Romo justifying Cowboys' faith
Backup quarterback settles in after shaky start at Seattle
01:05 AM CDT on Sunday, August 13, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
SEATTLE - Backup quarterback Tony Romo's first drive Saturday night against Seattle was a disaster.
He spent the rest of the game showing why coach Bill Parcells is giving him an opportunity this preseason to determine where he fits into the Cowboys' long-term quarterback hierarchy.
Romo, who played the entire game, completed 19 of 25 passes – three were dropped - for 235 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys beat Seattle, 13-3, before a crowd of 66,304 at Qwest Field.
"He fumbled two snaps. You can't do that," said Parcells, who revealed he had never used just one starter in a preseason game. "Other than that, he put a 15-play drive together. He made a couple of good back-shoulder throws, and he moved around well in the pocket."
The Cowboys' starting offense was missing only receiver Terrell Owens (strained left hamstring) and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who took the night off so Romo could play extensively.
The Cowboys spent the first series seemingly battling nerves as rookie free agent receiver Sam Hurd dropped Romo's first pass and tight end Anthony Fasano, a second-round pick, dropped his second on third down.
In between, Romo fumbled a snap.
"He had a lot of tough luck to start the game," said owner Jerry Jones, "but I liked the way he came back from it and handled it."
Romo and the Cowboys were a lot more efficient on their second drive against a Seattle defense missing three starters.
He completed each of his eight passes on a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took 10:12 off the clock. In the process, the Cowboys overcame 1st-and-25 when Romo completed a nine-yard pass to tight end Jason Witten on third down, moving the ball to the Seattle 34.
Three plays later, Romo showed the imagination and athleticism that convinced the Cowboys to give him a two-year contract extension before the 2005 season.
Feeling pressure, Romo stepped up in the pocket and was about to run when Hurd came open on a crossing route. He side-armed a pass to Hurd, who made a juggling catch and gained 15 yards before being pulled down at the Seattle 13.
Romo capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton, who was tightly covered in the end zone.
In the second quarter, Romo led Dallas on a 12-play, 81-yard drive that took 6:27 off the clock. In the third quarter, he directed a 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 5:28.
Both drives ended with field goals.
"It took me a couple of years, but I've learned to train my mind so the game isn't any different than practice," Romo said. "The speed might be a little faster, but everything else is the same. If you do that, then the game doesn't become too big."
Romo, an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois, has not thrown a regular-season pass in his first three seasons.
Most owners and coaches don't turn the offense over to a quarterback without the pedigree of being a high draft choice or playing at one of the BCS schools. Romo, though, has earned the Cowboys' confidence by improving each season.
Jones and Parcells believe he can play in the NFL.
Now, as Romo gets ready to enter free agency – the Cowboys already are negotiating a long-term contract with his agent, Dallas must determine whether he's more equipped to be a backup or a starter. That's what probably will be determined this preseason because it's unlikely Romo will play much, if at all, in the regular season unless Bledsoe gets hurt.
If the Cowboys are getting blown out, Parcells is likely to keep Bledsoe in the game because he likes to say the quarterback should go down with the ship. And it's hard to figure out what Parcells believes is a big enough lead to get Romo some meaningful playing time in a blowout victory.
Last preseason, Romo took a significant step ahead of third-string quarterback Drew Henson. Romo completed 23 of 37 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. More important, he did not throw an interception.
He showed his continued growth against Seattle.
Romo made strong, accurate throws and gave his receivers an opportunity to run after the catch by hitting them in stride. He did not force the ball into coverage and threw one pass away under duress, a sign of maturity he has not always displayed.
And he showed touch on a 32-yard completion to Crayton, when he lofted the ball and dropped it on the receiver's outside shoulder – the only place where the defender couldn't deflect it.
"He played about how I expected him to play," Bledsoe said. "He threw the ball extremely well, he managed the game well and he moved the team.
"It sounded good in theory, when they told me I wasn't going to play this week but it was tough. I'll be ready to rock and roll next week."
There is no competition for the starting job.
Bledsoe remains the player Jones and Parcells believe is best equipped to lead this franchise to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Now, though, the Cowboys don't believe the season is over if Bledsoe has to miss significant time because of injury.
