NFL: Romo's ability to dance away from trouble and into big plays aids Cowboys
Tom Orsborn
San Antonio Express-News
Tony Romo being Tony Romo, he had to crack wise when asked to explain his uncanny ability to dodge defenders and make plays downfield.
"I mean, it's obvious I'm a premier athlete in this league," said Romo, who delivered the line with a straight face but punctuated it with his trademark devilish grin.
Funny stuff. But defensive coordinators for teams on the Dallas Cowboys' schedule aren't smiling.
"As a guy who has talked to a lot of defensive coordinators over the years," said former NFL quarterback-turned-CBS analyst Rich Gannon, "I can tell you facing an elusive quarterback like Tony Romo is a thing that absolutely drives them crazy.
"I did the Bills-Patriots game last week, and all the Patriots' defensive coaches were telling their guys was, 'Don't let J.P. Losman get out of the pocket and make plays.'"
But Romo's ability to deliver the ball on the move is far superior to Losman and perhaps all of the league's other quarterbacks. Just ask the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears, teams with outstanding pass rushers that have fallen victim this season to Romo's talent for slipping away from pressure to make plays.
"What was most impressive was the way he avoided our blitzes and got the ball off," Bears coach Lovie Smith said after Romo led the Cowboys (3-0) to a 34-10 victory Sunday at Soldier Field. "He scrambled in the pocket well, and not just scrambling to run, but scrambling to buy time to find his receivers."
Said Bears defensive end Alex Brown: "We just couldn't get him on the ground."
Like a cat in a dog-infested neighborhood, Romo's antenna for trouble is always humming. And with a crafty slip of the hip or a duck-and-dodge move, he leaves defenders clutching at air.
"He's our magic man," linebacker Bradie James said.
Other quarterbacks are just as mobile, but few match Romo's ability to find receivers on the run.
"That's what really amazes me," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "A lot of guys, they can get away from people, but they don't see what's going on downfield."
It's an astonishing skill to find in a quarterback with only 13 regular-season starts, Gannon says.
"Early in my career, I would scramble and it was always run first, throw second," said Gannon, who rushed for 2,454 yards and 21 touchdowns in 16 seasons. "But as you get more mature and have more experience, you realize that instead of running for 10 yards, you can make a guy miss, get out of the pocket and pick up 50 by hitting a receiver. Tony already does that."
So what's the secret to being an artful dodger?
"I think you're just kind of born with it," Romo said. "Either you can do it or you can't."
But Romo said it would be a lot tougher if defenders weren't so hell bent on sacking him.
"They get consumed when they see you with the football," Romo said. "If they were one on one with the running back, they would attack with a wary approach. With the quarterback, they're going after you. You can use that against them."
Romo wasn't considered a great athlete while at Eastern Illinois, but the ability to cover 40 yards in 4.4 seconds doesn't guarantee outstanding awareness in the pocket. A quick release and the ability to scan the field can make up for a lack of Michael Vick-like moves.
Joe Montana and Dan Marino fit into that category. Ditto for Ken Stabler, who led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in the 1970s and joined the Houston Oilers in 1980, Phillips' last year as an assistant with the team.
"Stabler was the one I was around who could see everything," Phillips said. "A cornerback would fall down, and he would throw the ball to that receiver, even though he wasn't supposed to.
"Tony reminds me a little bit of Stabler that way. He has a really quick release."
Romo's elusiveness is a big reason why the Cowboys lead the league with 116 points and have the No. 2 offense.
The offense also benefits from Terrell Owens' experience with scrambling quarterbacks, having played with Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb.
When plays break down, Owens is quick to break off his route and wave at Romo.
"We're just trying to take advantage of the opportunities," Owens said. "Every play is not going to go as designed. Sometimes Tony is going to have to make plays with his feet."
And that's just fine with the Cowboys.
"The more I'm around the kid, the more I realize how special he is," Owens said. "The sky's the limit for him."
San Antonio Express-News
Tony Romo being Tony Romo, he had to crack wise when asked to explain his uncanny ability to dodge defenders and make plays downfield.
"I mean, it's obvious I'm a premier athlete in this league," said Romo, who delivered the line with a straight face but punctuated it with his trademark devilish grin.
Funny stuff. But defensive coordinators for teams on the Dallas Cowboys' schedule aren't smiling.
"As a guy who has talked to a lot of defensive coordinators over the years," said former NFL quarterback-turned-CBS analyst Rich Gannon, "I can tell you facing an elusive quarterback like Tony Romo is a thing that absolutely drives them crazy.
"I did the Bills-Patriots game last week, and all the Patriots' defensive coaches were telling their guys was, 'Don't let J.P. Losman get out of the pocket and make plays.'"
But Romo's ability to deliver the ball on the move is far superior to Losman and perhaps all of the league's other quarterbacks. Just ask the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears, teams with outstanding pass rushers that have fallen victim this season to Romo's talent for slipping away from pressure to make plays.
"What was most impressive was the way he avoided our blitzes and got the ball off," Bears coach Lovie Smith said after Romo led the Cowboys (3-0) to a 34-10 victory Sunday at Soldier Field. "He scrambled in the pocket well, and not just scrambling to run, but scrambling to buy time to find his receivers."
Said Bears defensive end Alex Brown: "We just couldn't get him on the ground."
Like a cat in a dog-infested neighborhood, Romo's antenna for trouble is always humming. And with a crafty slip of the hip or a duck-and-dodge move, he leaves defenders clutching at air.
"He's our magic man," linebacker Bradie James said.
Other quarterbacks are just as mobile, but few match Romo's ability to find receivers on the run.
"That's what really amazes me," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. "A lot of guys, they can get away from people, but they don't see what's going on downfield."
It's an astonishing skill to find in a quarterback with only 13 regular-season starts, Gannon says.
"Early in my career, I would scramble and it was always run first, throw second," said Gannon, who rushed for 2,454 yards and 21 touchdowns in 16 seasons. "But as you get more mature and have more experience, you realize that instead of running for 10 yards, you can make a guy miss, get out of the pocket and pick up 50 by hitting a receiver. Tony already does that."
So what's the secret to being an artful dodger?
"I think you're just kind of born with it," Romo said. "Either you can do it or you can't."
But Romo said it would be a lot tougher if defenders weren't so hell bent on sacking him.
"They get consumed when they see you with the football," Romo said. "If they were one on one with the running back, they would attack with a wary approach. With the quarterback, they're going after you. You can use that against them."
Romo wasn't considered a great athlete while at Eastern Illinois, but the ability to cover 40 yards in 4.4 seconds doesn't guarantee outstanding awareness in the pocket. A quick release and the ability to scan the field can make up for a lack of Michael Vick-like moves.
Joe Montana and Dan Marino fit into that category. Ditto for Ken Stabler, who led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory in the 1970s and joined the Houston Oilers in 1980, Phillips' last year as an assistant with the team.
"Stabler was the one I was around who could see everything," Phillips said. "A cornerback would fall down, and he would throw the ball to that receiver, even though he wasn't supposed to.
"Tony reminds me a little bit of Stabler that way. He has a really quick release."
Romo's elusiveness is a big reason why the Cowboys lead the league with 116 points and have the No. 2 offense.
The offense also benefits from Terrell Owens' experience with scrambling quarterbacks, having played with Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb.
When plays break down, Owens is quick to break off his route and wave at Romo.
"We're just trying to take advantage of the opportunities," Owens said. "Every play is not going to go as designed. Sometimes Tony is going to have to make plays with his feet."
And that's just fine with the Cowboys.
"The more I'm around the kid, the more I realize how special he is," Owens said. "The sky's the limit for him."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:01 AM
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