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2011-2012 Regular Season: Are Cowboys
Captive On Romo Railway?
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- October
13, 2011
At 11:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Tony Romo has unintentionally teased
and tortured optimistic fans – through the first quarter of the
season – winning two very losable games and losing two very winnable
games.
Dallas Cowboys fans are still just finishing their slow climb out of
the pit of disbelief – into which the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions had
thrust them.
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- Detroit Lions fans are still pinching themselves with an unbeaten
record – after having escaped their much deeper pit of despair. They
are still looking over their collective shoulder – waiting for an
appeals court to revoke their unexpectedly good fortune, and
send them blubbering back to what had been the dour Lions’ den that
had defined Detroit for so many years.
Fans – of the Cowboys – feel betrayed by Romo. “In Tony we trust”
became “In Romo we show disgust.”
Prognosticators – from studio lifers to former players – are
simultaneously slamming and supporting Romo.
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- The Cowboys organization – from Jerry Jones to the coaching staff to
his teammates – is rallying around Romo.
A couple unsavory Skins – from different eras – have even joined the
player punishing party, vaulting vilifying verbal verticals at
Romo.
Satirical Skins
Whether active or retired, young or old, it matters not which player
is joining the “Rip Romo Fold.”
Current Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said “It’s so
good. It's amazing, amazing to watch him choke like that. It was
hilarious to watch him throw pick-sixes, too, back to back. I loved
it.”
Fooley, err, Cooley continued “But it wouldn’t be as good as my cage
fight. For me to beat Tony? I’m gonna’ be honest. I don’t know what
kind of cage fighting skills he has. I would probably try to
incorporate my wrestling ability, like when I was in high school.
Obviously it’s been a while, but I didn’t like to beat people fast.
I like to embarrass ‘em a little bit. Like, take a 24-point lead,
and then just play with it a little bit.”
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- It appears Cooley may still be attending high school and simply
plays for the Redskins on weekends and a few school nights here and
there.
Mike Shanahan was a big Tony Romo fan as head coach of the Denver
Broncos. Whether or not he remains so after taking the Redskins job,
he may eventually decide to tell Cooley to cool it with the bulletin
board material.
Shanahan was, in fact, quoted by several media outlets after a
recent practice as saying:
“We’re talking about our idiot back-up tight end or injury-prone
H-back – or whatever he is – who got liquored up and ran his mouth
off. The sad thing is he knows better. He knows better, but he's an
idiot, and we are the last team that wants to antagonize Tony
Romo and the Dallas Cowboys into finally waking up, straightening
out their problems, and bringing it to the rest of the division.”
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- Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann may be decades removed
from the Dallas-D.C. death matches, but he has never been shy about
sharing his opinion on another player from any era. He was recently
quoted as saying "Tony Romo continues to do things to hurt his
football team. He doesn't understand how to play the quarterback
position. Somebody had to say it, and I just said it.”
Theismann continued “Tony, you have to start proving to everyone you
understand football. You're doing things that Pop Warner kids would
get benched for."
Other much nearer and far dearer former players – Deion Sanders and
Drew Pearson among them – have also weighed in negatively on Romo.
Oddly enough, Theismann’s comments can ironically be interpreted as
the closest to challenging Romo to break out of his funk,
rather than fall further into one.
If there is one thing competitors – at any age and on any stage –
simply cannot stand, it is the sight of another skilled competitor
self-destructing and failing to seal a very achievable deal.
Theismann is still a great competitor in life after football and –
regardless of team affiliation – it is clear he would prefer to see
Romo grow up and correct himself or simply step aside, rather
than fail so miserably again.
Romo should be thinking “Competition is the mission. Theismann is
right but only for the moment, and I will be damned if I allow my
smarts to remain dormant.”
A Buddy Ryan Moment
Rob Ryan clearly has made it his mission on Earth to squeeze every
last drop of effort out of the Cowboys’ defense in every game for
which he coaches them and – while there is still plenty of room for
improvement – everyone who follows the NFL will agree Ryan’s
Roughnecks are headed in the right direction.
