Sean Martin
Let’s face it, seeing former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo as a leading voice for all things NFL is still taking some getting used to. The CBS Sports color commentator made headlines a few weeks back when he chose the Green Bay Packers as early favorites for the 2018 season. Now, Romo was back on NFL Network yesterday to discuss the Cowboys biggest offseason topic — their turnover on offense leaving them with no clear number one wide receiver.
Does @dak need a #1 WR?@tonyromo: “Depends on what you’re defining as a #1 WR. Is it name alone? By talent? You don’t know they don’t have one.” 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ESTMLkmvzj
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) July 11, 2018
Romo, who notes that in his own career he turned Miles Austin into a 1,000 yard receiver twice, is expecting the Cowboys to stay true to their running game while looking for a top target to emerge.
“They just need guys to get into their spots” – Tony Romo
Where Austin was the Cowboys replacement to Terrell Owens, joined only by Terry Glenn and Dez Bryant as 1,000 yard receivers since 2006 for Dallas, the Cowboys are hoping that Allen Hurns can ease the loss of Bryant.
The Cowboys offseason transition to a dynamic offense has put more emphasis than ever on spreading the ball around, relying on receivers to hit their spots while playing fast. This style of play may not describe Hurns all too well, but he is a proven receiver in a room full of uncertainty for the Cowboys.
Romo is more than qualified to talk about uncertainty around him on offense, and seems to be on board with Prescott taking another leap forward in 2018. The Cowboys quarterback’s second year was a constant battle through injuries as a tale of two seasons unfolded for Prescott, struggling to stay upright once Tyron Smith was lost.
“They drafted a young kid I know they like” – Tony Romo
This quote from Romo is actually referring to Cowboys Left Guard Connor Williams, and not either of their rookie wide receivers. Expectations should still be set high for Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson, but Williams helps the Cowboys get even better at what they do best.
Establishing a running game that surged in 2014, Dez Bryant’s last dominant season, Romo and the Cowboys both know how important Ezekiel Elliott will be to this offense.
Be it Elliott, Gallup, Wilson, Hurns, or Tavon Austin, Cole Beasley, and Terrance Williams, the Cowboys surrounding their franchise quarterback with new talent each year is nothing new. It wasn’t to Romo, and is becoming normal to Prescott even with a largely different coaching staff in place.
Just as Romo asks how a number one receiver is even defined in the beginning of this interview clip, Cowboys Nation is asking the same. It won’t be long until the Cowboys arrive in Oxnard with all 90 of their players in the spotlight.
“Expect the Cowboys to keep the game simple as long as they’re running the ball” – Tony Romo
The twelve receivers, six running backs, and five tight ends tasked to catch passes for the Cowboys this season won’t all be fighting for one spot, although the Cowboys will need to find who their opportune play makers are quickly this season.
