MySA.COM: Romo aims to improve sans T.O.
By Tom Orsborn - Express-News
CARROLLTON — Tony Romo hasn't changed much this offseason.
He still wears his baseball cap backward. His comments to the media are still sprinkled generously with platitudes. He still devotes several hours a day to football.
“Tony Romo is pretty consistent,” Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. “He's a lot like John Elway was, Jim Kelly, the great ones I've been around. They work hard in the offseason. They have a desire to keep getting better. He's the same kind of guy.”
But after the Cowboys' first full-team offseason practice Tuesday, Romo found himself fielding questions about something that is different — a Dallas offense that no longer includes the explosive Terrell Owens.
In his first extended interview with reporters since Philadelphia thrashed the Cowboys 44-6 in the 2008 regular-season finale, the quarterback said he had nothing to do with Owens' release and was unaware that owner Jerry Jones said the move was designed to make the offense “Romo friendly.”
“Management decides those things,” Romo said of Owens' release. “... We have to go with the guys we have here now, go forward and keep improving.”
Whether the Cowboys can do that depends in large part on whether Romo develops chemistry with Roy Williams, who is replacing Owens as the No. 1 receiver after catching only 19 passes in 10 games last season.
During seven-on-seven drills in the no-pads practice, Romo struggled to connect with Williams, mainly because the defense shadowed the former Texas star. Their best play came when Romo rolled right and fired a strike to Williams, who shook Terence Newman with a comeback route.
“He really made an emphasis to try to come in in great shape, to get stronger, and it's exciting to see him,” Romo said of Williams. “He had a great first day. I think you guys saw some of the routes he ran, and they were pretty good. I'm excited to see him keep progressing and see where this can go.”
Romo suggested Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd must also do their part to make up for the loss of Owens, who had three-straight 1,000-yard seasons and 38 touchdown catches for Dallas.
“It's always difficult to replace someone who's been the dominant player he's been over the years,” Romo said of Owens. “But guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Guys are working hard, I know that. Whether they're going to do it, we're going to find out. But I definitely have confidence in the young guys to step up.”
One thing is certain: Romo won't have to listen to Owens accuse him of favoring Jason Witten like he did last season. Fittingly, Romo's first pass in seven-on-seven drills went to the Pro Bowl tight end.
Still, Romo isn't exactly free of Owens. If the offense falters, Romo will likely be blamed, just like he was last season when the team slumped once again in December.
So does he feel the pressure?
“There is no more or less (pressure) than any other year,” Romo said. “It's always, ‘You've got to win the Super Bowl this year.' Our approach is a little different in that we are going to be better today. All we can do is control today.
“That's what the Dallas Cowboys are going forward (with) from now on. We aren't going to sit here and talk about what's tomorrow and those things. All we can control is right now, and that's what this team is doing.”
CARROLLTON — Tony Romo hasn't changed much this offseason.
He still wears his baseball cap backward. His comments to the media are still sprinkled generously with platitudes. He still devotes several hours a day to football.
“Tony Romo is pretty consistent,” Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. “He's a lot like John Elway was, Jim Kelly, the great ones I've been around. They work hard in the offseason. They have a desire to keep getting better. He's the same kind of guy.”
But after the Cowboys' first full-team offseason practice Tuesday, Romo found himself fielding questions about something that is different — a Dallas offense that no longer includes the explosive Terrell Owens.
In his first extended interview with reporters since Philadelphia thrashed the Cowboys 44-6 in the 2008 regular-season finale, the quarterback said he had nothing to do with Owens' release and was unaware that owner Jerry Jones said the move was designed to make the offense “Romo friendly.”
“Management decides those things,” Romo said of Owens' release. “... We have to go with the guys we have here now, go forward and keep improving.”
Whether the Cowboys can do that depends in large part on whether Romo develops chemistry with Roy Williams, who is replacing Owens as the No. 1 receiver after catching only 19 passes in 10 games last season.
During seven-on-seven drills in the no-pads practice, Romo struggled to connect with Williams, mainly because the defense shadowed the former Texas star. Their best play came when Romo rolled right and fired a strike to Williams, who shook Terence Newman with a comeback route.
“He really made an emphasis to try to come in in great shape, to get stronger, and it's exciting to see him,” Romo said of Williams. “He had a great first day. I think you guys saw some of the routes he ran, and they were pretty good. I'm excited to see him keep progressing and see where this can go.”
Romo suggested Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd must also do their part to make up for the loss of Owens, who had three-straight 1,000-yard seasons and 38 touchdown catches for Dallas.
“It's always difficult to replace someone who's been the dominant player he's been over the years,” Romo said of Owens. “But guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Guys are working hard, I know that. Whether they're going to do it, we're going to find out. But I definitely have confidence in the young guys to step up.”
One thing is certain: Romo won't have to listen to Owens accuse him of favoring Jason Witten like he did last season. Fittingly, Romo's first pass in seven-on-seven drills went to the Pro Bowl tight end.
Still, Romo isn't exactly free of Owens. If the offense falters, Romo will likely be blamed, just like he was last season when the team slumped once again in December.
So does he feel the pressure?
“There is no more or less (pressure) than any other year,” Romo said. “It's always, ‘You've got to win the Super Bowl this year.' Our approach is a little different in that we are going to be better today. All we can do is control today.
“That's what the Dallas Cowboys are going forward (with) from now on. We aren't going to sit here and talk about what's tomorrow and those things. All we can control is right now, and that's what this team is doing.”
posted by The Gryphon at 6:10 PM
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