Cowboys Corner

Roy Williams uncensored

Unlike some of his teammates, Roy Williams consistently makes himself available for interviews. It doesn’t matter how much he is criticized , how poorly he plays, or how many balls me might drop, he’ll still man up and answer questions.

So while many of the Cowboys were headed out of town today, Williams took time to answer questions. And he approached subjects head on. Some of the highlights.

On staying even keel despite ups and downs: “I’m still under the radar. Write bad about me, talk bad about me. That’s fine. I’m just going to go out and continue doing what I’m doing.”

On his plans this weekend: “I’m going to check out little Barry Bonds, my son. He’s starting T-ball. Actually, he started last week. He hit the ball and ran straight to second base, so I’ve got to go check him out. I’ve got to go coach him today.”

On his alma mater playing OU Saturday: “It’s going to be a good game. Everybody’s counting Texas out, and we like that. It’s kind of like the Cowboys. Big media attention, backs against the wall – that’s usually when they play their best.”

On the NFC East: “Yeah, it looks pretty balanced, but it’s early in the year. We only control ourselves. We can watch all the games and talk about all the games we want to, but if we go out there and lay an egg, like we did the first two games, there will be nothing to talk about. So we just handle our business and let everything else take care of itself.”

On getting a game ball from the Houston game from Wade Phillips: “I’ve been doing this since I talked to you guys in OTAs [Off-season Training Activities]. You know, I’ve just been consistent, but at the same time, I’ve been catching a lot of grief, especially with the drafting of Dez [Bryant] and the things that Miles [Austin] has achieved here. I just want to be a part of this puzzle. I want to be a part of this puzzle and show that I’m worthy of everything that I’ve gotten. I’m still the same player. I’m still a Pro Bowler. I just want to go out there and continue to do what I’m doing and lay low under the radar.

On being partially responsible for Dez Bryant spending almost $55,000 at dinner: “I don’t understand why my name is associated with this whole ordeal. I mean, it’s the same offensive dinner that we’ve been doing, that every team does in the NFL. So I don’t know why my name is the single name in this thing. I have nothing against Dez; Dez has nothing against me. Like I said in training camp, I don’t want you guys to bang our heads together and try to make us hate each other. That’s not going to work. He didn’t take my pads. Whoop-de-doo. He didn’t take my pads. But he’s still out there as a punt returner, catching balls and doing things he needs to do, and I’m doing things I need to do to make this team better. So don’t associate me with being the bad guy with Dez and Dez being the bad guy with me, because that’s not what it is.

But he was hungry and thirsty: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was. [laughs] I ain’t ate in two days. I’m good.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Phillips doesn't like barbs

Wade Phillips didn’t mention Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin, but it was clear Thursday that the Dallas coach did not appreciate comments made by the two Hall of Famers, each of whom has been critical of receiver Roy Williams.

After the Cowboys released Terrell Owens last year, Smith said: "Who do they have who is going to be that explosive? That's the question. Who do you have that's going to be that explosive? I don't see it." 

When told that Roy Williams was going to replace Owens, Smith said: "Like I said, who do you have that's going to be that explosive?"

More recently, Irvin made the comment that as long as Williams was in the starting lineup, the Cowboys would be playing 10 against 11.

When asked if comments by ex-players bothered him, Phillips said: “Well sure. I’m going to defend this team and my players right now. I think everybody has their opinion. Some of them are in the media and I realize that’s part of what they do, so that can happen. Now if they were on this team and doing it at this time, I really wouldn’t be happy with them. I can’t like it, but everybody’s got their opinions and a lot of people gripe about a lot of things and sometimes they don’t know anything about it.”

Williams answered on the field last Sunday, with 117 receving yards and a 63-yard TD reception. Phillips presented Williams with the game ball from the Houston game on Thursday.

-- Jan Hubbard

 

A leisurely look at the Titans

While the Tennessee Titans are preparing for a home game against Denver, the Cowboys have been preparing for a home game against Tennessee.

Such is the luxury of a bye week.

The Titans, who will visit Arlington next week, have been impressive in two games, beating the Raiders by 25 and the Giants by 19 in a road game. They did lose by eight to Pittsburgh, but they were competitive.

“They’ve dominated a couple of games,” Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. “They lost to Pittsburgh but they had an 85-yard touchdown called back so they could be undefeated. Two of the games they really dominated. They’re a good football team. There always well coached, we know that but they have a lot of talent. They have the leading rusher in the league and quarterback can really make plays and throw the ball too. But he can run with it. Their defense is playing really good. They had trouble defensively last year but this year they seem to be real strong defensively.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Just CHILL: Dez Bryant misses practices, sore hip and sore wallet

 

 
Clarence Hill

Rookie receiver Dez Bryant missed practice Wednesday because of a sore hip.

