No More Excuses Left for Tony Romo and Dallas Cowboys

There are 27 million reasons Jerry Jones could give for why he made Tony Romo one of the highest paid players in the league.

Except the mere fact that Romo has struggled (to put it lightly) when it counts.

In January 2007, when Romo led the Cowboys to the playoffs,  he fumbled the snap that could have been a game winning field goal. Although how did no one ask why they sent him out to hold instead of a punter or backup quarterback? That may as well be the coaching staff’s fault as well as Romo’s for that one.

Romo blew it, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Romo came back and threw for 36 touchdowns in the 2007 regular season, with a passer rating of 97.4 and added two touchdowns with his feet. Fantasy football players around the world thought greatness, which would continue well into the playoffs.

Not exactly.

Romo threw a game-ending interception in a 21-17 division loss to the Giants to end the Cowboys 2007 season. To top that he has a 0-2 record in the playoffs, a 5-8 record in December, and threw 14 interceptions the last five weeks of the 2008 regular season, with only five touchdowns.

Either Jason Garrett made some mistakes (which some claim), or T.O. was too much to handle for Romo. Sounds like excuses, but both issues were partially part of the problem.

So Jerry Jones cuts T.O., so Romo and Garrett could breathe normal and not have to sweat getting an earful if someone was unhappy. Jones even traded for Roy Williams, who is a pretty good receiver who also is under the microscope in Dallas.

Romo has all the weapons he needs. With a solid running-back rotation (which includes Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice), good protection up front, and big targets such as Witten and Williams to throw to, there should be magnificent things happening on the offensive side of the ball for Dallas.

No more time for excuses. Now is the time for Romo to lead America’s team into the post-season. He has the the tools on offense, and has good players on defense (just depends if those players can start playing like a team) to propel them forward.

With a presumed short-leash on Head Coach Wade Phillips, the Cowboys had better get it together before there is a new wave of philosophy and excuses handed out for their misfortunes.

Lal and Fassel Face Challenge For Raiders

The Raiders felt confident enough in their assistant coaches that they chose not to look any farther then to promote two of them: Sanjay Lal and John Fassel.

When Raiders receiver coach James Lofton was fired (yet there was some rumor or tidbit following the firing that he would stay with the organization in a reduced role), and special team’s coach Brian Schneider took his leave to join Pete Carrol’s staff at USC, it seemed that the Raiders would have a challenge trying to find better coaches for those positions.

The Raiders wasted almost no time with replacing Lofton with Sanjay Lal, who has spent the past two years on the Raiders staff as an offensive quality-control coach.

Lal’s experience ranges from passing game coordinator at Miramonte High (where he coached QB Ken Dorsey and WR Drew Bennett) in which he helped them win four North Coast Section championships including a 13-0 record in 2001, to wide receivers coach at Los Medanos College, to being an assistant at St. Mary’s college.

Lal spent three years at CAL on Jeff Tedford’s staff with the role of offensive administrative assistant prior to joining the Raiders in 2007. Lal doesn’t jump out as a great move, but with Ted Tollner also serving as a receivers coach too in some capacity (considering that he will be passing game coordinator), it doesn’t look too bad.

Only positive things have been said from the young receivers and Javon Walker about the round table meetings and such, so we’ll see how it all plays out.

The other promotion went to Jim Fassel’s son John, who last year was an assistant to Brian Scheider’s great special teams unit. Before joining the silver & black, Fassel spent three years with the Baltimore Ravens an an assistant coach, two in which he was a special teams assistant.

The question here is whether or not the past three years being a special teams assistant is enough for him to make the jump to special teams coach.

He will now control a unit with play-makers such as Justin Miller and Johnnie Lee Higgins, who both possess the ability to take it to the house when they touch the football. Fassel will need to game-plan accordingly, as well as adjust and take the unit under his grasp to continue what Schneider started in 2007 when first joining the Raiders.

Obviously, Tom Cable and Al Davis must have figured why let in two new coaches when you can try and keep some cohesiveness amongst the players and coaching staff by promoting two young and upcoming coaches?

