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Getting into the head of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is apparently the key to the San Diego Chargers' game plan this week.

“We know that once he’s rattled and whatnot, it’s easy to take him out of the game,” Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

That’s a pretty bold statement from a member of a defense that ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass and has forced a grand total of one turnover in three games. San Diego is allowing an average of 340.7 passing yards per game, having failed to rattle Philadelphia’s Michael Vick or Tennessee’s Jake Locker the past two weeks.

Romo, whose turnovers have tended to come in bunches over the course of his career, has steered clear of catastrophic errors during the Cowboys’ 2-1 start. He has committed two turnovers -- a fumble after a sack, and an interception caused by rookie receiver Terrance Williams running the wrong route after an audible.

To hear Liuget tell it, Romo has benefited from a dumbed-down Dallas offense this season.

“It’s a simple offense,” Liuget said, according to the Union-Tribune. “They don’t do too many plays. The key is to definitely hit Romo early and try to take Romo out of the game and put the ball in [DeMarco Murray's] hands.”

Rest assured that putting the ball in Murray’s hands will be a big part of the Cowboys’ plan after he rushed for 175 yards on 26 carries in the Week 3 victory over St. Louis. After all, the Chargers also rank 28th among rushing defenses, allowing 130 yards per game and 5.1 per carry.

If Romo is rattled, it certainly won’t be by anything he studies in the film room this week.

IRVING, Texas -- Penalties have been an issue for the Dallas Cowboys for years, no matter who has been the head coach.

Slowly Jason Garrett appears to have tightened the strings a little bit.

Through three games, the Cowboys have been penalized 16 times for 139 yards. Only nine teams have fewer penalties than the Cowboys through three games.

It might not sound like much, but it’s great progress. Through three games last year, the Cowboys had 31 penalties for 238 yards on their way to 117 penalties for 853 yards. The Cowboys have not been this penalty-free, so to speak, through the first three games of a season since 2001.

In that year they had 13 penalties for 109 yards in an 0-3 start that turned into a 5-11 finish.

Defensively the Cowboys have four penalties. Doug Free, who led the NFL with 15 penalties a year ago, has yet to draw a flag this season.

“We are making an emphasis on it,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We understand those things don’t help you. They hurt you. Again, you never want to take a team’s aggressiveness away from them, but we just have to minimize those types of plays. We have to take care of the ball better. We have to minimize the penalties and not beat ourselves. It’s a big emphasis for our football team. We have done a pretty good job of it so far. We have to get better though.”

IRVING, Texas – When it comes to cutting down his turnovers, it’s a matter of time for Tony Romo.

At this point in his career, it really doesn’t have much to do with the maturation process for the 33-year-old Romo. He’s had seasons in which he limited his picks and still made a lot of plays.

As far as Romo is concerned, the key is the time he is afforded to sit in the pocket.

After tying for the league lead with 19 interceptions last season, Romo renewed his vow to make protecting the ball a priority. He’s followed that up throwing only one pick in the first few games and points to improved protection as the primary reason for his safer decision-making.

“You’re not throwing as many balls under duress in a football game,” Romo said. “That’s an important aspect for a quarterback. You’ve seen some other teams across the league go through that a little bit with some pretty good quarterbacks who just have that half-a-second less time to make their decisions.”

Romo didn’t mention any names, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out which quarterback he had in mind. Just look who has thrown the most picks this season.

That’s two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, whose eight interceptions lead the league by two through three games. Not coincidentally, the Giants have allowed 11 sacks, matching the Philadelphia Eagles for the most in the NFC.

Meanwhile, Romo’s lone pick was the result of a mental mistake by a rookie receiver. He’s as comfortable in the pocket behind the Cowboys’ remodeled offensive line as he’s been in years and made a point to mention that he has the luxury to get through all his reads without having to rush.

“The ability to not necessarily get through them as fast as I would have to previously, I can see the difference sometimes in that,” said Romo, who has been sacked six times this season. “It’s been a little bit, not having to make as many decisions under duress and trying to move the football under those circumstances. The best teams in the league, the teams that go on and give themselves a chance later in the year, they have quarterbacks who are able to get through progressions at a normal speed.”

