everyone loves to compartmentalize the Cowboys' failures, blaming them all on Romo's gunslinger approach or Garrett's sudden inability to call plays, the game is a tad more intricate than that.
Routes have to be run properly. Reads must be accurately made. Protection must be good. And the ball must be caught. They aren't simply playing pitch and catch back there, you know.
"Some guys are best at certain things," Romo would say later in the day in reference to Roy's ability to run routes, not just blow by everyone. "He definitely is special at separation on the inside on certain routes using his body and his hands."
And while there were signs of an improved passing game Monday morning, even though three of what would be considered the projected top five receivers heading into training camp still are nursing injuries, the two questions the Cowboys can't put to rest until the season begins persist, even though this is the fifth consecutive week of off-season workouts:
How will the Cowboys replace What's His Name's production, more the 10 touchdown catches of last year than his 69 catches for 1,052 yards I presume?
And, can Roy Williams become the team's lead receiver?
To the first, Crayton simply says, "There is a lot to replace with any of those numbers but now you do it collectively."
He means himself, Roy, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Marion Barber (52 catches last year) and . . . and . . . Felix Jones. He means this does not have to be a one-man band, and chances are there will be far fewer complaints if it isn't.
As for the second, and Roy will tire of these questions since they will continue to persist those first few weeks of training camp, he says with some exasperation, not to be argumentative, "It's all good," and then goes on to point out, "If you see the playbook, (becoming the leading receiver) is heading that way."
Says Romo, "He is quarterback-friendly with a lot of the stuff he does. He runs good routes."
This stuff takes time, and unlike last year when Williams arrived after seven games, time is on the Cowboys' side, four weeks of training camp and four preseason games still to go - not to mention three more scheduled mini-camp practices over the next two days.
And Monday sure looked better than the few OTA practices we were allowed to watch. In fact, Romo and Roy hooked up on a deep ball right down the middle of the field. Even Romo sensed better days are ahead.
"The first couple of weeks we shocked them with so much," Romo said of all the installation of plays going on. "Now they know what we're doing. The timing is better.
"We're on the same page."
Possibly one in better hands, too.
