What to expect
From the Cowboy's Fanzone:
It seems the big stories around the NFL all involve QBs this week. The 'controversy' in Dallas, the situation in Washington, the troubles in Miami. The many fans on the Cowboys Fan Forum (http://blog.dallascowboys.com/forums/) that I help moderate also can't help but talk about the controversies. And with things how they are here in Dallas, can you blame them?
So it made me get to some thinking. What should we expect from Romo, his first half season as a starter? So many fans think he is the answer to all our problems, while many others believe it spells doom for the rest of the season. So let me bring some realism to you all with some facts and stats.
Let's start out with Brett Favre, since many have compared Romo to him. His first season as a starter, he managed a fairly well 18 TDs and 16 INTs with a rating of 85.3.. Not all too shabby I suppose.
Let's check out the first time starter stats for last year's number one overall choice, Alex Smith. 1 TD to 11 INTs and a QB rating of 40 in 7 games started. Ouch.
Let's try some NFC East QBs now. McNabb in his first 6 games as a starter, he completed 49 percent of his passes and threw 8TDs and 7INTs for a rating of 60.1. Brunell went 15TDs and 7 INTs for a rating of 82.6 in his first 10 games a starter, all coming his junior year in the league. Eli Manning threw 6TDs to 9INTs for a rating of 55.4 in his 7 games started as a rookie.
So, if you think about this all logically, you can come to one very simple conclusion. All first time starters have some troubles, but their level of troubles usually vary. In some situations, you have a QB learning to play in the NFL while on a team with poor protection, no recievers and a horrible defense that forces the young QB to throw more than he should.
In the case of Brunell, who sat and watched for 2 seasons, he had a good first year as a starter. Could it be from sitting and watching? We all know what it did for Carson Palmer.
No matter if you like Romo or not, you have to realize he may be something in this league or he may not - but he will have some struggles either way. But if you weigh his inexperience and inevitable struggles against his supporting cast of T.O., J. Jones, Witten and T.G., and the fact he has sat, watched and learned for 3 seasons, I begin to like the odds of Romo having a decent season.
How decent? Maybe Favre-ish first season starter decent. Will it translate into wins? Only time will tell. Am I correct with my prediction? Time will tell that, too.
Either way, there's that comparison again.
It seems the big stories around the NFL all involve QBs this week. The 'controversy' in Dallas, the situation in Washington, the troubles in Miami. The many fans on the Cowboys Fan Forum (http://blog.dallascowboys.com/forums/) that I help moderate also can't help but talk about the controversies. And with things how they are here in Dallas, can you blame them?
So it made me get to some thinking. What should we expect from Romo, his first half season as a starter? So many fans think he is the answer to all our problems, while many others believe it spells doom for the rest of the season. So let me bring some realism to you all with some facts and stats.
Let's start out with Brett Favre, since many have compared Romo to him. His first season as a starter, he managed a fairly well 18 TDs and 16 INTs with a rating of 85.3.. Not all too shabby I suppose.
Let's check out the first time starter stats for last year's number one overall choice, Alex Smith. 1 TD to 11 INTs and a QB rating of 40 in 7 games started. Ouch.
Let's try some NFC East QBs now. McNabb in his first 6 games as a starter, he completed 49 percent of his passes and threw 8TDs and 7INTs for a rating of 60.1. Brunell went 15TDs and 7 INTs for a rating of 82.6 in his first 10 games a starter, all coming his junior year in the league. Eli Manning threw 6TDs to 9INTs for a rating of 55.4 in his 7 games started as a rookie.
So, if you think about this all logically, you can come to one very simple conclusion. All first time starters have some troubles, but their level of troubles usually vary. In some situations, you have a QB learning to play in the NFL while on a team with poor protection, no recievers and a horrible defense that forces the young QB to throw more than he should.
In the case of Brunell, who sat and watched for 2 seasons, he had a good first year as a starter. Could it be from sitting and watching? We all know what it did for Carson Palmer.
No matter if you like Romo or not, you have to realize he may be something in this league or he may not - but he will have some struggles either way. But if you weigh his inexperience and inevitable struggles against his supporting cast of T.O., J. Jones, Witten and T.G., and the fact he has sat, watched and learned for 3 seasons, I begin to like the odds of Romo having a decent season.
How decent? Maybe Favre-ish first season starter decent. Will it translate into wins? Only time will tell. Am I correct with my prediction? Time will tell that, too.
Either way, there's that comparison again.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:27 PM
<< Home