ANATOMY OF A BIG PLAY (ROMO? OR SOMEONE ELSE?)

by rotovibe on Sep 21, 2009 10:57 PM CDT

Here is the infamous pick-6 play in the 1st quarter. 3rd and 10 on the Dallas 24.

Offense:

Shotgun formation. Single back. 3 wide. Strong left.

Defense:

Nickel defense. (interior CB is the NB)

Defense shows blitz. With M, W and SS.

Romo audibles when he sees the SS creep-up and the LBs show blitz. Defense then audibles out of it.

Defense looked like they were in a standard nickel coverage. Interesting thing to note is the bump and run on WR1.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

WR1 had a difficult time working off of the bump and run. He lets the CB dictate his route and winds up right in the middle of the passing lane. Romo looks left, then telegraphs his throw to WR2 by eyeballing him till WR2 broke to the sideline. WR2 had a great adjustment to get in the seam between the FS and the trailing NB.

CB snatches the ball that is right in front of him. It was a bit of a perfect-storm scenario. A split second more and the ball would have been above and behind him.

IN SHORT:

I think this would have been a catchable ball if WR1 ran a more developed,convincing route. Possibly a cross or a post. Something that would not be in the way of the pass. I suspect WR1 was confused on the audible and was making up a route and got muscled around.

I have to say that this pick is not so much Romo's fault (you can always point out that he should have seen the traffic- but that doesn't deter most QB from making that throw). If the pass would have been a little higher it would have sailed to the sideline. After further review - I am throttling back a little on my Romo-Blamethrower on this one. I'm not so sure he is completely to blame...

This isn't rocket science - but I also am not in the Cowboys strategy sessions. So these observations are derived from my experience in playing and coaching and is highly subjective. But there are some fundamental things that I see that might help explain some things going on on Sundays. Like I've said before. This community is full of experienced football people. So please, add any wisdom or correction and we all will benefit.

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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Comments

It still would have been an incomplete pass at the most it would have been way behind wr2

by rioplayer7 on Sep 21, 2009 11:08 PM CDT reply actions

Sorry your analysis

by rioplayer7 on Sep 21, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions

It was in front of WR2. I made sure of that. That would have been a reasonable assumption considering he was throwing behind WRs during the night. But on this play he lead him to the sideline.
It definitely is our analysis :) I’d like to think we all contribute.

by rotovibe on Sep 21, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Great article...

Interesting to see the play from your viewpoint and read your breakdown.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Cowboyfan729 on Sep 21, 2009 11:56 PM CDT reply actions

Nice graphics

thanks for your insight

by BishopWest on Sep 22, 2009 12:20 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

What program do you use for this?

by Dansonofdirm on Sep 22, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Adobe Fireworks

by rotovibe on Sep 22, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope we can expect this on a weekly basis

because it’s freakin’ awesome.

Epic Fail since 1985

by the red scare on Sep 22, 2009 1:39 AM CDT reply actions

+100

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 22, 2009 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

are you referring to the INT, just kidding LOL

by dcfanz on Sep 24, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Very interesting post. Thanks, rotovibe.

"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin

by 24Hz on Sep 22, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions

Love the "blamethrower" reference

Good post

by DavidH22 on Sep 22, 2009 10:50 AM CDT reply actions

Keep doing these

I have learned a lot from reading the two such posts you have done. Thanks!

by doomsdayreturns on Sep 22, 2009 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

Indeed, WR1 looked confused on that one.

Or shall we call him, RW1?

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply ...
http://twitter.com/BloggingTheBoys

by Aaron Novinger on Sep 22, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions

The whole passing game looked confused

thanks to rotovibe, I now realize that it wasn’t only Tony confused out there. I guess they all have some work to do this week.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 22, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I said the same thing last week

but many preferred to look at the results rather than how we got there. In fact, ChrisRichey and I debated it and he couldnt see past the final score.

There was no one named Sabby Piscatelli playing safety for the NYG this week.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Sep 22, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Last week they didn't look confused though

I thought they all looked very much on the same page. (Not including the first offensive series.)

So it begins...

by APerfectStar on Sep 22, 2009 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 23, 2009 6:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I didn't think so in the first half...

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Sep 23, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

great post

please do more with this level of detail

"What we've got here is failure to communicate"

by angie'sdad on Sep 22, 2009 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

Good job again rotovibe

I couldn’t tell if he was going to WR1 (RW) and overthrew him, or WR2 (PC) and didn’t put enough arc on the pass.

Your explanation makes sense.

Collinsworth pointed out during the game that Romo audibled, then Pierce immediately audibled to the defense to counter it. Too bad that pass wasn’t high and out of bounds.

So it begins...

by APerfectStar on Sep 22, 2009 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

yeah, Crayton did a really good job at riding the seam underneath the FS...

there was noone around him for about 4 yards. Nice little pocket.
If you look at it from Romo’s perspective, there are 2 receivers in the same space. It looked really botched up.
He tried to force it in there anyway. The gamble blew up on him.

by rotovibe on Sep 22, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

This is the stuff I enjoy

Not “who can I be mad at and call names” but “Why did that happen? What was supposed to happen?”

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 23, 2009 6:54 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

I couldnt tell who the throw was to. He was off so much all night it could have been a pass to either one. I know that Romo has games where he is off but I have always thought he was a fairly accurate QB. Its some of his decision making at times that has made me mad.
This is Tonys make or break season. It will define him as a QB. Right now there is incomplete data. 1 good year and 1 questionable year. You can twist those up those stats any way you want to make them say what you want but all of the answers just arent in yet. Im going to try to hold my judgement to mid term(8 games) and final.(16games) Then final practical exam.(playoffs) Get your crap together Tony. I really dont want to look for another QB.

