Roy Williams: Leading The League In Smiles

When you’re down, turn that frown upside down.

At least that’s the concept, right?

For wide receiver Roy Williams, when your season has only been an incremental improvement on last year’s dud of a debut, all you can do is smile.

Roy giveth and he taketh away. 

For every touchdown caught, he’s seemingly drops an equally important pass. Roy had another inexplicable drop last night against the Redskins. His only reaction to the play was to flash his toothy “that’s just football” grin; a look fans are getting all too accustomed of seeing on Williams.

Ultimately, it didn’t hurt the Cowboys’ cause this time around, but those missed opportunites have a way of catching up to you in the playoffs.

To be exact, Roy has accounted for seven drops, which ties him for fifth in the NFL. When contrasted by the limited number of passes thrown his direction, his drop ratio is scary.

It’s obvious that Romo may be losing confidence in Williams’s ability to perform. 

During this last four game stretch, Romo has effectively made Miles Austin his No. 1 wide receiver by targeting him 43 times versus the 25 times he’s thrown to Williams in that same period.

I suppose we’ll never know the truth as to why Williams has struggled so much in Dallas until perhaps after his departure.

What we do know is his production is far lower than what was expected from a guy who cost you a first-, third- and sixth-round pick, plus a $45 million ($20 million guaranteed) contract.

24 games
57 receptions
794 yards
8 TD

I espouse this theory; what side of it you fall on is up to you.

A lot of times general managers trade for good players on bad teams believing they can become great players with better surrounding talent. Other times good players appear to be great when they are the best thing on a bad team.

What category do you believe Roy Williams falls into?

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Cowboys Don’t Miss Kicking Folk To The Curb

Looks like an early Christmas wish has been given to Cowboy fans.

Per profootballtalk.com (whom I despise), placekicker Nick Folk has gotten the boot in preference of just released kicker Shaun Suisham.

Suisham has a prior history with the Cowboys, having kicked for them in six games over the course of two seasons (2005-06).

Suisham can relate to Folks recent misery, having been given his walking papers by the Redskins shortly after missing a crucial 22-yard field goal against the then undefeated Saints, which would have sealed the game.

For Folk, a former Pro-Bowler, it simply looks like a classic case of the yips.  I wrote about Folk’s sketchy mental state in my Week 13 ruminations a few weeks back. 

Folk leads the league in missed field goals with 10 this season.

Ironically enough, the final straw for Dallas was Folk’s clank of a game-clinching 24-yard chip shot against the Saints on Dec. 19.

The Cowboys held on to win the game, but apparently had seen enough of Folk.

The team is in the midst of a playoff push and clearly decided it could not rely on Folk’s inconsistencies down-the-stretch.

Suishum will surely be looking to exact a bit of revenge when he suits up in his first game against the Redskins on Dec. 27.

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Snap Count: Week 13 Ruminations

Snap Count’s Week 13 observations:

ARI 30, MIN 17

The Vikings are who I thought they were; a pretty good, but not great team that plays in a weak division.  They have a look of a team that will be one and done come playoff time.

Vikings’ linebacker E. J. Henderson leg injury was pretty disturbing.  However, the all time worst leg injury I’ve ever seen was the one suffered by former Raider running back Napolean McCallum on MNF.

 

NYG 31, DAL 24

It would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic, but someone needs to pull Cowboy cornerback Terence Newman to the side and teach him how and why he needs to shed a block.  This isn’t the first time I’ve witnessed Newman doing a 30-yard backpedal while locked up with a wide receiver as the ball carrier runs by him.  Fall down, throw your man to the side, do something to force the ball carrier to change his angle.

While Giants running back Brandon Jacobs demonstrated his straight-line speed and agility by tight-roping the sideline, his effort was helped by teammate Darcy Johnson’s blatant hold on safety Gerald Sensabaugh along the way.  

If you didn’t believe the media in general were made up of parroting idiots, listening to ESPN, Dan Patrick, and Rodney Harrison lay the blame of yesterday’s game on Romo will do it.

Cowboys place kicker Nick Folk may be mentally toast.  With two missed FGs yesterday, Folk has missed five of his last seven attempts and has had four straight games with misses.  Kickers cracking mentally is nothing new.  Former NFL kicker Mike Vanderjagt was once known as the league’s most accurate kicker.  After a crucial missed field goal in a 2005 divisional playoff game against the Steelers, Vanderjagt spiraled out of the league after a brief stint with the Cowboys a season later.

