Gosselin: Tony Romo needs to play perfect football for Cowboys to win

[Texas Ace]

Man, check out these numbers:

Last season Dallas rushed the ball only 34 percent of the time, finishing 8-8. During Jason Garrett’s tenure as Dallas head coach, the Cowboys rushed more than they've passed only eight times. Including today, Dallas is 7-1 in those games. Need more evidence to support a rush-heavy approach? The score certainly influences this, but in 13 career games that DeMarco Murray has eclipsed 20 carries, Dallas is 12-1.

Despite all that, we still have abandoned or completely ignored the run for most of the Garrett/Romo tenure.

And here's another:

Murray, who’s missed 11 games in his first three seasons, has carried the ball 51 times in the Cowboys' first two games.

It's the highest two-game total of his career.

51 times in back to back games is a career high. That means the guy has never had 25 carries in back to back games which is crazy given what his YPC has been in some games and how close so many of our games have been in recent years. There's really no excuse for how this staff has treated the running game.

 

[Texas Ace]

The running game is seriously this team's only hope. StL's DL will tear Romo apart if he wants to pass 40 times and New Orleans can be gashed on the ground while keeping their O off the field.

Yea, this year we actually have to run the ball due to a declining Romo and a suspect defense, so it's a good thing that it appears we're actually going to be pretty good at it.

 

[NoDak]

I don't hold much weight with those "RB rushed more than 20 times and team won" "QB passed more than 35 times and team lost" stats.

It's only common sense that if a team is ahead, they'll run more to control the game. And conversely, if they're behind they'll pass more to try catch up more quickly.*




*Dallas being the exception the last ten years.

 

[Texas Ace]

I don't hold much weight with those "RB rushed more than 20 times and team won" "QB passed more than 35 times and team lost" stats.

It's only common sense that if a team is ahead, they'll run more to control the game. And conversely, if they're behind they'll pass more to try catch up more quickly.*




*Dallas being the exception the last ten years.

Some of those stats are subjective, but as you pointed out, Dallas is definitely the exception and I'd venture to say that the pattern stated above applies to us. Murray getting 20 carries will result in more wins than losses no matter how you slice it.

Had Murray gotten 20 carries last year vs Green Bay, the Cowboys would be 13-1, because they would not have lost that game had they protected the lead and grinded the clock.

 

[data]

I don't hold much weight with those "RB rushed more than 20 times and team won" "QB passed more than 35 times and team lost" stats.

It's only common sense that if a team is ahead, they'll run more to control the game. And conversely, if they're behind they'll pass more to try catch up more quickly.*




*Dallas being the exception the last ten years.

Agreed, but I think most damning stat is the amount of rushes we had with the huge leads over Green Bay and Detroit.

 

[Texas Ace]

Agreed, but I think most damning stat is the amount of rushes we had with the huge leads over Green Bay and Detroit.

That one too.

For sure that game and the GB game from last year would add 2 more wins to the Murray-gets-20 carries category.

14-1 and a playoff appearance would be pretty solid evidence that we should be getting him more carries.

 

[Carp]

I am liking Kevin Hogan quite a bit...he is more mobile than given credit for and makes smart decisions. This QB class is not very good. You have Winston, Mariotta, and Cook...then maybe Hogan and Petty. Petty with his back problems already takes him off my board.

 

[Texas Ace]

I am liking Kevin Hogan quite a bit...he is more mobile than given credit for and makes smart decisions. This QB class is not very good. You have Winston, Mariotta, and Cook...then maybe Hogan and Petty. Petty with his back problems already takes him off my board.

I actually kind of want Romo to struggle all year because I think it will put the team in a position to address the position.

Barring injuries, Dez, Murray, Williams and the 3 picks on the O-line are going to be around for another 5-7 years. That's a pretty solid core to have around a young QB that will make his transition into the NFL easier.

The longer we wait, the more years will tick off of those guys' careers just like they did with Witten, Ware, etc. I hope we don't waste this groups best years as we did the last groups.

If we get a QB and a solid coach, we could be competing for playoff spots again pretty soon.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Yea, he doesn't look good at all.

I anticipated this would be the case due to a natural - not sure if "progression" applies here since it is a decline - but it's just a pattern that has continued since 2012. 2012 is when his deep balls began to hang and lack zip, and what used to be the best pass in his arsenal is now an under thrown ball every.single.time.

Couple that steady physical decline with his age and the recent back issues, and you have a QB who I believe is nearing the end of his career. It's a shame that this is happening now being as we finally appear to have a very good running game and an offensive coordinator who will stay committed to it.