KICK ASS every day!!!

by squidlo97 on Sep 25, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, he'll be judged for sure on this season

I think more than anything his issues last Sunday were mental – he never appeared to figure out how to attack the defense they were running as he did in TB. I’m sure that he and Garrett are working on that part of the issue because they’ll see that defense again until they master it.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 25, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

if keeps continue to keep the safety deep like the giants did

and we run the ball like we did, I think we essentially did figure out how to attack them, Romo just made a couple mental errors.

If we weren’t running the ball well, that would be a completely different story, but we were having a lot of success.

by foyesboys on Sep 26, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions

interesting

I was also pretty confused who he was throwing that pass to. Great analysis. Thx

by SDTrueblue on Sep 22, 2009 10:42 PM CDT reply actions

All my life i watched and played football

You asked for it, Romo “is” the blame!. Stop defending him! 46 int in 40 games huh, very good or very bad? Im not impressed. He is not the only problem i admit, but he is not a top 10 quarterback. He stinks! just like the Dallas defense stinks. I say , bring in Bill cower and change Romo’s diaper.

Wildman

by WildmanRGW on Sep 23, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

Disagree

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 23, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

disagree as well

85 TDs in 40 games is pretty good if you ask me.

by cowboysfansince75 on Sep 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions

defending him?

I call it as I see it.
Where did I say that he was a top 10 QB?
Where did I say he was not at fault?

I was analyzing a game changing INT.

You’re post is certainly welcome. But please read in context.

by rotovibe on Sep 23, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

What I really want to know afrter games is why/how did plays happen? I assume these guys ar eall trying to execute the play to the best of their ability, so what happened is really the key for me. Besides, it makes me a smarter fan, which is never a bad thing.

So once again, thanks for adding something more than emotional rants to the discussion. These are some of the few posts that inspire actual thinking.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 24, 2009 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Facts

Whats funny is that you are basically ranting with no facts behind what you are saying. Try backing up your argument……Romo sucks is not a good argument! He stinks! and Change Romo’s Diaper are elementary attacks and not real arguments. Nice try though. Good job Roto….I didn’t see it that way but after reading this I went back and watched and it happened just like that.

by TarheelCowboy on Sep 24, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

hard to have a good debate when their argument is basically a claim with no comprehensive, supporting evidence.

there’s always a flip side to his INT numbers. But when people use it against him they ignore the other stats.
He’s new so I hope he eventually gets that this is a more intelligent blog site where pure flaming is just boring and looked down upon.

by rotovibe on Sep 24, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

"A more intelligent blogsite"

Exactly

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 25, 2009 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

by BishopWest on Sep 24, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

rotovibe you are trully welcome here,

keep posting

by Musiccitynorm on Sep 23, 2009 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

Simple WR1 shoulda ran the go route

to take the safty with him while the other side shoulda been a double post that way it woulda cleared out a hole for WR2 to catch I was thinking ther where throwing to WR2 that play.

Someone's always Going to be Hating on Da Boyz

by Jeff G. on Sep 23, 2009 11:23 PM CDT reply actions

Oh my am i tired

and not able to spell right now

Someone's always Going to be Hating on Da Boyz

by Jeff G. on Sep 23, 2009 11:25 PM CDT reply actions

Romo

i forget who said it but romo should have called a timeout. it was clear the defense was ready for whatever was coming.

31 till I die

by FelixFanclub on Sep 24, 2009 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Not just that

the offense looked out of kilter as well. TO might have been a good idea.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 24, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Awesome post

Maylock has a similar breakdown on nfl.com:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-york-giants/09000d5d812db332/WK-2-Anatomy-Tony-Romo-s-pick-six

The corner who picked off the ball said something like “the receiver was coming off slow, and they were telling me all week that when they do that, they’re trying to get a pass in behind you”. So RW was running the right route, he just didn’t do a very convincing job.

Romo on the other hand, should’ve known that when the defense checked out of the blitz, they were going back to their base coverage, cover-2. But he still read man-to-man. He realized at the last second that he made the wrong read, and then tried to change the throw mid-throw, resulting in the duck-of-a-throw. Pretty sure it falls squarely on Romo, but roto is right, RW clearly gave away the route to the corner.

Thanks roto.

by alienasia on Sep 24, 2009 12:50 PM CDT reply actions

It does fall on the QB

but it also goes to show that what fans think happened on a play is never the whole story.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 24, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

You mean we don't know everything?

Dang. I was pretty sure I knew everything by now ;-)

"Everybody wants something but nobody wants to pay the price" - Michael Irvin

by 24Hz on Sep 24, 2009 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I know

it’s sort of disappointing…

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Sep 25, 2009 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions

so I'll turn my Romo-blamethrower up a notch....just kidding :)

I’m glad people who do this full-time and have the resources to analyze plays are giving this to the masses. Great stuff.

If anything – I’m pretty impressed by the rookie CB.
The important thing to note is that they went into “cover 2 zone” and the CB masked his coverage by the technique he implemented.
You can still vary your individual coverage technique either off-the-ball or bump and run. Depends on what the DC wants you to do.
The bump and run was key to masking his coverage. If he was off the ball it would have looked more like C2Z. The D wanted a body on RW – probably as a general coverage strategy for Roy.

So the CB gets the “Tahoe” call and reverts to the alternate coverage scheme, then has the awareness and masks his coverage based on how RW runs his route. All in a matter of seconds.
Someone did their homework and are very disciplined. Very impressive for a rookie. Makes me a little jealous to have such a sharp rook.
Most QB would have fallen into that “gotcha”.

Also – I had to chuckle a little when he called it the infamous “tahoe” call. Like it’s supposed to mean something to us. It doesn’t. It could mean anything. It’s just an assigned code for some change in the play. Just like “Omaha” or “Kill”.

by rotovibe on Sep 24, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions