SPORTSDAY

Posted by dave j @ 1:36 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

We all say how good a call that was, but how would we have reacted if the pass was incomplete?

At this point, my onmyl concern about Jason Garrett is what will happen later in the season once teams get film on him and learn his tendencies.

Posted by Tim @ 2:20 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Why does everyone always worry about teams learning our "tendencies"? Good coaches/coordinators will find ways to add/remove plays throughout the season. It's called adjusting! I doubt that Garrett's playbook is only 2 pages or 2 games worth. I don't think it is going to be as predictable as our defense was last year. If Ware wasn't coming, no one was.

That deep ball from Romo to T.O. was chemistry and that is something that teams cannot game plan for and will not see on film.

I think Garrett has been pretty dynamic in his play calling so far, but it will only get better as the season continues.

Posted by Mike @ 3:12 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I don't know, dave, but they probably would have reacted in a disappointing fashion if Romo threw the pass with the CB sitting on the route like he was!

I don't think this was the ESP they are saying. This was a WR option that both the WR and QB knew to look for ahead of time. If this, then this. If that, then that. It's not a brain-buster.

Posted by Andrew @ 4:04 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I gotta admit ... when I see T.O. say stuff like that, my mouth spreads into a very teethy grin. I have big hopes for the offense this season ... should be a tough game against Chitown, but I believe Big D can pull through.

Posted by Maverick @ 5:33 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Simply beautiful, man.....outstanding. Think I'm going to cry.

Posted by Kustie the Klown @ 6:31 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Mark my words:

The T.O. acquisition will someday be seen as one of the 2 or 3 greatest personnel moves in the illustrious history of the Dallas Cowboys.

If he keeps this up for 2-3 more seasons, we are talking Ring of Honor.

I've loved what T.O. has brought to the Cowboys from Day One. Even at the time of his suspension from the Eagles I believed it was the OBVIOUS move for the Cowboys to sign him. His tenure with the Boys has been and will be the PERFECT, storybook tale of redemption for his latter day disrespecting of the star.

T.O. is now officially a "Cowboy". And Romo is the quarterback T.O. has been searching for his entire life, that his superior and unique talents DEMAND. they are PERFECT together, and the Cowboys are blessed to have them at this point in time.

Enjoy it, fellow Cowboys fans, we are in for a special ride.

Posted by chris @ 6:39 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE??? WHERE IS DEMARCUS WARE???

AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!! AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST STATEMENT GAME OF THE LAST 5 YEARS, NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT!!!!!

Posted by scott @ 6:44 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

You can't get film on when players do things like that and improvise thats why its hard to stop. Its not like we are throwing a swing pass to reggie bush every play, haaaaa they are 0-2.

Posted by Michael @ 6:51 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Why be concerned? Teams already have film of the offense (probably more than we know). The game is a constant match of move, counter-move. The offense will be fine because the team has good personnel. If we were still stuck with the likes of Chad Hutchinson, Billy Davis, Troy Hambrick, Mike Lucky, etc., Garrett wouldn't look so smart.

It's about the players, not the coaches.

Posted by Bill in DC @ 7:03 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Dave,

Given that this was not the play call by Garrett but improvization by Romo/TO, I don't see how getting Garrett's 'tendencies' will help opposing defenses.

Miami had the play called by Garrett covered with the corner sitting on the pattern Garrett called.

This play reminds me of watching Unitas signal his WR to go right when a CB had good coverage. The CB moved in the direction the QB signaled and Unitas completed a TD to the WR who went the opposite way. That kind of communication between QB and WR cannot be defensed by knowing 'tendencies'. This is similar.

Posted by Matt Causey @ 7:22 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Hopefully dave j, he's so new at this play calling that he won't have any TRUE tendencies on film until next year because he's still learning which calls he likes in certain situations. But I agree with you on both points, Garrett's play calls have all worked so far......let's hope they keep working with no glaring tendencies showing up!

Posted by Bob @ 7:43 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Most of us who have been football fans for a long time would have still called it a "good call" even if it was incomplete. We mostly understand that not all good calls are completions. And why would we worry about later in the season when teams watch the films. That happens every year to every team, nothing new there. A good play caller will be able to adjust in each game as to what will work and what won't, and proceed from there. And Garrett has already shown that ability.