There is no truth to the rumor that the pain is where he keeps his wallet, considering the roughly $55,000 tab he rang up at a restaurant  when he took his offensive teammates out to dinner Monday night.

No this pain came from Sunday's 27-13 victory against the Texans when he caught pass down the left sideline and ran into a photographer. Bryant contined to play in the game. The injury is not considered serious.

The Cowboys held him out of practice for precautionary reasons because there is no game this week. He should be ready to go for the Oct. 10 matchup against the Texans.

However, nothing is likely going to ease the pain in his wallet.

Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Patience may be a virtue, but it's not easy

In his first five years in the NFL, Montrae Holland started 48 games. In his sixth year, he was traded from Denver to Dallas. In his seventh year, he was a forgotten man.

Holland was inactive for each of the Cowboys’ 16 games in 2009 and it was an experience he’d rather forget.

“It wasn’t fun,” the 6-2, 326-pound offensive guard said. “I felt like I could help the team in whatever way necessary. Last year just wasn’t that year.

“It was pretty hard [to be patient], but it’s part of the game. This game teaches you how to be patient and teaches you so many life lessons. So you’ve just got to do it to be part of the team.”

Because of two injuries to left guard Kyle Kosier, Holland has advanced to the starting lineup. Kosier missed the first game of the season with a knee injury, returned to the lineup and played against the Bears, but went out with another knee injury in the game against Houston.

Holland filled in after Kosier left the game early in the fourth quarter Sunday and was on the field in pass protection when Tony Romo hit Roy Williams with a 63-yard TD pass. The Cowboys hope Kosier is ready after the bye week, but if he is not, Holland will start again.

“I just try to be as prepared as I can,” Holland said. “You never know when or if you’re going to play, so when I do, I just think it’s my opportunity to make the best of it.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Rookies impressive

Early returns are positive on undrafted rookie defensive backs Barry Church and Danny McCray, each of whom made contributions in the win over the Houston Texans. Both have been playing so well, in fact, that second year safety Mike Hamlin was inactive on Sunday.

When the Texans had a first-and-goal at the Cowboys’ one early in the fourth quarter, Church made the initial hit on Texans running back Arian Foster. The play resulted in no gain.

The Cowboys did not allow the Texans to get into the end zone and Houston had to settle for a field goal.

On Houston’s last offensive play of the afternoon with 50 seconds left, McCray picked off a deflected pass from Matt Schaub and the Cowboys ran time off the clock.

“Barry Church [did] a good job on goal line. He was in on a couple of those last stops over there on the goal line,” safety Gerald Sensabaugh said. “Then we had Danny McCray making plays. He had an interception. We got a lot of production out of a lot of players. . . . Those guys are real physical. They help us out on defense a lot.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Phillips doesn't mind Bryant paying the bill

Wade Phillips restated his opposition to rookie hazing on Wednesday but said he did not think that the Cowboys’ sticking Dez Bryant with a $55,000 dinner tab qualified as harassment.

Cowboy veterans made Bryant pay for dinner at a Dallas steakhouse on Monday night as part of the rookie initiation and also because Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran Roy Williams after a training camp practice.

“I think every team has something like that,” Phillips said. “I don’t know if I consider that hazing when you have a dinner together.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Linebacker roles could be changing

When Bobby Carpenter was traded in the off-season, the Dallas Cowboys were hoping one of several players could take Carpenter’s place in the nickel package -- most notably rookie Sean Lee.

As it turns out, however, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has been more comfortable with veterans Keith Brooking and Bradie James playing in third down situations.

James is only 29, but Brooking is 35 and the concern Phillips has is if the two veterans play extended minutes, they could wear down at the end of the season.

So Phillips is considering an alternate approach -- perhaps playing Lee -- and perhaps Jason Williams and Leon Williams -- earlier in each series.

“Maybe substitute for [Brooking and james] on first and second down,” Phillips said. “But if we can’t stop the plays on first and second down, we may go the other direction.  It just depends on who comes along and how well they come along.”

Lee has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury but has been practicing and should be ready to play when the Cowboys host Jacksonville on Oct. 10.

“I feel comfortable with him playing in the game,” Phillips said of Lee. “I think he’s ready to play.”

-- Jan Hubbard

Sweet criticism

Everyone should have a boss like the guy in charge of Dez Bryant. The rookie from Oklahoma State played in only three games in college last year because of a suspension. Then he missed a month of training camp with a high ankle sprain.

