C

Cr122

Guest
Romo has learned his rookie linemen's names

AUGUST 16, 2011



Tony Romo has had three rookies in his huddle as well as second-year center Phil Costa. He knows them by both name and number now.

“I’ve got most of them down,” Romo said, joking.

Romo will go into the season with first-round pick Tyron Smith at right tackle. He might have a rookie at left guard. Fourth-round pick David Arkin started against Denver, and seventh-round pick Bill Nagy has taken snaps with the first unit the past two days.

Costa was the center until Pro Bowler Andre Gurode returned Saturday from knee surgery in June.

The young players have had their baptism by Ryan. New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan has shown the Cowboys offense most of his 80 defensive plays.

“It puts a lot of pressure on some of the young linemen to react quickly and really be on top of it mentally,” Romo said. “But it’s kind of a double-edged sword in a sense. It’s just hard for these guys, because they didn’t get the off-season to learn it. So not only did they not have an off-season coming into the NFL, on top of it they are going to get one of the most exotic defenses they are going to see all year. So, it’s kind of one of those things where they got screwed in a couple of ways.”

-- Charean Williams
 
Top Bottom