Mike Jenkins has assumed (or taken) the title of No. 1 corner from teammate Terence Newman.  Jenkins has my vote for Pro Bowl consideration.

I hate to take credit from a team that won the game, but that’s just what I’m about to do.  The Giants’ just don’t impress me this season.

 

NO 33, WAS 30

If you needed further convincing that the Saints are having a charmed season, the win over the Redskins should be all the evidence you need.  They’ve won in blowouts, close games, and registered more than a few come-from-behind wins.  As a result, you’re going to see a battle tested team that’s prepped to go deep into the playoffs.

 

SEA 20, SF 17

Despite the loss, 49er quarterback Alex Smith put together another solid performance.  The 49ers would do well to give Smith the certainty of being named starter early as they move into this offseason.

After years of unfairly being labelled a bust, tight end Vernon Davis is putting together a Pro Bowl season.  His signature go-to route is straight up the seam over top of the safety.  A large number of his 10 touchdowns this season has come via that route.

 

SDG 30, CLE 23

Without hesitation, Philip Rivers should be counted as one of the league’s few elite quarterbacks.  If the Chargers continue to finish strong, Rivers should be up for MVP consideration.

For a QB, must be nice to loft up passes to a pair of 6’5″ wide receivers in Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.  On more than just a few occasions I’ve seen Rivers chunk a deep ball and let his receivers compete for the ball.

 

OAK 27, PIT 24

The Steelers’ season may be in peril, but it looks like they may have found their starting running back of the future in Rashard Mendenhall .  Mendenhall is primed to post the Steelers’ first 1,000 yard rusher since Willie Parker in ’07.

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Forget His Hands—Roy Williams’ Heart Called into Question

Unfurl the scroll of criticisms directed towards Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams, and you would have a list longer than Schindler’s.

He’s lazy; he’s slow; he doesn’t run routes well; he’s got big clown feet; et cetera.

You name it, and it’s probably been said about the beleaguered receiver at some point.

Media talking heads and fans have a habit of turning pimples into boils.

However, the latest accusation is perhaps the most disturbing, if for no other reason the fact it came from one of Williams’ NFL peers.

If you haven’t heard already, Redskins safety LaRon Landry unequivocally called into question Williams’ heart.

Landry had some candid thoughts regarding Williams as relayed by Matt Terl, writer for the Redskins’ official blog, while discussing with Landry his effect on Williams after the Redskins’ 7-6 loss to the rival Cowboys.

“Scared,” Landry plainly described Williams’ play.

“Yeah, I know he was. Y’all can quote it, too. Y’all can tell him right now, tell him I’m saying it. I can say it right now: Yeah, he was scared, I think. I told him he was scared.”

When Terl asked Landry what Williams said in response to his on-the-field bantering, “Nothing,” said Landry.

Landry went on to discuss specifics as to why he felt Williams was playing scared.

“Certain pass concepts they had, […] certain routes he ran, you could tell he didn’t want any part of it.”

Upon first blush, this seems like a pretty damning criticism being leveled at Williams.

You can be a lot of things in the testosterone-fueled game of football, but you can’t be a heartless wimp.

Furthermore, when you have a fellow peer calling you into question, it stings just a bit more.

However, with a little perspective and source consideration, one realizes it’s probably much to do about nothing.

First off, I’m certainly no Roy Williams apologist, but I’m a wee bit sympathetic toward a receiver on the mend from three cracked ribs who demonstrates a slight reluctance in throwing his hands over his head with 215 lbs. of muscled aggression coming his way.

Just a little bit.

Those who have experienced broken ribs will tell you that it’s a debilitating injury. It hurts to breathe, twist, or stretch, let alone jog or full-out sprint. 

Secondly, a defensive back calling out a wide receiver is nothing new. This has been going on since the forward pass was legalized in the league in 1933.

As to Williams’ supposed silent reaction after Landry’s taunts—that’s just junior high level psychoanalysis.

Since Landry took some liberty in doing so, allow me to do some of my own.

Considering some of the factors noted above, not to mention the fact the Redskins had just lost a tough game, it’s understandable how a known hothead such as Landry would lash out, feeling like they lost but didn’t really get beat by Dallas.

It sounds to me like Landry just found some personal solace in muzzling one of the Cowboys’ offensive weapons.