Those quarterbacks have a fighting chance to follow through on promises to cut down on their picks.

IRVING, Texas -- Tiny foam footballs hang on the lockers of the Dallas Cowboys' starting defensive linemen along with a personalized note from their position coach.

“Big Daddy,” the note in Jason Hatcher's locker begins, addressing the defensive tackle by his new nickname, “THIS IS A BALL! -- Sack-Fumble + Score. We're due!!!”

Does that sound like a defensive line coach satisfied with an NFC-leading 13 sacks through three weeks?

That's classic Marinelli, the most overqualified position coach in the NFL. He's constantly pushing his “Rush Men,” as the label outside the defensive line's meeting room calls them. Marinelli's methods include the occasional high-decibel four-letter word, a ton of attention to detail and a type of relentless, personable enthusiasm that brings a smile to the faces of the Cowboys' newfound Fearsome Foursome.

Many of us ridiculed owner/general manager Jerry Jones for declaring the defensive line a position of strength on draft weekend after the Cowboys passed on Sharrif Floyd in the first round. The doubts swelled when former Pro Bowlers Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer watched from the sidelines during training camp and top reserve Tyrone Crawford suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.

Ratliff won't play a down until Week 7 at the earliest. Spencer managed to play a grand total of 34 snaps before it was determined that he needed the dreaded microfracture surgery. He joined Crawford and Ben Bass, another top reserve defensive lineman, on the injured reserve.

Yet the Dallas defensive line has been borderline dominant despite a pair of journeymen joining DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher, veterans who made the adjustment to new positions with the Cowboys' scheme change.

The moral of the story: Don't underestimate Marinelli magic.

Would anyone blame Jones if he went the told-ya-so route? But he even acknowledges that Marinelli has exceeded his enormous expectations.

“That would have been hard to do because when I looked at our depth during the offseason right before we went to training camp, there were a couple of holes there,” Jones said. “And all I did was picture in Rod Marinelli. I just put Rod Marinelli on my depth chart as we saw what other teams, how they made decisions, what players might be available that potentially we could find with the profile and characteristics that would fit our scheme under Rod.

“That's what I think of him.”

Ware, aka “Long Arms,” has racked up a ton of sacks under a handful of defensive coordinators. Maybe it's a stretch to give Marinelli too much credit for Ware's back-to-back two-sack performances.

Hatcher, however, is on pace to establish a season-high for sacks midway through next month. The eight-year veteran has never had more than 4.5 sacks in a season, but he's had one in each of the Cowboys' games so far this season. Part of that spike in production is his new position, which allows him to often go one-on-one against guards, but Hatcher gives Marinelli much of the credit.

Marinelli's most impressive work is reflected in the performances of the Cowboys' off-the-scrap-heap starters. Nose tackle Nick Hayden, aka “Golden Cock,” was out of football last season. Defensive end George Selvie, aka “Brick Layer,” is a journeyman on his fourth team in four NFL seasons.

Hayden and Selvie are thriving in the Cowboys' system. Their careers have been revived by Marinelli.

“He just understands players,” said Hatcher, who cited Marinelli's advice to envision himself as a basketball player trying to get to the rim during pass rushes as a key to his sack success. “He coaches the man. He ain't about no politics. He ain't about trying to please nobody. He just loves good football. That's what's special about him. He knows how to get you going.

“He's the best defensive line coach in the league, in my opinion.”

It's almost as difficult to argue otherwise as it is for defensive linemen to meet Marinelli's demands for them.

IRVING, Texas -- The collective feel from the Dallas Cowboys to the news that Anthony Spencer would not play again in 2013 was one of disappointment for their teammate, but it would not mean an end to their season.

That’s a sign that Jason Garrett’s next-man-up mantra is sticking.

And it’s not something really new either.

Last year the Cowboys lost seven key contributors on defense -- Barry Church, Kenyon Coleman, Orlando Scandrick, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and Josh Brent -- and managed to remain in contention for a playoff spot until the final week of the season.