Posted by Rev D lux @ 7:48 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

What will happen??????? THere are 31 other offensive coordinators that have "game film" on them and 31 defensive coordinators that "know their tendencies" I think we sometimes think too much

Posted by Scott @ 7:55 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

This just makes me miss the old days of football when you could trust that your players were there to stay. This made possible such combinations as Aikman and Irvin, Montana/Young and Rice. Do I dare to think the combination of Romo and Owens could be as deadly? Just don't pinch me because I don't want to wake up.

Posted by Mark @ 8:42 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Hmmm. It doesn't matter if the opponents think they can key off on Garret. People see the films of the Patriots and Colts - where does it get them. The players have to execute the plays that are called.

Everyone knows Hester can return punts, they have to be able to stop him.

Film shows tendencies, but it won't make the play for you. You may know Randy Moss is coming your way, and have the defense ready, but if you can't stop him, so what.

If T.O. and Romo can develop something like Brady and Moss, they will be very dangerous, and it won't matter what the defense knows.

How do you think the Saints beat us so bad last year?

Posted by Matt @ 8:43 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Dave j,

It wasn't incomplete so until it is just enjoy it for what it is, a great play. In the NFL things will eventually not go your way so enjoy the good times while you can. All calls are good if they work and bad if they don't. That's the way it's always been.

Posted by Saint Jimmy @ 8:44 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

dave j, I doubt it would have gone incomplete. Patrick Crayton was in the area and also had a step on his man. And if you look at the replay it was Romo's doing. He threw the ball before TO decided to go deep and TO was able to run under it. That was a fantastic adlib that Parcells would have gotten irate about. But the funny part of the thing was reading old man Luska's article where he was mistaken and thought it was designed to do that.

BTW, Daryl Johnston is probably the best color commentator because without even knowing the playbook he was able to tell that was an adlib right off the bat. Crayton running side-by-side with TO had to be the clue that tipped Moose off.

Posted by Chris J. @ 8:53 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

This why they get paid millions to play a game. Exploiting coverage lapses is part of that. Great players think on their feet and make it happen.

Posted by Adrian @ 9:04 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I can barely taste it! Give me more guys!!

Posted by S L @ 9:08 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I don't know, if his "tendencies" are to call the smart plays and then have players with the film study knowledge and team chemistry to react to the defense without telegraphing the change, you can study all you want and not pin that on Garrett's play calling. That was not the play he called. Of course, play calling is still dependent on one thing - play execution.

The biggest change this year for the Cowboys is that their improvisation is resulting in touchdowns, not sideline lectures and pouty glares from a coach that only ever saw the downside. Some of that is directly attributable to having plays called that put them in the right places to begin with and show confidence that success is imminent. It's pretty hard to improvise out of a first down play into a touchdown on 4th and 4 if you're already on the sidelines watching the punter.

Posted by phil @ 9:21 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I think the point is that it wasn't Garrett's call...it was 100% between TO and Romo, and I think it's great to see that they are on the same page like that.

Posted by Scott in NM @ 9:38 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I think this in an influence from Jimmy Johnson's go for jugular mentality he incorporated as a coach while Garrett was Aikman's backup. I like it better than just sitting on the ball and running out the clock style that the Tuna employed.

Posted by 5xSuper @ 9:54 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Dave J, you make a good point about film catching up with Garrett. But watching the first 2 games, I don't see any tendencies so far. This offense is unpredictable. Run on pass downs, pass on run downs, and now Touchdowns on 4th downs. I'm "drinking the kool-aid" right now,(and its red), but your right we'll see. Keep in mind... Everyone in the league has years of tapes on the Colts offense and Patriots offense, and I don't see anyone figuring them out anytime soon. "Playmakers make plays."

Posted by Larry @ 10:03 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Garrett is an excellent coordinator and will some day make a great head coach, BUT.....

It still bothers me that he goes beyond just going for the throat and actually is agressive at the end of games when conventional wisdom would say he should be more concerned with running out the clock and not turning the ball over.

Thats my only complaint but I am just afraid this could come back to bite him in the butt at some point.

After dying for 4-years watching Bill Parcells play "not to lose", however, instead of playing "to win" like Garrett does, I still love Garrett's style. I just think there does come a time at the end of a game with a substantial lead that Bill's old style might be appropriate.

