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Keyshawn: Tony Romo has to be Cowboys' leader; Rob Ryan needs to simplify defense
Keyshawn Johnson: Tony Romo has to be Cowboys' leader; Rob Ryan needs to simplify defense
JON MACHOTA The Dallas Morning News Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: 02 May 2012 01:04 PM
As most NFL analysts have said over the past year, assembling a talented roster has never been the reason the Cowboys have missed the playoffs. The popular trend has been to blame their shortcomings on a lack of leadership.
Former Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was the latest to jump on that bandwagon.
During a Wednesday episode of the ESPN NFL show Audibles, Johnson told fellow analysts Steve Young, Herm Edwards and Trent Dilfer that Tony Romo needs to take control of the franchise that has made one playoff appearance in the last four years.
"They have the talent," Johnson said. "There’s no question about the talent. It’s starts with taking control of the locker room. The quarterback, Tony Romo, it’s his football team. He has to decide, ‘I’m the guy on this football team.’ But also, the coaches have to help him out as well."
But Romo wasn't the only one in the Cowboys organization that Johnson had advice for. The 11-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan could do his unit a favor by simplifying some things.
"It’s about putting the players in the right position," Johnson said. "You talk about Rob Ryan, with all these schemes and different tricks that he likes to do defensively, just simplify the thing. You have young cornerbacks coming in here [Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr]. Play young cornerback style defense. You don't need to trick everybody and do things scheme-wise to be successful. I think that’s one of his biggest problems, he outsmarts himself."
Johnson played two years in Dallas, catching 141 passes for 1,820 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Keyshawn Johnson: Tony Romo has to be Cowboys' leader; Rob Ryan needs to simplify defense
JON MACHOTA The Dallas Morning News Special Contributor
jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: 02 May 2012 01:04 PM
As most NFL analysts have said over the past year, assembling a talented roster has never been the reason the Cowboys have missed the playoffs. The popular trend has been to blame their shortcomings on a lack of leadership.
Former Cowboys wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson was the latest to jump on that bandwagon.
During a Wednesday episode of the ESPN NFL show Audibles, Johnson told fellow analysts Steve Young, Herm Edwards and Trent Dilfer that Tony Romo needs to take control of the franchise that has made one playoff appearance in the last four years.
"They have the talent," Johnson said. "There’s no question about the talent. It’s starts with taking control of the locker room. The quarterback, Tony Romo, it’s his football team. He has to decide, ‘I’m the guy on this football team.’ But also, the coaches have to help him out as well."
But Romo wasn't the only one in the Cowboys organization that Johnson had advice for. The 11-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection said defensive coordinator Rob Ryan could do his unit a favor by simplifying some things.
"It’s about putting the players in the right position," Johnson said. "You talk about Rob Ryan, with all these schemes and different tricks that he likes to do defensively, just simplify the thing. You have young cornerbacks coming in here [Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr]. Play young cornerback style defense. You don't need to trick everybody and do things scheme-wise to be successful. I think that’s one of his biggest problems, he outsmarts himself."
Johnson played two years in Dallas, catching 141 passes for 1,820 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.