NFC East Q&A: Is Romo-to-Bryant scarier than the Cowboys' offensive line?

NFC East Q&A: Is Romo-to-Bryant scarier than the Cowboys' offensive line?

Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

Today's question: What does your team fear more: the Tony Romo-to-Dez Bryant connection or the Dallas Cowboys' offensive line?

Dan Graziano: The Giants have plenty of respect for the Cowboys’ offensive line and its importance to Romo’s success, but Romo is the one who haunts their nightmares. The Giants have lost five consecutive games to Romo. (He didn’t play in the second game between the two teams last season.) It seems he usually finds a way to rip their hearts out late. After last year’s Week 1 loss, then-Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara said he was going to create a web series called “I Hate Tony Romo” because of all the times they haven’t been able to stop him when it counts. The Romo/Bryant combo is bad news for the Giants’ defense if both of those guys are healthy. New York hasn’t been able to find a way to beat them since 2012.

Phil Sheridan: That offensive line is a serious force and allows the Cowboys to do so much offensively. But I’d still say Romo-to-Bryant has to be the biggest concern for an Eagles defense that finished 28th against the pass last year and has a cloudy situation at cornerback this year. Of course, the Eagles’ focus this season is on turning their defense into an aggressive, disruptive unit. Coordinator Jim Schwartz is all about getting to the quarterback, and his wide-9 alignment can be vulnerable to the run. So the Cowboys create a pick-your-poison scenario that will challenge every defense they face.

John Keim: Can we say all of the above? I do know there were some at Redskins Park who were disappointed when Dallas took Ezekiel Elliott in the first round, and it goes back to the offensive line and Romo. I thought one offensive coach might be happy they didn’t go defense, but he was not. Why? Because the feeling was Elliott’s impact behind that line could be big, allowing the Cowboys to play like they did two years ago. Keep in mind that in his past five games against Washington, Bryant has a combined 19 catches for 300 yards and four touchdowns. Also, the Redskins like their starting corners -- Bashaud Breeland and Josh Norman -- against Bryant. They’ll have a tougher time against that line if Elliott gets motoring.

All I know is that the only things that can stop our offense are injuries and idiocy from our coaching staff. From a personnel standpoint what we have is nearly perfect.

It all starts with the OL of course, which has the potential to be an all-time unit. We have probably 2 future HOF'ers on the line, maybe 3 depending on circumstances and overall we have 4 Pro Bowl/All Pro caliber OL that are all young. This is the foundation for everything else.

Then you have one of the best WR's in the league in Dez, a group of RB's that are one of the best in the league, a TE who is declining physically but still a borderline Pro Bowler and a QB who when healthy is in the top 5-10 in the league. Beyond that you have guys like Williams and Beasley who are nothing special on their own but within the context of the rest of the offense they create problems for defenses with their speed in Williams' case and route running/ability to separate quickly in Beasley.

You never know what could happen in a given game as far as turnovers, not converting red zone opportunities into TD's, etc., but injuries aside there isn't another offense I'd take over ours in the league.

Simpleton said:

All I know is that the only things that can stop our offense are injuries and idiocy from our coaching staff. From a personnel standpoint what we have is nearly perfect.

It all starts with the OL of course, which has the potential to be an all-time unit. We have probably 2 future HOF'ers on the line, maybe 3 depending on circumstances and overall we have 4 Pro Bowl/All Pro caliber OL that are all young. This is the foundation for everything else.

Then you have one of the best WR's in the league in Dez, a group of RB's that are one of the best in the league, a TE who is declining physically but still a borderline Pro Bowler and a QB who when healthy is in the top 5-10 in the league. Beyond that you have guys like Williams and Beasley who are nothing special on their own but within the context of the rest of the offense they create problems for defenses with their speed in Williams' case and route running/ability to separate quickly in Beasley.

You never know what could happen in a given game as far as turnovers, not converting red zone opportunities into TD's, etc., but injuries aside there isn't another offense I'd take over ours in the league.

Click to expand...

Pretty much sums it up.