We’ll see how these units do this year with two first-year titled assistant coaches at the helm, and if the Raiders were right to look in-house instead of outside.

With a lot soon to be invested in Darrius Heyward-Bey, and already with veteran receiver Javon Walker, Lal will need to really get this group going. Johnnie Lee Higgins was the Raiders leading receiver with just 22 receptions last year.

If the Raiders were so quick to can Lofton, who has a lot of experience working with receivers—a former one himself (a good one at that)—and one who demands great play,Lal will need to have better results if he wants to stick around. 

Both Fassel and Lal have good talent to be coached, molded, and ready to sick on the rest of the league. It’s up to them to improve their players from their 2008 form, and since it’s looked brighter in Oakland since the Gruden era, don’t be surprised it they have success.

With the losing mentality drifting out the window and the mindset of a winner entering the building, things are looking better for the Raiders.

 

Greg Ellis Would Help The Raiders In Many Ways

Greg Ellis has been a consistent force for the Dallas Cowboys for over a decade. His lowest sack total is three in 11 NFL seasons. Now, he’s an unrestricted free agent.

He won’t be for long though, with the Patriots rumored to be looking for a defensive end, and are also rumored to be interested in trading for Raiders former pro-bowler Derrick Burgess.

Ellis has played strong side linebacker in the Cowboys 3-4 scheme, and also has experience playing as a 4-3 defensive end. He’s listed at 262 pounds, and could be the guy to push young underachiever Jay Richardson, or supplant him if given a chance in Oakland.

Ellis has been known to be a great mentor to the younger players around him, and who wouldn’t look up to a guy that has had 20.5 sacks in the past two years at the age of 33? He was named Comeback Player Of The Year in 2007 for a reason. A lot of people thought he was close to done, but his play and numbers don’t lie.

If the Raiders were to bring Ellis in, he would instantly be the favorite to start at strong side linebacker, or at defensive end. With inexperienced rookies Matt Shaughnessy, Stryker Sulak, and Slade Norris, he could provide some much-needed leadership and be a mentor, not only to them, but to young and upcoming end Trevor Scott.

The Raiders only big end is Jay Richardson (280 pounds), who the Raiders have been hoping to come into his own ever since drafting him in the fifth round in 2007. He hasn’t been able to be consistent, and Ellis could be just the guy to push him into being a better player, or push him onto the bench.

The reality of it all is the Raiders don’t have a consistent power end (all of their ends are pass rushers besides Richardson), or a linebacker worthy of starting at strong side linebacker (at least not yet). Ellis could come in, start immediately and not just keep to himself like Raiders veteran end Derrick Burgess.

With Burgess in a contract year, this could be a great signing for the Raiders. Especially if there is any truth to the trade rumors of Burgess to New England.

Ellis probably would play for less at this stage in his career, but don’t be surprised if the Raiders give him a sweeter offer if they are indeed interested, and are in a race with other teams for his services.

A Possible Future Interview With Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell

One day soon I could be conducting an interview with a player such as JaMarcus Russell of the Oakland Raiders. Here are some prepared questions if this were to occur:

1.) JaMarcus, you are now entering your third year in the league. Do you feel you have adjusted to the game, and do you see yourself having your best season yet this year? Why?

2.) What do you make of your running back rotation? With Mcfadden, Bush and Fargas, that has to make an NFL quarterback happy knowing he has some guys to take the pressure off of him?

3.) Oren O’neal is still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. If he is healthy by September with newly added Lorenzo Neal in the mix, how does that help your offense with two powerful fullbacks? 

4.) Javon Walker has had surgery and he says he’ll be back at 100 percent this year. What do you think of him and the rest of your receiving core, including seventh overall pick Darrius Heyward-Bey?

5.) You and Zach Miller are exciting to watch. How did you develop that chemistry you have with him, and is he your most comfortable target as of now?

6.) Kalif Barnes and Samson Satele are the biggest new additions to the Raiders offensive line, do you think they’ll be a better unit this year and will they keep you upright?