In his first three games, he has caught 14 passes for 158 yards, which is pretty good for a guy who doesn't know the offense and has trouble running routes. That's according to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who is probably the most positive critical guy you've ever listened to.

“He’s got a lot of steps to take,” Garrett said of Bryant. “He's transitioned awfully well. For a guy who missed as much training camp as he did, and who missed he entire preseason, to be able to come in and perform as well as he has over the course of the first three weeks has been very impressive.

“But when he watches the tape, he sees the things as well. He has to refine his route-running and his understanding of the offense, those kinds of things. But he's someone who is not bothered by game situations. He embraces them. He loves to play. He has great enthusiasm and he can make plays. We've tried to do that and he's really stepped up and responded.”

Spoken like a true Princeton man.

-- Jan Hubbard

 

 

JUST CHILL: With Roy Williams producing, the Cowboys offense is fully functional

Call it the ROY EFFECT

 
Clarence Hill

Wide receiver Roy Williams doesn’t deny being mad, upset and motivated by Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin’s preseason comments that the Cowboys were playing 10 against 11 with him on the field.

Already burning to have a big year and quiet the critics for his disappointing play since being traded to the Cowboys from Detroit in 2008, Williams said Irvin’s comments lit his fire.

The explosion came Sunday in a 27-13 victory against the Texans when Williams erupted for five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns in what was his best game in a Cowboys uniform.

It could have long lasting after affects for the Cowboys offense  _ which is again fully functional, thanks ironically to Irvin.

Everything is now at quarterback Tony Romo’s disposal, which coach Wade Phillips said is “good for us and bad for the opposition.”

"Roy did a great job the other day in the game,” offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. “He made some big plays for us. He made some little plays for us, too, that were significant in the game. That's important. We like to be aggressive in attacking the defense. It's not necessarily spreading the ball around to keep everybody happy. We're attacking in different ways. We run it, we throw it, we get it to different guys. When your number is called, it's your opportunity to make a play and Roy did that the other day. Really, he's done that all year.”

Real or imagined Williams’ lack of previous lack of impact limited the Cowboys offense. Whether it was because Williams’ couldn’t produce or the Cowboys didn’t trust him doesn’t matter.  Defenses didn’t have to account for him because the Cowboys didn’t go to him.

Now everything should be in play for the Cowboys offense.

If they scheme to take lead receiver Miles Austin out the game, which the Texans did, then Williams can burn them. Austin caught 20 passes in the first two games. He was limited to two against the Texans while facing double teams. The Texans guarded Williams one on one with rookie safety Kareem Jackson, who was mentally and physically hazed all game.

“Roy Williams has been playing good the first two games,” Phillips said.  “Like I said, Miles was kind of the target the first couple of games, but Roy when he was asked to make a play made the play. This game, Miles was covered more, and Tony went to the guy that was open and Roy made plays. I was glad to see that.  That’s what all the talk was about, I think. How many weapons we had. I think you can include Roy in that group.”

It goes beyond Williams for the Cowboys. He is just the lightening rod because of his $9 million annual salary and the bevy of draft picks the Cowboys gave up to get him.

His effort against the Texans was important for his confidence and that of the Cowboys. It was also necessary to get on tape for opposing teams.

But Romo has spread the ball around all season. The Cowboys have five players who rank in the top 34 in receptions in the NFC led by Austin’s 22 which ranks second overall. Tight end Jason Witten has 15 catches. Rookie receiver  Dez Bryant has 14, followed by Williams with 12 and tight end Martellus Bennett with 11.

All totaled Romo has completed  to nine different receivers this season. While Austin has been the main target, different players have broken out in each game.

Bryant had a career high eight catches in week 1. Bennett had a career high five in week 2 and that was before Williams’ breakthrough performance against the Texans.

 “The real good passing games we see certainly and ours has been one of them, has spread the ball out quite a bit,” Phillips said. “Just like if they’re taking away the run you’ve got to be able to throw it; if they’re taking away the pass you’ve got to be able to run it. If you can’t throw it to a certain guy maybe you can throw it to someone else. So that’s what you have to be ready for -- to be versatile enough offensively. That’s what it takes.”

It could likely mean fewer individual catches but it makes the Cowboys offense extremely potent and hard to defend.

Witten has caught at least 80 passes every year since 2007, including at least 90 in two of the last three.

He said he knows those numbers will go down but he said he can handle it because of he sees the big picture of getting everybody involved.

Now that a lit up Williams has finally exploded, the possibilities are endless.