Without Tony Romo in 2010, the Cowboys finished the second half of the season with a 5-3 mark with Jon Kitna as their starting quarterback.

Withstanding injury is a prerequisite in the NFL.

“It’s obviously not something you want,” Romo said. “He played as well as anybody last year. I feel for him and what he’s going through. At the same time, when I was out, the games, they keep playing and the team keeps going on. You have to understand there are too many times and too many teams that have had a guy to get hurt and have gone on to do some successful things to think that you can’t. If you talk to Anthony, he’d be the first to tell you he’d want everybody to keep doing what they’re doing, keep getting better and go and win these football games.”

The Cowboys believed they improved their depth across the roster. With Spencer battling a knee injury the Cowboys picked up Edgar Jones and Caesar Rayford in trades from Kansas City and Indianapolis at the final cut.

“The only good light here is the fact that we’ve been playing without Anthony and our coaching staff with Rod [Marinelli] and certainly Monte [Kiffin], has made this adjustment for the first three ballgames and most of our preseason,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “So we have been bringing personnel in and evaluating personnel and continuing as though we weren’t going to have Spencer, and so we’re ahead of where we would’ve been had this just happened here and he got hurt in Kansas City.”

IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said he expected to be 100 percent this week after battling through bruised ribs the last two games. Not being on the injury report is a good sign Romo has improved.

Wide receivers Miles Austin (hamstring) and Dwayne Harris (hip) did not practice and defensive end DeMarcus Ware was limited because of a stinger.

Cornerback Morris Claiborne (shoulder) took part in a full practice and linebacker Ernie Sims (groin) practiced for the first time since the Sept. 8 season opener.

Harris said he expected to return to practice on Thursday. Austin’s availability is in question.

“I’m not worried at all,” Harris said. "We’re just taking a little precaution. We were in full pads, so you don’t want to get it banged up more so today they held me out, get more treatment on it and work the soreness out of it.”

IRVING, Texas -- The last time Brian Waters started a game was Super Bowl XLVI for the New England Patriots.

Waters, after missing a year from football, received some first-team snaps in practice on Wednesday and is on target to start Sunday's Week 4 game against San Diego. Nothing is official, but Waters working with the first team is a strong indication he will take over for Mackenzy Bernadeau at right guard.

"That's the goal, just to make it through a whole game," Waters said after Wednesday's practice. "We'll see how it goes. Mac is going to be ready to go and I think we're all confident that he'll be ready to go if anything happens."

Before Waters could start, he had to work on his conditioning and techniques in the pass and run game. Last week, Waters said he wanted to work on his footwork in the run game and it showed as he was part of an offensive line that helped the running game get 193 yards in a victory over the St. Louis Rams.

It's not the first time Waters took time off from the game. Waters missed all of training camp in 2011 and was cut by Kansas City before the start of training camp. He signed a with the New England just days before the start of the regular season and played all 16 games in 2011.

"It was a bigger layoff and I had a lot more familiarly with their system in New England," Waters said in comparing layoffs from the game. "I had just worked with Charlie Weis the year before, so I had a lot more familiarly with the system, so it was a lot easy to transition. With the system here, I've had to learn a lot more but lucky for me I play offensive line so there's not a lot of differences in the calls and so much the plays."

IRVING, Texas -- With the way Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher has started the season, his future has been discussed by many since he will be a free agent after this season.

Calvin Watkins and Tim MacMahon debated whether the Cowboys should give Hatcher a long-term contract or not in this week’s Hot Button.

With three sacks, 11 tackles and eight quarterback pressures in three games, Hatcher could be forcing the Cowboys into a tough decision. He is being paid $2 million this season in the last year of a three-year, $6 million deal.

By the time the 2014 season rolls around he will be 32 years old.

Does owner and general manager Jerry Jones want Hatcher back?

“I would have hope we have Hatcher in the future because he is playing at a high level,” Jones said. “We have always thought he had excellent size, excellent athletic ability and real skill at rushing the passer. That’s hard to find that in a player. He’s got it and it’s showing up.”

IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones would like to see defensive end Anthony Spencer in a Cowboys’ uniform again.

Spencer, who was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday and faces knee surgery in the near future, is set to be a free agent after the season. Spencer turns 30 in January and will be coming off a potentially difficult rehab if he chooses to have the microfracture surgery. Spencer’s agent, Jordan Woy, said a decision on what kind of surgery Spencer will have has not been determined.

If he checks out medically, however, Jones believes he would be a big part of the defense.

“He’s very accomplished, got great experience,” Jones said. “In a matter of speaking, just coming into his own and will be a great complement, if we can go that way, to (DeMarcus) Ware in the future.”

For being named the Cowboys’ franchise player for the second straight year, Spencer is making $10.6 million this season. Over the last two seasons he will make roughly $19.5 million.

Jones said he does not regret the decision to tag Spencer back in March.

“That’s just the life we’ve chosen, so I don’t in any way second guess the commitment we made to him because of the caliber of player he was,” Jones said. “We certainly would like to have those dollars, but I’d rather have Spencer than those dollars. I can’t look at it as the obvious. Anytime something doesn’t work out, I can’t look at it that way. On the other hand, I can tell if anybody was going to get the money under these circumstances, I’m glad it’s him. He’s worked hard. He’s that quality individual and that quality player.”

IRVING, Texas -- Monday afternoon, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he expected defensive end Anthony Spencer to return from knee soreness and pick up full-time snaps again.

Tuesday afternoon the Cowboys universe was shattered when team owner/general manager Jerry Jones said on his weekly radio show Spencer would need season-ending surgery on his left knee. The surgery could be microfracture, which could take up to a year of recovery time.

Garrett said Wednesday morning he was surprised to hear about the surgery.

"We just wanted to make sure we did everything the right way," Garrett said. "Last week it just didn't feel great to him. He felt like there was something wrong. He got the MRI late Monday afternoon and we got the word Monday night. This is the best thing for him going forward. We're fully confident it's going to be handled the right way and he will be back and there is a lot more football left in him."

Spencer becomes a free agent after the 2013 season so his prospects for finding employment will be difficult until he can prove to NFL teams, including the Cowboys, he's 100 percent healthy.

With Spencer gone for the season, the starting role will be maintained by George Selvie who was signed in late July. In three games, Selvie has two sacks, one tackle for loss and five quarterback pressures.

"The next man up has been George Selvie for most of training camp and the preseason and the start of the season," Garrett said. "He’s taken full advantage of his opportunity to play. We've have some other guys we've brought in in recent weeks who will be involved in that mix as well. We will give those guys opportunities going forward, but George is the guy who is going to take his place. He's done a good job so far and we'll continue to expect great things from him."

IRVING, Texas -- Miles Austin was not the only wide receiver missing from Wednesday’s practice, as a hip pointer kept Dwayne Harris out of the workout.

Harris was hurt in last week’s loss to the St. Louis Rams. He caught a 24-yard touchdown pass but also fumbled a punt.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the team can be “conservative” with Austin on Wednesday, but he was not sure if the receiver would be able to play Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Austin strained his hamstring in the third quarter of the win over the Rams and has been slowed by hamstring injuries in each of the previous two seasons.

Defensive end DeMarcus Ware was not in pads Wednesday but went through individual drills. Ware has been bothered the past two weeks by a stinger. He said he returned to the padding he used in 2012 that kept him stinger-free in the second half against St. Louis and hopes that will cure the ailment this season.

IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin won't practice today at Valley Ranch due to a hamstring injury. Austin suffered the injury in last week's victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Austin has a history of hamstring problems but had not dealt with one since last season.

"We can be a little more conservative today," Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones said of Spencer.

Coach Jason Garrett said Austin did not return to the game as a precaution because the Cowboys were ahead by more than two touchdowns. Still the team has to be concerned about Austin's health given his history.

Terrance Williams moves into the starting lineup if Austin's health doesn't improve and Dwayne Harris should also receive more playing time as well.

 
ESPN.com team reporter Todd Archer on the Dallas Cowboys' hot topics as they begin preparations for Week 4.