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Gosselin: By NFL quarterbacking standards, Tony Romo has been darn near perfect
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
Published: 02 December 2013 09:55 PM
Updated: 02 December 2013 10:10 PM
I spent two seasons covering the Cowboys as a beat reporter for this newspaper in 1990 and 1991.
That was before the Cowboys became Super Bowl champions.
Before they became a dynasty.
Before Jerry Jones proclaimed himself a football savant.
I watched how Jimmy Johnson, who studied psychology in college, shaped the minds as well as bodies of the Cowboys in transforming them into champions.
A favorite Johnson axiom was one he’d unleash after a turnover by his offense on the steamy training camp fields of Austin.
“It’s not how many good plays you make,” Johnson would bellow to his troops, “it’s how many bad plays you don’t make.”
Translation: Make the other team beat you. Don’t beat yourself by giving away the football. Troy Aikman became Luke Skywalker to Johnson’s Yoda in that championship quest.
Johnson never coached Tony Romo — but Romo has become the embodiment of the old coach’s tenet this season.
Because of that, Romo has taken a giant stride in his development as a quarterback. At 33, he’s finally starting to figure it out. It’s not about compiling statistics — the “good” plays. It’s about managing games and positioning your team for victories — avoiding the “bad” plays.
These Cowboys are an average team. They have struggled to run the ball all season and been a punching bag on defense. This team has needed its quarterback to be darn near perfect in order to succeed.
And by NFL quarterbacking standards, Romo has been darn near perfect.
Romo has thrown only seven interceptions. Of the NFL’s 20 12-game starters at quarterback this season, only Alex Smith of Kansas City and Russell Wilson of Seattle (six apiece) had thrown fewer picks than Romo through Sunday.
Romo also has lost one fumble for a total of eight turnovers. Only Smith has fewer giveaways at the quarterback position with six. The NFL’s Big Three at the position — Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning — had eight, 10 and 15 turnovers respectively through Sunday.
Romo’s ball security has been a major reason the Cowboys are 7-5 and sitting atop the NFC East with four games to play. He seems more willing now to take a sack or throw the ball away rather than put a pass at risk. He’s making better decisions than I had seen from him. Older has made him wiser as an NFL quarterback.
Romo set franchise records with his 648 passes and 4,903 yards last season. He set another club record with nine 300-yard passing games. But all of those gaudy statistics could not get the Cowboys into the playoffs or send Romo to a Pro Bowl. That’s because Romo committed a career-worst 22 turnovers, including 19 interceptions.
His passes and yards are both way down this season. Romo has only three 300-yard passing games. In the past, that would have constituted a good month for the pass-happy Romo. But fewer throws have translated into fewer turnovers and smarter quarterback play.
Actually, Romo should have even fewer turnovers than he has.
Of his seven interceptions, one was a Hail Mary to Dez Bryant at the end of the first half of the Philadelphia game. Another was a pass that clanged off the hands of Bryant for a drop. Except it didn’t drop. It ricocheted into the hands of Giants safety Antrel Rolle for an interception.
Another interception was a pass intended for slot receiver Cole Beasley on a quick slant — but a Washington linemen got his hand on the ball to deflect it into those of Redskins linebacker Rob Jackson.
Three other interceptions were passes to rookies, wideout Terrence Williams and tight end Gavin Escobar. The more experienced they become, the more they’ll figure out that if they don’t catch the ball, it’s their job to prevent any defender from catching it.
The seventh interception was a bad throw by Romo — a pass behind running back Philip Tanner on a circle route that was picked off by Eagles linebacker Demeco Ryans.
Romo has fumbled the ball four times this season. Two were bobbled center snaps, and he recovered both times. The other two were strip sacks. Kansas City recovered one and the Cowboys the other, last Thursday against the Raiders.
Romo has been ultra-protective of the football this season. Maybe he’s put the days of his five- (Chicago, 2012), four- (Giants, 2012) and three-interception (Washington, 2012) games behind him.
If so, the Cowboys have a chance this month to accomplish something they have not done since 2009 — win an NFC East title. If so, Romo may be more deserving of a Pro Bowl invitation than any previous season when his arm was the story.