7.) Paul Hackett has worked with Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, and Chad Pennington to name a few players. How do you like working with him as your quarterback coach and have you learned anything new already, whether it be mechanics-wise or X’s and Os wise?

8.) How do you like Tom Cable? Why is he the man who can take you and your team to the playoffs?

9.) How is it like throwing Nnamdi Asomugha’s way during practice while you’ve been here? Has his play made you better knowing he is arguably the best corner in the game today?

10.) You’ve got a lot of speed on offense now. Do you see your arm getting loose this year with those deep balls we all know you can make?

Thank you for your time JaMarcus, and good luck to you and the Raiders this year.

Oakland Raiders Seeking Trade Partner for Seventh Overall Pick and Players

It’s no secret that the Raiders only have five picks in the NFL draft. They have a pick in the first, second, third, fourth, and seventh rounds. Unsurprisingly, they could be looking to acquire more picks via trade down, or by trading one of their players.

According to Raiderbeat.com, the Raiders are fielding “numerous” calls for the seventh overall pick in the draft. A Raiders official said Tuesday that the Raiders haven’t received any offers worthy of trading down in the draft just yet, but are listening. He also said that the Raiders are fielding calls for the following players who are on the trading block:

• Justin Fargas, RB
• Andrew Walter, QB
• Stanford Routt, CB
• Michael Huff, S
• Derrick Burgess, DE

Considering that Walter hasn’t been happy here since he took the fall for the Shell regiment in ’06, and with the recent signing of quarterback Jeff Garcia, the Raiders will simply take what they can get for their disgruntled former quarterback of the future.

Burgess is in the last year of his contract, so it makes sense to entertain offers for his services, but it also makes sense to let him play out his contract year and have a pro-bowl season.

Michael Huff has been a disappointment. Since he wasn’t even Al’s pick, the Raiders will try again to move him. They should have an easier time moving him (in terms of a cap hit) than last year since his salary is less than a million. However, Huff doesn’t have a lot of good tape behind him.

The only names that stand out from the trading block list are running back Justin Fargas and cornerback Stanford Routt.

The Raiders saw last year that they need all three backs, although with Michael Bush looking good with an increase in carries and Darren McFadden returning healthy, there may be no room for the Raiders’ two-time commitment to excellence.

Supposedly the Raiders are high on last year’s preseason star running back Louis Rankin, so carrying a veteran like Fargas that has taken his share of hits in the league may not be in order.

Fargas may not have great vision or speed, but he has the attention of the younger teammates around him and the staff even labeled him as a “leader” on offense. I’m also told that moving Fargas would result in a cap casualty, but if the Raiders have him on the block it must be manageable.

Stanford Routt has been mediocre ever since he was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Houston, and has registered four picks in his four years with the silver and black. Due to Al Davis having a knack for drafting a fast defensive back every year, he could be parting ways with Routt to try out someone else at nickel.

Top 10 NFL Mock Draft

Thought you’ve seen some good mock drafts? Be sure to check out the latest one that has some surprising selections in the top 10.

Most think Mathew Stafford and Mark Sanchez could be gone in the top 10, true or false? The Rams and Seahawks may covet a receiver like Michael Crabtree, but that is not how it will play out.

Andre Smith has some red flags. That shouldn’t stop him from going in the top 10. How early he could go? Well, he’s definitely a top 10 pick.

Al Davis loves speed, will he pick the fastest receiver? A surprising pick here indeed as his first choice won’t be there for the taking.

Jacksonville has been rumored to trade out of the top 10, but who wouldn’t want to? If one of the quarterbacks falls to them do they take him? They will show just how much confidence they have in David Garrard here.

Green Bay and San Francisco have needs. However, the payers at the top of their boars won’t be there. With the top four offensive tackles gone early and a quarterback still available, could there be a team willing to trade up such as the Broncos, Jets, or Redskins?

Find out with my first 2009 NFL Top 10 Mock Draft…

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