for Romo making plays on his feet. Too much ESPN watching me thinks.

 

[theogt]

Not really. I love Romo but field vision is something he certainly needs to improve on.

Gotta disagree pretty strongly here. His single biggest asset is that he always has an uncanny sense of where players are on the field.

 

[Silverstar]

When Roy Williams gets more involved in this offense, all these things will fall into place IMO. Williams has got to be more involved...there's really no way around it. Jerry will demand that he gets the ball more if necessary and rightfully so. He's the future at WR and he needs to understand that and take over that role in Dallas starting now.

If he doesn't get that....keep throwing him the ball until he does!


The TO to RW transition begins this Summer.

 

[Clove]

TO became a problem when DB's started jamming him at the line causing him to get off his route and thus not be open. Because off TO's attitude when he doesn't get many balls thrown his way, it forces Romo to look for him. Because it was taking TO longer to try to get open(because of the jam at the line) it forced Romo to look at him more and longer. If TO could learn to beat the jam or become a "team player"(not crying when he isn't thrown to when he is not open) then Romo would not have to concentrate so much on getting him the ball.

I disagree partially. The problem came when teams took TO out of the game, no one else could step up. You can only do so much with Witten in the middle, Roy Williams or Crayton, or any other receiver out on that field will have to step up and at lease have a PULSE out there.

Because I'll guarantee you this, if I am a coordinator, I can take out your best receiver (unless he's Fitz, then my scheme would be to try to kill him everytime he goes up in the air, that's the only thing you can do with a guy like that) but I would put my second best corner, and a safety over your best receiver, and take my shut down corner and put him on your second best receiver - Then I would gamble on Witten by putting a man on him, tell the LB to stay behind Witten, and allow the FS to stay super deep.

Then I would send the house on Romo to confuse him, force him to hurry throws - By doubling TO and Witten, those 2 guys could still get opened but it would take a little time, and I wouldn't give Romo time. So he would be forced to go to other receivers quickly, and either those 2 receivers aren't getting opened, or Romo is trying to look into double coverage vs going to single coverage.

If you remember correctly, last year when TO started complaining, what he said was this. If they are double teaming me, then we have to go else where.
But during the game, if they go to single coverage, then he needs to look my way and he wasn't doing that. People didn't stop to think about that, they just exploded on TO as if he was just complaining, and this happened in several games.

Having said that, I think Romo struggled to read coverages last year in a ton of games. Romo reads coverages really well when he's not being pressured, but when the pressure is rolling down on him, he may escape, but then his throws were off the mark unlike the previous year, maybe the thumb, maybe not.

Then coordinators were instructing their players to rush inside hard, and send wide pressure from his right to keep him from scrambling that direction, and if you're close to Romo, go for the strip.

So to me, it was not all Romo's fault. I put most of the blame on Coaching (Garrett),and the other receivers (Roy/Crayton/Austin)

Garrett hung his QB and Offensive line out to dry way too often. Playactions don't work when you're not running the ball. Too many shot guns allow for things like, bad snaps, fumbles, snap count issues (being out of sync on the snap count between the Center and QB, allow for false starts) too many people in routes, not enough protection.

Calling routes that take too long to develope. Calling plain routes for the other receivers, like the go route and the out route. Having way too many out routes in Romo's game plan (he's not a very good out-route passer)

So Garrett has his work cut out for him this off season.

 

[Bleu Star]

Romo was not all that accurate last year. Hopefully this changes.

He was indeed uncharacteristically inaccurate. I'm thinking a lot of that had to do with injuries. We'll see. He should be all healed up & about 15 pounds heavier thanks to those long nights of movies & popcorn with Jessica. At least that will give him a little more padding on his bones.

 

[Angus]

TO was a problem when Tony had a top 10 all time regular season for a quarterback? The excuses he is gettin now is just getting funny. Romo is good but hes just not clutch. He needs to learn from Donovan. Funny you mention him because he will throw it to his running backs or just short passes to other players and have them make plays. That is what you have playmakers for. If you are not clutch you should get the ball out very quickly. But, that goes back to deep passing Jason Garrett.

You have a short memory.