Ryan never utters an unhealthy word about the injured soldiers on
his squad. He has a track record of transforming what is into what
should be, and even more.
Ryan’s defensive dudes did their duties for most of the game –
keeping Detroit’s “Triplet Wannabes” more than reasonably in-check
until the bitter end.
Jason Garrett called all the right plays on offense – yes, even the
fourth down call at the Detroit 1-yard line early in the first half.
While you “never take points off the board (because you may need
them later)” in the NFL, you also have to be able to punch it in
from one yard out against – at most – an imperfect defense.
The Cowboys’ young offensive line will not always have the cushy
convenience of creating confidence between the 20’s without also
becoming remarkable in the red zone, but I digress.
Fans – many but not all – who follow the NFL beyond America’s Team
will recall the final game of the 1994 Houston Oilers’ season
against the New York Jets. Buddy Ryan was the Oilers’ defensive
coordinator and Kevin Gilbride was in charge of the offense.
There was no love lost between the two men – with Buddy’s disdain
for Gilbride’s “run and shoot” offense, calling it the “chuck
and duck.”
Ryan believed that game-ending offensive play calls of the more
conservative clock-killing variety – especially with the lead in
hand – would have spared him some unnecessary defensive injuries in
previous games.
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- Gilbride called for a pass – at the end of the first half – and QB
Cody Carlson fumbled the snap. Ryan ripped into Gilbride, who
responded in kind. When Ryan got close enough to the unsuspecting
offensive coordinator, Ryan punched Gilbride in the jaw. They were
separated before any further damage was done.
If head coach Jack Pardee had not preferred the run and shoot, Buddy
might not have felt so compelled to strangle Gilbride.
When “the way back machine” is returned to the current day, fans can
probably imagine a scenario in which Rob Ryan wanted (and still
wants) to punch out someone – but Romo, rather than Garrett, would
be the target of his potent paw.
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- Romo did his job for a little more than half the game – then
inexplicably instituted interceptions – and came up lame.
Ryan would have a righteous reason to ream Romo but – unless Tony is
suddenly spotted with a sizeable shiner – Ryan would appear to have
avoided the wrong road in his desperate desire to disembark
the Romo Railway.
Straighten Out The
Statistics
The first four games of Rob Ryan’s career with the Cowboys have been
far more productive than any Cowboys’ fan could have imagined –
taking nearly identical personnel that performed so poorly last
season, and converting them into organized chaos against the
competition.
If Ryan could hold the Cowboys’ offense accountable for any points
they hand deliver to their opponents, the defensive figures would be
even more impressive.
Fans should petition the NFL to create a new third category for
tracking points. There is PF (Points For), PA (Points Against), and
the new category would be called PG (Points Given AWAY).
PF and PA without PG is only a fair tracking mechanism if a
defensive coordinator and his players get to clock their own
quarterback – in order to take away the pain of “instant giveaways,”
but I digress back into the Buddy Ball Brawl.
The NFL needs to straighten out their statistics – separating truly
offensive offerings from point preventing performances – for the
sake of defensive dynamos around the league.
Run The Rock
Fans – of any football team in college or the NFL – always scream
bloody murder when that team has a lead and does not run the ball to
run down the clock and keep the opponent’s offense off the field.
Cowboys fans – some but not all – are under the impression it is
still the early 1990’s, when the Cowboys had massive and
mauling offensive linemen, a moose of a fullback, and an elusive but
powerful little running back who could collectively deliver decisive
yards at almost any time of the game, between the tackles or on
the perimeter.
Fans – some but not all – are under the impression Jason Garrett
should have spent the entire second half running the ball.
Fans – some but not all – are under the impression that a young,
athletic, and generally inexperienced offensive line is going to put
on a smash mouth performance and simply impose its will on an
opponent.
“What about Tony Fiammetta?” What about him? The Cowboys’ veteran
fullback – when healthy – is but one piece of the running game puzzle
that remains incomplete with Felix Jonesing for the return of a
solid shoulder. If the
offensive line cannot move the pile – and the lead runner does not
have that healing feeling – a Fiammetta and Felix freight
train could be a while.