Romo is making them a believer.
01:05 AM CDT on Sunday, August 13, 2006
By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR / The Dallas Morning News
SEATTLE - Backup quarterback Tony Romo's first drive Saturday night against Seattle was a disaster.
He spent the rest of the game showing why coach Bill Parcells is giving him an opportunity this preseason to determine where he fits into the Cowboys' long-term quarterback hierarchy.
Romo, who played the entire game, completed 19 of 25 passes – three were dropped - for 235 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys beat Seattle, 13-3, before a crowd of 66,304 at Qwest Field.
"He fumbled two snaps. You can't do that," said Parcells, who revealed he had never used just one starter in a preseason game. "Other than that, he put a 15-play drive together. He made a couple of good back-shoulder throws, and he moved around well in the pocket."
The Cowboys' starting offense was missing only receiver Terrell Owens (strained left hamstring) and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who took the night off so Romo could play extensively.
The Cowboys spent the first series seemingly battling nerves as rookie free agent receiver Sam Hurd dropped Romo's first pass and tight end Anthony Fasano, a second-round pick, dropped his second on third down.
In between, Romo fumbled a snap.
"He had a lot of tough luck to start the game," said owner Jerry Jones, "but I liked the way he came back from it and handled it."
Romo and the Cowboys were a lot more efficient on their second drive against a Seattle defense missing three starters.
He completed each of his eight passes on a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took 10:12 off the clock. In the process, the Cowboys overcame 1st-and-25 when Romo completed a nine-yard pass to tight end Jason Witten on third down, moving the ball to the Seattle 34.
Three plays later, Romo showed the imagination and athleticism that convinced the Cowboys to give him a two-year contract extension before the 2005 season.
Feeling pressure, Romo stepped up in the pocket and was about to run when Hurd came open on a crossing route. He side-armed a pass to Hurd, who made a juggling catch and gained 15 yards before being pulled down at the Seattle 13.
Romo capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton, who was tightly covered in the end zone.
In the second quarter, Romo led Dallas on a 12-play, 81-yard drive that took 6:27 off the clock. In the third quarter, he directed a 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 5:28.
Both drives ended with field goals.
"It took me a couple of years, but I've learned to train my mind so the game isn't any different than practice," Romo said. "The speed might be a little faster, but everything else is the same. If you do that, then the game doesn't become too big."
Romo, an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois, has not thrown a regular-season pass in his first three seasons.
Most owners and coaches don't turn the offense over to a quarterback without the pedigree of being a high draft choice or playing at one of the BCS schools. Romo, though, has earned the Cowboys' confidence by improving each season.
Jones and Parcells believe he can play in the NFL.
Now, as Romo gets ready to enter free agency – the Cowboys already are negotiating a long-term contract with his agent, Dallas must determine whether he's more equipped to be a backup or a starter. That's what probably will be determined this preseason because it's unlikely Romo will play much, if at all, in the regular season unless Bledsoe gets hurt.
If the Cowboys are getting blown out, Parcells is likely to keep Bledsoe in the game because he likes to say the quarterback should go down with the ship. And it's hard to figure out what Parcells believes is a big enough lead to get Romo some meaningful playing time in a blowout victory.
Last preseason, Romo took a significant step ahead of third-string quarterback Drew Henson. Romo completed 23 of 37 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. More important, he did not throw an interception.
He showed his continued growth against Seattle.
Romo made strong, accurate throws and gave his receivers an opportunity to run after the catch by hitting them in stride. He did not force the ball into coverage and threw one pass away under duress, a sign of maturity he has not always displayed.
And he showed touch on a 32-yard completion to Crayton, when he lofted the ball and dropped it on the receiver's outside shoulder – the only place where the defender couldn't deflect it.
"He played about how I expected him to play," Bledsoe said. "He threw the ball extremely well, he managed the game well and he moved the team.
"It sounded good in theory, when they told me I wasn't going to play this week but it was tough. I'll be ready to rock and roll next week."
There is no competition for the starting job.
Bledsoe remains the player Jones and Parcells believe is best equipped to lead this franchise to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. Now, though, the Cowboys don't believe the season is over if Bledsoe has to miss significant time because of injury.
Romo is making them a believer.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:24 AM
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