Tony Romo: Choke Artist?

There seems to be an overwhelming consensus that Tony Romo is and always will be a choke artist when it comes to big, meaningful games.  It seems as if everyone from the media, fans of other teams, and some Cowboys fans all feel this way.  I'm here to play devil's advocate on this subject.  While I do not think Romo is perfect, I think he takes too much blame for the struggles in December and in the playoffs.  So here is my argument for why Romo is not a choke artist.

2006 season (Romo's 1st with significant playing time):  Romo came in after 6 or so weeks as an unknown commodity.  He played incredibly well for his 1st 6 or 7 weeks but struggled in December.  Almost every QB goes through growing pains in the 1st season as a starter.  D-Coordinators figure out different ways to counter a QBs strengths and exploit weakness.  Young QBs struggle to overcome these different schemes and this could easily explain why Romo struggled.  It took a few weeks for D-Coordinators to figure Romo out but they did and he had some struggles.  Also, against Seattle in the playoffs, everyone remembers the bobbled snap that ended up costing us the game.  No one ever remembers that he drove the team down to the 1 yard line on the road against the defending NFC champ in the last 2 mins in his 1st playoff game.  And if Gramatica did anything to block Babineaux, Romo would have scored.  Overall, in that game he did everything you want from a QB, but messed up as a holder.  I don't think he choked as a QB in this season--chalk it up to growing pains.

2007 season (Romo's 1st full season as a starter):  Romo played great up untill December.  But by December, The Cowboys had the #1 seed essentially locked up.  There was little desire to come out on fire and I think everyone grew complacent.  And when it came to the playoffs, we got knocked out by eventual the Super Bowl champs.  No one called out Brady for losing the Super Bowl to the Giants despite being a 14 point favorite.  Everyone blamed the Pats loss on the pressure put on Brady but the Cowboys lost because Romo choked.  Romo was heavily pressured the whole game and still had the team in a position to win.  Crayton had 2 drops that were potentially game changing plays if he just caught 1.  Everyone points to the facts that Romo's interception ended the game but it was on 4th down with 20 seconds left and no time-outs.  He had to throw it up in the endzone.  It is also tough to beat a good team like the Giants 3 times in 1 season.  I don't think it is horrible to lose to the eventual Super Bowl champs while playing them down to the last few seconds.  Due to the pass rush, Crayton's drops, and difficulty in beating a good team 3 times in a season, I don't think Romo choked in this season--chalk December up to complacency by the whole team and the playoffs to running into an essential buzz-saw.

2008 season (Romo's 2nd full season as a starter):  Romo played well but ran into problems in December, again.  This time his troubles were against the Steelers (SB champs), Ravens (went to AFC title game), Eagles (went to NFC title game), and the Giants (#1 seed in the NFC).  Those are 3 excellent defenses.  The Eagles game was inexcusable since NO ONE showed up.  Romo can't be solely balmed for choking in that game since the other 52 guys didn't show up.  He could have been incredible and they still would have been blown out.  The Ravens game should be blamed on the defense.  Those 2 80 yard runs would not have occurred if Romo wasn't driving the Cowboys' offense down the field against an excellent Ravens defense.  We put up 17 points in the 4th (I believe) and if the defense gets a stop we have a great chance to win.  Against the Steelers, Romo threw a critical INT but Garrett went into conservative mode and played not to lose.  Then all of a sudden Romo had to turn the switch on and get the offense in gear against a tremendous defense.  Overall, in this season, Romo wasn't the main reason for 2 December losses and arguably the 3rd.  He wasn't the sharpest but I feel he didn't choke--chalk this season up to a brutal schedule.

Well, that was long-winded, but there is my argument for why Romo is not the huge choker everyone claims he is.  Overall, Romo may not have been incredible but I did my best to explain away those struggles.  Feel free to pick it apart as much as possible.

If Romo don't proform this season he may be out in big D. I look for them to take the game out his hand an run the ball. hopefully he can make some plays late in the season when teams put 8 in the box, and don't have a late season meltdown.

excellent write-up.  i have to agree with you to a certain extent.  yeah u play tough defenses but you cannot blame it on the schedule. this is the nfl u need to win plain and simple.  some of his troubles is dropped passes by receivers and i dont want to name any names but that is part of the game isnt it?  he needs to come back and shake it off.  now we cannot blame the distraction of somebody to blame for his misery.  he should do just fine. i just felt like he had girl issues off the field and on the field if you know what i mean.  if they RUN the ball with felix and marion they will be devasting and dynamic. 

I'm no Dallas fan in any sense of the word but truthfully, I believe he makes the Cowboys a better team and their level of competitive play increased 2-fold when he went under center for them.

 

The Seattle thing was a fluke and could happen to anybody.  Folding in the playoffs after that was shocking but hell, people used to say this shit about the Mannings and now they got a couple of rings between them.

 

With TO gone, I would not be the least bit surprized if the Cowgirls go deep into the playoffs this season.  make no mistake, I will be pulling for my saints, but Dallas may just rise up this year.

Good post bro.

 

Love your avatar........crazy

Very good points

Mr X-I couldnr agree with you more about Gramitica------I have been the only one saying that that I know since it happened and all is forgotten if he puts anything on Seattles tackler after the bobbled snap. I promise you even me as a kicker I would of layed out and put a body on that guy and NFL history would have been different.

Romo won't have the distractions ( . )( . ) this season.... maybe that will help

Jones is only one tick from the bottom of league in ownership..

Al Davis is the only reason he is not in last place.....

 

 

Definitely thorpe. My brother is a diehard bills fan and Ive missed about 2 games the last 2 seasons.......Owens will help that team a ton....not just from his catches and td's but from a decoy/blocker as well. Was just trying to tell double its a real joy to have t.o. catch balls for your team, but on that big 3rd down when he drops it......very frustrating. I agree though. 

Bookieassassin-----------I love it!--Lol----Very well put!

Ive never seen such a bad team get so much hate.