The more realistic expectation for the offensive line – after four
games of gridlocked ground gains – is going three-and-out, punting,
tanking time of possession, rinse and repeat.
Fans – some but not all – have forgotten what a quick series of
three-and-outs can do to a defensive unit that is already playing
out of its mind and burning through its adrenaline.
The Cowboys’ offense was absolutely obligated to remain on the field
as long as possible – to give Rob Ryan’s defense a well-deserved
breather and to keep Stafford and Megatron firmly seated on the
sideline, twiddling their talented thumbs.
Fans – some but not all – understand that if the offense fails to
move the chains during those matter-of-fact running plays, it will
destroy a dynamic defense’s ability to remain dominant.
The loss of Gerald Sensabaugh to a concussion early in the second
quarter – and the value of his cornerback captaincy – was painful
and obvious. The already short-handed secondary was suddenly a step
slower and too short to mess with Megatron.
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- While running the rock to kill the
clock is a tried-and-true ability for some teams, it is a strange
concept for others, and an outright challenge for still others –
whether fans want to admit this fact or not.
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- Running the clock down – without the help of a fumbling clown –
requires a rusher that is a musher, a lead blocker that is anything
but a sweet talker, receivers who run routes like golden retrievers,
an offensive line with a stiff spine, and a QB with the awareness to
really see, before it can become a
game-winning reality.
A Derek Harper Moment
The Dallas Mavericks trailed the Los Angeles Lakers 2 games to 1 in
the 1984 NBA Western Conference semifinals. The Mavericks had a
chance to tie that series with 12 seconds to go in Game 4. Dallas’
starting point guard Derek Harper somehow thought they were ahead by
one point – and he dribbled out the clock on national television at
Reunion Arena to instead send the game into overtime, where the
Lakers won the game and, eventually, the series.
While Harper went on to redeem himself in many more playoff games,
he has never been allowed to live down such a big blunder.
Against the Lions, it was Felix Jones who apparently had no clue
about the down-and-distance or the remaining 11 seconds in the game
on fourth-and-20. Jones just juked his mind out of his melon when he
took a short pass from Romo and decided to hurry out of bounds after
just seven yards.
The Cowboys may have needed a touchdown to win the game, but no one
involved with getting the ball closer to the opponent’s end zone –
in that scenario – should ever be unaware of down-and-distance and
remaining time.
What if the Cowboys simply needed a field goal to tie the game?
Jones would be under much more scrutiny for such short-sighted
silliness.
Jones would not dare admit “Well, I was not going to make it
anyway,” and he would not dare admit “Well, the quality control
coach sent me out there without any knowledge of down, distance, or
time.” Jones should simply feign amnesia until the press stops
pressing him on his mental meltdown.
Everything . . . As A Team?
“We win as a team, and we lose as a team.”
Fans have heard a variation of this statement in almost every
professional sport.
Fans hear it come from owners, coaches, and players even at
times when an entire organization might be expected to say something
else, something like “What on Earth do we have to do to correct the
source of these mistakes?!”
“Winning and losing as a team” sounds nice and almost believable, as long as the team in question is mature enough to remain unified
no matter the challenge it must face, the mistakes it must absorb, and how often it must absorb them.
Truth be told, “Winning and losing as a team” is an excruciatingly
nice way of telling one or more misfiring players “We have your back
– for now – or until you royally screw us again.”
Quarterback – above all other gridiron roles on a football team at
any level – is the only position that simply cannot make full use of
“Winning and losing as a team.”
The QB is the field general in a deeper sense than most fans want to
admit. Everything he does makes or breaks the game plan for
everyone on the team.
If the QB drives the offense the length of the field for a
touchdown, he simultaneously takes it to the opposing defense while
keeping his own defense fresh and rested.
If the QB stalls a drive – whether by three-and-out, missed
assignment, or a turnover – at his own 30-yard line, he has given
the opposing offense good field position and put his own defense in
a tougher spot than necessary (assuming an average punt and limited
return yardage).