Posted by scurlock @ 10:23 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Was that play not on a 4th and 4? To go for the first down was Wade's call, nothing to do with Garrett, and any pass is a gamble, so I think any reasonable fan would have been okay with Garrett's
call of a relatively safe 'intermediate crossing route'. The wild card is the mutual read and unspoken understanding between TO and Romo, which
has to give any Def. co-ord. pause. Does he call a defense based on Garrett's tendency, or on what he thinks Romo and TO will see? I think, Dave, that Garrett will adjust accordingly once the film gets circulated. Besides, execution is the dominant factor.

Posted by Jim de Guad. @ 10:54 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

¿ Do you have the football schedule for the University of Texas at Huntsville ?

Posted by steve @ 11:15 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

See if one of the defensive lineman will let Tank wear his jersey for Sunday Nights game.

Posted by William @ 11:16 AM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

I'm beginning to like this new and improved T.O.. Could someone please ask him about the mental medication he is taking? I need an upgrade.

Posted by Steven @ 12:20 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

People go back and watch the tape of the game. As Romo is walking up to the line he looks over at TO, puts his hand up to his facemask to hide his lips, sorta how pitchers put their gloves over their mouths, and says something. Then TO is wide open for the TD. This is the type of play that shows Romos maturation. I love it. Can't wait for the SB in Arizona

Posted by Vaquero @ 12:29 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

What "mental medication"? It's just a reflection of how well Tony has handled this whole situation. Don't be fooled my friends, behind that affable smile is a very inteligent, gutsy and determined man. Tony just knows how to be a leader and has been a master at handling the volatile T.O. And his freindship is sincere, or else T.O. would have spotted him. Like he did Haley last year.
I think that in this game at Chitown, the two players that will have the most influence in the outcome will be T.O. and Roy Williams. On the D side, if we can get an effective TNew in there, then they will have the flexability to showcase Williams in the blitz.
We need to get to Grossman early and put some good hits on him to sooften him up and bring to his mind those voices that tell him were going to bring the wood tonight.
On the O side, I think that those type of improve plays that Tony and T.O are making now will be the key to this game. That Bear D will be focused on trying to pressure Tony and swarming to the Barbarian. That's how they play.
It will be tough, but I think our D will come up with some picks against the Bears that will de the difference.
Dallas 24 Chicago 14

Posted by Charles - ATL @ 12:31 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Larry, I think your point is well-taken. But it's only been 2 games and our leads were not large enough to go Parcell's conservative route and there was too much time left in both instances.

Again, what you say about the Parcells strategy being appropriate at times will indeed come. I just don't think we've gotten there yet. Garrett is smart enough to know when he's there.

Posted by Kid Charlemagne @ 4:02 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

In Parcell's defense, he inheireted a team that he hoped would "not lose" too many games. Not only did Parcell's lose Sean Peyton, he never had the benefit of the Tony Romo we have today, the Tony Romo he and Peyton built from the ground up. No offense to Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett since, in my opinion, getting the two of them to helm the ship is the best deal Jerry Jones has made since trading Herchel Walker for a "Dynasty", but the fine Cowboy Cuisine we have enjoyed these last two Sundays, was made possible because the Tuna spent the last severel years re-stocking the kitchen.

Posted by DougO @ 5:28 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Garrett still probably deserves some credit for the play. Every offensive coordinator gives players options in case a coverage does this or that. It was probably a fairly automatic, by design kind of thing, but one that also takes trust and chemistry between QB and receiver.

Posted by Vox Veritas @ 6:05 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Uh huh, you just wait until they get more film on Romo, too. LOL

Posted by milton thuroughgood III @ 6:49 PM Thu, Sep 20, 2007

Dal 24 - Chi 17

Grossman gets tasered 3 times and throws a pick.

Posted by RJ @ 12:15 AM Fri, Sep 21, 2007

Loved reading that - that's why I'm a football fan.

Posted by Dmac26 @ 9:17 AM Fri, Sep 21, 2007

I love it! Absolutely, love it. And Garrett too. Love the playcalling so far this year. love it love it love it.. At least SOME things (cough, cough, cry-baby-ELLIS, cough, Robot Julius - part II, cough) are going along just swimmingly.