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
Published: 02 December 2013 09:55 PM
Updated: 02 December 2013 10:10 PM
I spent two seasons covering the Cowboys as a beat reporter for this newspaper in 1990 and 1991.
That was before the Cowboys became Super Bowl champions.
Before they became a dynasty.
Before Jerry Jones proclaimed himself a football savant.
I watched how Jimmy Johnson, who studied psychology in college, shaped the minds as well as bodies of the Cowboys in transforming them into champions.
A favorite Johnson axiom was one he’d unleash after a turnover by his offense on the steamy training camp fields of Austin.
“It’s not how many good plays you make,” Johnson would bellow to his troops, “it’s how many bad plays you don’t make.”
Translation: Make the other team beat you. Don’t beat yourself by giving away the football. Troy Aikman became Luke Skywalker to Johnson’s Yoda in that championship quest.
Johnson never coached Tony Romo — but Romo has become the embodiment of the old coach’s tenet this season.
Because of that, Romo has taken a giant stride in his development as a quarterback. At 33, he’s finally starting to figure it out. It’s not about compiling statistics — the “good” plays. It’s about managing games and positioning your team for victories — avoiding the “bad” plays.
These Cowboys are an average team. They have struggled to run the ball all season and been a punching bag on defense. This team has needed its quarterback to be darn near perfect in order to succeed.
And by NFL quarterbacking standards, Romo has been darn near perfect.
Romo has thrown only seven interceptions. Of the NFL’s 20 12-game starters at quarterback this season, only Alex Smith of Kansas City and Russell Wilson of Seattle (six apiece) had thrown fewer picks than Romo through Sunday.
Romo also has lost one fumble for a total of eight turnovers. Only Smith has fewer giveaways at the quarterback position with six. The NFL’s Big Three at the position — Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning — had eight, 10 and 15 turnovers respectively through Sunday.
Romo’s ball security has been a major reason the Cowboys are 7-5 and sitting atop the NFC East with four games to play. He seems more willing now to take a sack or throw the ball away rather than put a pass at risk. He’s making better decisions than I had seen from him. Older has made him wiser as an NFL quarterback.
Romo set franchise records with his 648 passes and 4,903 yards last season. He set another club record with nine 300-yard passing games. But all of those gaudy statistics could not get the Cowboys into the playoffs or send Romo to a Pro Bowl. That’s because Romo committed a career-worst 22 turnovers, including 19 interceptions.
His passes and yards are both way down this season. Romo has only three 300-yard passing games. In the past, that would have constituted a good month for the pass-happy Romo. But fewer throws have translated into fewer turnovers and smarter quarterback play.
Actually, Romo should have even fewer turnovers than he has.
Of his seven interceptions, one was a Hail Mary to Dez Bryant at the end of the first half of the Philadelphia game. Another was a pass that clanged off the hands of Bryant for a drop. Except it didn’t drop. It ricocheted into the hands of Giants safety Antrel Rolle for an interception.
Another interception was a pass intended for slot receiver Cole Beasley on a quick slant — but a Washington linemen got his hand on the ball to deflect it into those of Redskins linebacker Rob Jackson.
Three other interceptions were passes to rookies, wideout Terrence Williams and tight end Gavin Escobar. The more experienced they become, the more they’ll figure out that if they don’t catch the ball, it’s their job to prevent any defender from catching it.
The seventh interception was a bad throw by Romo — a pass behind running back Philip Tanner on a circle route that was picked off by Eagles linebacker Demeco Ryans.
Romo has fumbled the ball four times this season. Two were bobbled center snaps, and he recovered both times. The other two were strip sacks. Kansas City recovered one and the Cowboys the other, last Thursday against the Raiders.
Romo has been ultra-protective of the football this season. Maybe he’s put the days of his five- (Chicago, 2012), four- (Giants, 2012) and three-interception (Washington, 2012) games behind him.
If so, the Cowboys have a chance this month to accomplish something they have not done since 2009 — win an NFC East title. If so, Romo may be more deserving of a Pro Bowl invitation than any previous season when his arm was the story.
