Archer: If it's available, Romo will throw deep

[Cotton]

If it's available, Romo will throw deep
October, 3, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – Each week, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo walks a high wire.

If he throws interceptions, he will get criticized, like he was in 2012 when he had eight interceptions in his first four games. Through four games this season Romo has just one interception, but now comes the critique that he is playing too carefully.

“Believe me, if there are shots down the field, I’ve never been accused of not taking them,” Romo said. “I think more than anything you’re just going to go through the progressions and see what the defense is giving you.”

Romo is completing 72.4 percent of his passes but is averaging just 6.7 yards per attempt. He entered this season averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. He has only three completions of 25 yards or more, after averaging more than 30 a year when he has started at least 10 games in a season.

Coach Jason Garrett and offensive coordinator Bill Callahan disagree with the notion that Romo is more conservative with his decision-making.

“I think he’s disciplined in terms of his progressions,” Callahan said. “He’s going to read it out. He’s going to bring it down when it needs to be brought down or check it out to the wide flare. We have done that as well as anybody. So we will continue to do those things that help us progress and move the ball, whether it’s a check-down or screen or swing route or whatever route we’re going to run underneath with the backs and tight ends. We’ll do those things and we’ll mix it up and we’ll work the ball down the field as well.”

Callahan pointed to the St. Louis game -- when Romo averaged 8.75 yards per attempt -- as an example of a down-the-field passing game. Romo pointed to the Kansas City game as an example. The Chiefs opened up with a single high safety look, and Romo threw the ball down the field to Dez Bryant for 100 yards in the first quarter.

“I think more than anything you play the play that’s called,” Romo said. “Since you’re 12 years old, there’s a coverage and there’s places to go with the football and you take that.”

 

[Cotton]

Romo says Cowboys are working on things to get Dez some deep balls, and he's not shy about throwing them

Tony Romo says you don’t have to worry about him passing up a chance to go deep. It’s just that right now, he’s taking what’s there.

“Believe me, if there are shots down the field, I’ve never been accused of not taking them,” he said Thursday at Valley Ranch in his weekly visit with reporters. “I think more than anything, you’re just going to go through the progressions and see what the defense is giving you.”

Romo, told about owner Jerry Jones’ remarks this week that Dez Bryant should get throws even when he is double covered, said, “That’s great. I think Dez is a good enough player to have a chance to do different things. There is a time and place. I think everyone understands there are certain double-coverages that are different than others. Dez is doing a great job doing that, and we’re going to try some things to continue getting him the ball.”

Bryant has 23 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 12.3 yards per catch, with a long of 53. He is roughly on pace to match last year’s season totals of 92 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. Last year, he averaged 15.0 yards per catch and had a long of 85.

“I’ll say this, I’m very confident in anything that I’m doing,” Bryant said. “I feel that I can do whatever. If that’s what was called – ‘Let’s get it down to Dez’ – OK. If it wasn’t, I’m fine. Either way. I’m confident in whatever I have to do to help the team.”

Romo brushed off criticism that now he is too conservative, though his yards per attempt (6.68) is an all-time low and he has only seven attempts over 20 yards and only three completions over 25.

"I think, more than anything, you play the play that’s called," he said. "Since you’re 12 years old, there’s a coverage and there’s places to go with the football, and you take that. Kansas City wanted to play single high coverage and press man, and the ball went to Dez five times down the field. We got two called. One he dropped. He wishes he hadn’t. The other, he got called for a penalty. That might change the whole balance of certain things, too. And then in some of the other games, they dared us to run, so we ran it."

-- Carlos Mendez

 

[jsmith6919]

So how much of a overreaction will we see to the latest criticism..think he goes deep alot this game(unless its 3rd&7+ then it'll be to Witten for 5 of course)

 

[vince]

That's bullshit. Both Romo and Callahan are trying to cover up the fact that they never call a deep ball play. I'm sure Dez is salivating over a 9 Route to be called.

 

[ravidubey]

You can't call deep routes if the WR's can't outrun the secondary. This team has no speed. It's starting to remind me of the late 80's.

 

[boozeman]

You can't call deep routes if the WR's can't outrun the secondary. This team has no speed. It's starting to remind me of the late 80's.

Speed only matters if you have an offense predicated on it.

You start getting obsessed with speed, you have the Oakland Raiders.

 

[ravidubey]

Speed only matters if you have an offense predicated on it.

You start getting obsessed with speed, you have the Oakland Raiders.

You need a mix of WR's, but Dallas has Dez with average speed and no complement. Austin lost whatever speed he used to have, and Witten has inevitably slowed down. There's no player who pressures the defense and it has allowed the opposition to sit within 10 yards of the LOS with little fear of getting burnt.

And even though the OL is better, they do have a ways to go before we can try multiple double move patterns or consistently run the deep crosses where Dez is dangerous.

I like Romo's conservative approach. This team really just needs a changeup RB with speed and to throw to him more. Every time they try that they make big plays. Dunbar might have fumbled in KC and in the preseason, but what, are you never going to get him the ball again? Retardation.