If the QB stalls a drive inside his own 10-yard line, he has given
the opposing offense excellent field position, put his own defense
in a much tougher spot than necessary, and encouraged the opposing
special teams unit to attempt a blocked punt.
If the QB stalls a drive inside the opponent’s 40-yard line, he has
created a headache for his head coach – forcing a decision between a
long field goal attempt (that may not reach its destination) and a
directional punt (which may hit the spot but bounce into the end
zone for a touchback).
While the defensive and special teams units have their own dimwitted
ways of distributing dismay, their collective effect on the team
concept is small compared to the perfectionist burden – fair or not
– placed on the QB (in this case, Tony Romo).
Romo – ideally – wants to score a touchdown on every series.
If he is confident, he expects to score a touchdown on every series.
If he is smart, he will score a touchdown on every series by
throwing to / handing off to his own teammates, rather than his
opponent. Romo did, after all, throw five touchdown passes in last
week’s disaster – three for Dallas and two for Detroit.
Romo is obligated – fair or not – to put his defensive and special
teams units in as positive a situation as possible, on top of
guiding his offensive teammates to one productive scoring drive
after another.
For as often as other quarterbacks are praised for threading the
needle – and for as often as Tony’s touch passes are touted – Romo
is ridiculed for lousing up the loom.
Jason Garrett cannot simply take away the loom in order to stop Romo
from threading the needle – as the loom happens to collectively be
his very own receivers.
What is more achievable? Is it more reasonable for receivers to run
royal routes – or is it better for Romo to position his passes where
only his receivers can retrieve them? What about broken plays where
refined routes are reduced to proactive pathways on Romo rollouts?
Not every receiver can fight for position like Michael Irvin. Not
every receiver can extend farther and jump higher like Randy Moss or
Calvin Johnson. While every receiver attempts to run his routes
better than (Jerry) Rice, the quarterback will always have more
command – or chaos if he is not careful – of his end of the
equation.
“Everyone in the free world” knows Garrett needs Romo to reduce his
risks, recognize the right reads, and realize a repeatedly reliable
range of red zone rewards, without making Romo into a robot.
Does Garrett put him through a scenario like that of “Office Space,”
where disgruntled data programmer Peter Gibbons (played by Ron
Livingston) is hypnotized by Dr. Swanson into a state of complete
relaxation?
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- No amount of pressure can truly
force you to throw an interception, when the most reliable receiver in the stadium is shadowing your every move all game long.
"What is the name of this fantastic set of hands?" Why, it is none
other than T.O! No, no, no – not Terrell Owens. That other
guy – buried at the bottom of the depth chart for his complete lack
of "divinity" or dramatic presence.
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- Fans know his name and his inhumanly
consistent game.
He is . . . Throwit Outofbounds!
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QB is the only player empowered the throw the ball out of bounds –
unless another player becomes the designated passer on a trick play.
Jason Witten is a great safety valve and security blanket to Romo, but he
does not hold a candle to that most dynamic of Dallas receivers this
season: Throwit Outofbounds!
If it looks risky and a defender is pesky, Romo needs to know he can
make that throw – or deposit the ball where no one else can go. "Out
of reach" and "out of bounds" are mutually exclusive, but I
digress.
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- A professional quarterback is responsible for his entire team when
he goes back to throw. His blossoming leadership skills and playbook
knowledge collectively control production, time of possession, field
position, and the (sustained) energy level of the entire team. One
mistake – fair or not – can vanquish clear victory.
Neither the Cowboys nor Romo want their opponents entering each game
with the belief they can simply wait for Tony Turnover to bail them
out.
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- The Cowboys – like all other NFL
teams – will "win and lose as a team" . . . sort of.
Overlooked &
Underappreciated?
Dan Bailey continues delivering his quality kicking.
David Buehler will eventually return from injury in time to train his titanic torque on
tons of terrific touchbacks.
While Dan and (to a much lesser degree) David may feel a bit
overlooked, they are certainly not underappreciated.
