The Cowboys offensive coordinator, in his first comments since the loss to the Packers, said a tag was built into the play that was called in the final three minutes of Sunday’s game. If Green Bay’s defense loaded the box to take away the run Callahan called _ and it did _ Romo was given the option to throw to a receiver in man-to-man coverage. That was Miles Austin over the middle.
“It’s not per say an audible,’’ Callahan said. “It’s a different way of throwing a pass in a run structure if that’s built into the call.
“It’s pretty common. It’s a very common theme across the league.’’
Linebacker Clay Matthews came in unblocked on the play and Romo threw a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Sam Shields. Green Bay scored a touchdown a little over a minute later to win the game.
“It more or less falls on me,’’ Callahan said of the play. “I’ve got to structure a better play and a better design and try to eliminate that option for him in those situations.’’
Callahan could have eliminated the option to pass on that play.
“I could have,’’ Callahan said. “I could have simply done that.’’
Why didn’t he?
“It came up so quick, so fast we still had the tag on the play,’’ Callahan said. “We felt it wasn’t the time to take it off. I should have taken it off. I’ll live with that.
“I just would say if we had it to do all over again we’d certainly do it different, but that was the design of the play and we can certainly do better. Certainly I can.’’
Asked if Romo could have taken it upon himself to stay with the run call regardless, Callahan said, “all I can tell you were those are the rules we gave him for the game.’’