JJT: Complementary Romo is just fine

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,695
Complementary Romo is just fine

There's nothing wrong with the Cowboys' QB playing an altered role moving ahead

Updated: September 17, 2014, 1:53 PM ET
By Jean-Jacques Taylor | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- In the past couple of days, plenty of folks have provided a litany of reasons for why too many of Tony Romo's passes are fluttering and floating.

Footwork. Weight transfer. Body position. Leg strength.

Whatever.

If you've seen either of the first two games, and you've seen him play in the past, then you know Romo just doesn't look right. Don't listen to the rhetoric. Trust your eyes.

Common sense says Romo has been affected -- directly or indirectly -- by two back surgeries in the past year, which have either robbed him of arm strength, leg strength or the torque required to produce it.

Until Romo starts throwing the ball the way he used to throw it, then the $108 million quarterback, who's in the first year of a six-year contract extension, needs to be a complementary player.

Take a deep breath. Now, take another.

Don't go crazy grousing about how a $108 million quarterback isn't supposed to be a complementary player. An undrafted free agent, by that logic, should've never reached the point where he could sign a nine-digit contract.

For now, this is Romo's reality. He seems ready to accept it. You should too. This doesn't have to be forever, but it provides the Dallas Cowboys with the best way to win right now.

Hey, the league's best team has a complementary quarterback.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is a wonderful complementary player. Their offense revolves around Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin. Kansas City just signed Alex Smith to four-year, $68-million contract extension, and their offense revolves around Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.

Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles is a complementary player. The Eagles' offense is about LeSean McCoy and coach Chip Kelly's ability to create mismatches.

It's not an insult to be called a complementary quarterback. It just means the offense doesn't ask the quarterback to make every meaningful play the way New England asks Tom Brady, Green Bay asks Aaron Rodgers and Denver asks Peyton Manning.

It's not an ideal situation considering Romo is signed through 2019, but it's workable. Romo can still help the Cowboys win, but for now it's not prudent for him to be the focal point of the offense.

There's a danger to the style the Cowboys want to employ.

It shortens the game and puts a premium on capitalizing on opportunities. The Cowboys have four touchdowns in seven possessions inside their opponents' 20.

They must do better.

Otherwise, as we saw against Tennessee, leads disappear quickly. The Cowboys dominated the first 2½ quarters against Tennessee but led by only six points after a 62-yard catch and run by Delano Walker.

The Cowboys aren't afraid to play close games because kicker Dan Bailey has made 26 consecutive field goals and 72 of his past 76 attempts.

Romo's two best assets have always been his accuracy and ability to elude defenders, create time in the pocket and find receivers for big plays.

We've seen a season's worth of errant throws in the first two games and he has been sacked seven times. Against Tennessee, defensive end Jurrell Casey pressured him from the right side. Romo attempted to maneuver around Casey as he has done countless times in his career, but Casey closed quickly and snatched him down.

If Romo doesn't have the traits that made him so good over the years, the Cowboys must take advantage of a good offensive line and DeMarco Murray making a contract push.

It's a style the Cowboys wanted to use against San Francisco, but they fell behind 21-3 in the first quarter and Romo wound up throwing 37 passes. Against Tennessee, the Cowboys controlled the game from the start and Scott Linehan called 43 running plays.

But with the Cowboys leading 16-10 midway through the third quarter, Romo did his thing: He completed five passes to Dez Bryant for 57 yards and a touchdown on an 12-play, 80-yard drive, including a play that was vintage Romo.

He rolled right to avoid pressure, then passed on Witten in the flat and instead threw a low pass across his body to Bryant for an 18-yard gain on a third-and-15 play. A back shoulder fade to Bryant for a touchdown three plays later was equally nice.

See, Romo can make it happen here and there during a game. He just can't do it all of the time, so play-caller Linehan must pick his spots.

Then it was back to handing off the ball to Murray and Lance Dunbar, who combined for 17 carries on the Cowboys' final 21 plays.

"There will be games where I've got to play at a high level for us to win," Romo said, "and there will be games where we'll have the opportunity to do what we did and run the ball and do things.

"You've got a back like DeMarco Murray and a line that can pound in the running game, it gives you a chance. I like the way our team is heading."

But it hinges, for now, on Romo continuing to accept his role as a complementary player.
 

skidadl

El Presidente'
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2004
Messages
11,888
I've always contended that Romo could one of the best bus drivers ever if used properly.
 

jsmith6919

Honored Member - RIP
Joined
Aug 26, 2013
Messages
28,407
I've always contended that Romo could one of the best bus drivers ever if used properly.
I'd agree with this, if we would have concentrated on ol/defense instead of building all offense all these years he would have been great in a role like Wilson where he isn't asked to carry the team
 

skidadl

El Presidente'
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2004
Messages
11,888
I'd agree with this, if we would have concentrated on ol/defense instead of building all offense all these years he would have been great in a role like Wilson where he isn't asked to carry the team
Exactly. Good ol Jerry thinks he's P Manning, so here we are...
 

Clay_Allison

Old Bastard
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
5,488
I've always contended that Romo could one of the best bus drivers ever if used properly.
Like a smaller Ben Roethlisberger. Run the ball 30 times a game and let him create a few big plays off of play action.
 

jeebs

Brand New Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2013
Messages
670
It is sad to talk about what could have been.

I mean romo could make Keyshawn and Glenn look good. Give the fucking guy a run game and a defense.
 
Top Bottom