Fans can only continue to wait patiently for the "DB's" to finally
reteam and collectively connect crisply,
quietly, and confidently.
North Bay Notables
When most Cowboys fans think of Northern California, they think of
the hated San Francisco 49ers and – to a much lesser extent – the
Oakland Raiders.
Two of the most influential entities – in commercial technology and
professional sports – in Northern California history recently passed
away.
Steve Jobs and Al Davis were revolutionary in their respective
fields. Both men wanted to “Just Win, Baby,” all the time,
every time.
Outside of Adam and Eve's forbidden fruit, has there ever been
another piece of precious produce as well known, as admired, and as
satisfying as the Apple of Steve Jobs?
May his legacy live on in the magnificent mental master plan he has
left behind for everyone at Apple to follow again and again and
again.
The Tortured Cowboys Fan – who, like him, strives to make it
quality, make it right, and make it simple for so many rather than
so few – will miss him dearly. Steve Jobs, may you rest in
perfectionist peace.
While Al Davis will more recently be remembered for the failure of
his teams to achieve success, he will historically be remembered for
the great success his teams enjoyed.
The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” professional sports
league, and what used to be a year-over-year expectation of
improvement for some teams has become week-over-week for most. Al
Davis had been around for all of it – and conquered much of it.
It is amazing to see so many young fans of the NFL point out how
horrible the Raiders have been (until very recently) and how Al
Davis’ personnel decisions have been pungent for much of the past
decade, without any knowledge or comprehension of what Al Davis
and the Raiders brought to the NFL for so many years prior.
Al Davis – during a several decade-long run of success – was
involved in “the jocks and the socks” to a degree of which Jerry
Jones can only dream. Al Davis – from AFL Commissioner to team
owner to general manager to personnel expert to head coach to
multiple Super Bowl winner – had done it all.
There will never be another NFL owner quite like Al Davis ever
again. While the fraternity of NFL owners sees the world in black
and white, Al Davis always saw it in renegade black and silver.
Today’s NFL simply does not allow so much responsibility to reside
with just one person, and that one person will never be as
top-to-bottom capable and experienced as the original Raida’, Al
Davis.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The New York Giants lost their bid for a piece of first place, and
the Eagles have continued their downward spiral into the NFC East
cellar.
While fans want the Cowboys to earn their way to glory, there is
nothing wrong with America’s Team moving up to match the Giants,
possibly even reaching the Redskins at the top, and
moving further away from Philly's ground floor in the NFC East standings
this weekend.
Will the Cowboys be able to use a former Belichick buddy – in Rob
Ryan – to battle the Brady Bunch?
Will Rex relay to Rob what he learned in previously playing the
Patriots? Ryan revenge is righteous, no matter which brother is
bringing it to bear.
Will Dez Bryant and Miles Austin really return to the gridiron in
the same game – fully recovered and ready to receive a range of
receptions?
Will Laurent Robinson continue to bring it on – creating more
believers as the Cowboys’
heir apparent third receiver?
Will the Cowboys wave bye-bye to their bye week and say hello to a
healthy Miles Austin and Orlando Scandrick?
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- Will the Cowboys’ offense (finally)
be able to overrun and outrun the mushy middle of the Patriots’
defensive line – or will the Patriots man up and make life miserable
for Felix, Choice, and Murray in a hurry?
Will a complete (and healthy) collection of Cowboys cornerbacks and
a solid set of safeties be
enough to wallop Welker, break Branch, overtake Ochocinco, and take
down two terrific tight ends?
Will Ryan’s big bullies be enough to bring down Brady in and his
budding backfield buddies?
Will Tony Romo try to redirect and railroad the Patriots’ secondary?
Will the Cowboys perform on par with the Patriots, be thorough in
Foxboro, and begin to
win again?
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- Will there be any added pressure on
the Cowboys if they wake up Sunday morning to hear the Texas Rangers
are returning to the World Series for the second straight year?
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- Will the Cowboys remain a captive of
the Romo Railway?
We shall see. We always do.
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