Everything you say may be true but there were times when the pass rush was bearing down pretty hard. It appears to me that Tennessee's game plan was to go after Romo and force quick deliveries. In addition Romo is not in playing shape yet as well as missing a lot of practice reps for this season. If his back is okay he will get better. If not we will see a lot of the running backs this season.

 

[Texas Ace]

Everything you say may be true but there were times when the pass rush was bearing down pretty hard. It appears to me that Tennessee's game plan was to go after Romo and force quick deliveries. In addition Romo is not in playing shape yet as well as missing a lot of practice reps for this season. If his back is okay he will get better. If not we will see a lot of the running backs this season.

He definitely didn't have the cleanest day in the pocket, but as I said, I thought this would happen with him so it's not a surprise to me.

Hopefully, it is something he can get past, but I don't think it will be.

 

[L.T. Fan]

I actually kind of want Romo to struggle all year because I think it will put the team in a position to address the position.

Barring injuries, Dez, Murray, Williams and the 3 picks on the O-line are going to be around for another 5-7 years. That's a pretty solid core to have around a young QB that will make his transition into the NFL easier.

The longer we wait, the more years will tick off of those guys' careers just like they did with Witten, Ware, etc. I hope we don't waste this groups best years as we did the last groups.

If we get a QB and a solid coach, we could be competing for playoff spots again pretty soon.

Wow what a turn around comment from just two weeks ago. Then everyone was ready to bury the team this season.

 

[Deuce]

I am liking Kevin Hogan quite a bit...he is more mobile than given credit for and makes smart decisions. This QB class is not very good. You have Winston, Mariotta, and Cook...then maybe Hogan and Petty. Petty with his back problems already takes him off my board.

I was never high on Petty to begin with but now he's not even in my thought process.

 

[Texas Ace]

Wow what a turn around comment from just two weeks ago. Then everyone was ready to bury the team this season.

Make no mistake, I still expect this team to win 6 games this year. My outlook for this season has not changed.

But there are some good young pieces, especially on the offensive side of the ball, that we can build around if we get a QB in here. I don't think Jerry will want to bring someone in because he's so devoted to Romo, but I do think Stephen Jones and that group have enough sense to address the position if Romo struggles all year. So it would have to be they who talk Jerry into doing it.

 

[Carp]

He definitely didn't have the cleanest day in the pocket, but as I said, I thought this would happen with him so it's not a surprise to me.

Hopefully, it is something he can get past, but I don't think it will be.

In the past though, he was almost better without a clean pocket so he could throw on the move. He just does not appear to have that ability anymore. I hope, for the seasons sake, that at some point he can move when pressured, but it does not look good.

 

[p1_]

Wow what a turn around comment from just two weeks ago. Then everyone was ready to bury the team this season.

The comment may be a turn around, but the sentiment behind the comment was borne of painful and long suffering experience.

 

[Texas Ace]

In the past though, he was almost better without a clean pocket so he could throw on the move. He just does not appear to have that ability anymore. I hope, for the seasons sake, that at some point he can move when pressured, but it does not look good.

What's more concerning to me was how off he was with time to throw on some simple out routes. The two that come to mind were to Witten and Dez, both for first downs and both nowhere near their hands or even close enough for them to try and make a tough catch.

He was also off on a hitch to Dez and a slant to him as well.

 

[p1_]

In the past though, he was almost better without a clean pocket so he could throw on the move. He just does not appear to have that ability anymore. I hope, for the seasons sake, that at some point he can move when pressured, but it does not look good.

You're spot on, Romo has no more Jedi Knight Moves in his bag 'o tricks. That ship has sailed, and if a guy gets a grip on Tony, he's going down. It's that simple.

 

[L.T. Fan]

The comment may be a turn around, but the sentiment behind the comment was borne of painful and long suffering experience.

I understand but now that the team has actually played a couple of games it may not be as bad as some thought. It could all go down the toilet but sometimes it pays to see how things actually play out.

 

[Carp]

I understand but now that the team has actually played a couple of games it may not be as bad as some thought. It could all go down the toilet but sometimes it pays to see how things actually play out.

Wait and see...wait and see...wait and see. Got it.

 

[Texas Ace]

I understand but now that the team has actually played a couple of games it may not be as bad as some thought. It could all go down the toilet but sometimes it pays to see how things actually play out.

I can't speak for everyone, but like I said, my outlook hasn't changed.

I already knew the team had solid offensive pieces, but the running game looking so good so soon is very encouraging moving forward. I could see them being 2 games better than I initially thought if they have more games like yesterday where they run the ball, grind the clock, and keep the other team off the field. But I still don't think it's enough for us to make the playoffs - too many flaws on this team and QB might just be another one to add to that list.

With that said, I sure would like to see this group with a new, young QB added to it.