Get Your Popcorn Ready
[picappgallerysingle id="7502813"]There is only one word that can describe wide receiver Roy Williams’ tenure as a Dallas Cowboy: disappointing. The Cowboys traded for Williams less than halfway through the 2008 season, and he caught a touchdown pass in his very first game in a Dallas uniform. After the Cowboys gave up their first, third and sixth round 2009 draft picks, expectations were already high for Williams, a 2006 Pro Bowler for the lowly Detroit Lions. That year, Williams led the NFC in receiving yards and tied for 3rd overall with 1,310. Williams also led the league with 24 receptions of at least 20 yards, a big, explosive wide receiver thought to make Dallas an instant contender. Williams’ college stats increase the hype even more. He was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2000. During his four seasons at the University of Texas, Williams was a three-time unanimous first team All-Big 12 wide receiver, and became Texas’ all-time leading receiver. In addition to the receiving yards record, Williams broke Longhorns career records for receptions, touchdowns, and 100-yard receiving games. So why is he now struggling so much in Dallas?
No one really has the answer to that question. A longtime Williams fan, it pains me to see the historic Longhorn struggling after an incredible college career and a promising first few seasons in the NFL. After Dallas released Terrell Owens at the end of the 2008 season, it was clear Jerry Jones had brought Williams in to be the Cowboys top receiver. However, Williams only caught 11 passes for 214 yards and 1 touchdown in his first four games as the Cowboys’ number one receiver. An injury in a Week 4 loss to Denver put Miles Austin in to the starting lineup. Austin exploded in Week 5 against Kansas City, catching 10 passes for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns. Austin went on to lead the NFC in receiving and represent Dallas in the Pro Bowl. Those last two stats are eerily similar to Williams’ in 2006. After returning to the lineup in Week 7, Williams caught 27 more passes for 382 yards and 6 touchdowns during the remainder of the season.
Unlike his predecessor, Williams is not blaming anyone else for his struggles. After his disappointing 2009 season, Williams called his tenure in Dallas “a nightmare.” When Williams was traded to his home state, he thought it “was going to be a dream.” Williams went on to say, “What’s happened here; it’s on me to figure it out. It’s on me to fix it.” After calling for his release, many Dallas fans probably only have hateful things to say about Williams’ comments. Instead, I stand up and applaud him. It takes courage to come out and say “I haven’t been playing good enough,” instead of making an excuse or blaming someone else.
The Cowboys’ wide receivers are also beginning to run out of elbow room. With Williams struggling, Patrick Crayton quietly caught 37 balls for 622 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2009. Many would argue that Crayton should have started over Williams since he posted nearly identical numbers as a backup. With the drafting of Dez Bryant, the number two receiver spot is up in the air heading into the 2010 season. Williams has vowed that no one will take his starting position and his chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo has drastically increased over the offseason. I will give Williams the benefit of the doubt unless he posts poorer numbers this year as he did in 2009. Williams is still owed $21.05 million guaranteed, and is well aware that Dallas will no longer continue to pay him like a number one receiver if plays like a scrub.
Everyone is anxious to see what 2010 will hold for Williams. The seventh-year veteran will have a solid season, posting near Pro Bowl numbers with teams doubling up on Miles Austin. In addition, the three-headed monster that inhabits the Dallas backfield will draw eight or nine defenders in the box a majority of the time, leaving Williams one-on-one on most plays. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t count out a talent like Williams until he proves he’s no longer a Pro Bowl player. If the man says no one will take his spot and that he will fix his problems, why shouldn’t we believe him? Get ready for some vintage Roy Williams this year, folks. Unlike T.O., Williams won’t tell you himself, so I will – get your popcorn ready.
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[...] 224 yards and three touchdowns, connecting twice with Roy Williams and once with rookie Dez Bryant. Williams has reemerged as a starting-caliber receiver while Bryant is quickly becoming the star everyone expected him to [...]
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