Conversely, it could all be true. Maybe Williams is a wuss. Maybe he did get punked on the field.

I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt though. At least until further proof is provided.

This really seems to be much ado about nothing. 

More than likely it’s just a talented yet emotionally wounded safety venting after a tough divisional loss.

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Dallas Cowboys: Fans, Step Away From The Ledge

The feeling of impending doom hit me pretty early in the Cowboy 17-7 loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Right when Nick Folk missed that 38-yard field goal on the Cowboys’ first drive was when I felt the lug nuts start loosening on the wheels.

Only when Felix failed to recover that fumble in the fourth quarter did the wheels officially come off.

They were clearly beaten, bruised and battered by a Packers team that had its season on the brink.

Funny thing was, five minutes after the game, I was over it.

The Cowboys got beat by a team that had a better defensive scheme, playing on their field, against a team with their back against the wall.

This wasn’t the 44-6, heartless, playoffs-on-the-line, rotten egg, the Cowboys laid last year against the Eagles. 

No, the team, specifically the defense, gave a great effort in shutting down the Packs’ aerial attack for most of the afternoon.

Like most losses, you can lay blame on a lot of things. 

The team got some poor performances from a few players.  They lost the turnover battle and faced some inexplicably bad refereeing.  Sprinkled in a few injuries and the Cowboys’ penchant for stupid penalties and you have your classic recipe for a loss.

The team didn’t fold up though; they simply got beat by the better team, today . 

I can live with that.

Let me point something out to you.  No Cowboy team which has won a Super Bowl has ever gone undefeated.  Even more clearly, the teams that did win the Super Bowl all had multiple losses during the regular season.

1971 – SB VI – (11-3) regular season record
1977 – SB XII – (12-2)
1992 – SB XVII – (13-3)
1993 – SB XVIII – (12-4)
1996 – SB XXX – (12-4)

So what is my point? 

The point is, even these past Super Bowl winners faced defeat on more than one occasion on their way to adding a Lombardi to the trophy case.

They all lost games they undoubtedly thought they should have won.  They all felt doom, gloom and despair after dropping a game.

Every loss is ugly; there is no way to get around it.  But, perspective is in order.

Are the Cowboys a Super Bowl quality team?  That remains to be seen.

Let the season take its course and revisit it when the season is at least closer to its completion. 

The Cowboys face a new challenge; how will they react coming off a loss after playing so well previously?

I’m the farthest thing from a homer with rose-colored glasses, but I feel like they will lick their wounds and move forward in righting the ship next week at home against the Redskins.

 

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Hold the Relish, Bring on the Cheese

With a crucial win over the division rival Eagles last Sunday night, the Cowboys made it official:

They’re rollin’ .

During the course of their current four-game win streak, the Cowboys (6-2, first in NFC East) faced and answered a new challenge on weekly basis.

Can they rebound from the disappointing loss in Denver and beat a tin can like the Chiefs?

Can they beat a legitimately good opponent like Atlanta?

Can they slay an old demon and beat one of the league’s best in Philadelphia?

The team answered with a resounding yes on all accounts.

However, just as the team has evolved during these recent weeks, so will the challenges.

The present question that must be answered is how the team will respond in Green Bay coming fresh off an emotional win.

The Cowboys must be mindful of not falling into the trap of relishing their latest victory.

The Packers pose a dangerous threat to rain on the Cowboys’ parade.

Ironically, the Cowboys have been sort of a monkey on the Packers’ back of late.  Of recent history, the Cowboys have beaten the Packers handily in ’08 (DAL 27 – GB 16) and ’07 (GB 27 – DAL 37).

For the Packers (4-4, second in NFC North), it has been a season of uneven performances. 

Outside of their most recent loss against the previously winless Buccaneers, the Packers had beaten up on proverbial doormats (STL, DET, CLE) and struggled against competitive teams (MIN, CIN).

Yet, with all that said, the Packers are dangerous.

Quarterback Aaron Rogers may have the league’s strongest arm, and he’s flanked by a stockpile of talented receivers.

The defense, which is making the transition to the 3-4, has talent at all the positions. 

Of special note is the play of rookie outside linebacker Clay Matthews.  Call it a hunch, but count on Matthews to factor in on a big play this Sunday.

The secondary continues to be feast-or-famine with Al Harris and Charles Woodson manning the corners.

If Wade Phillips can get his troops to continue to focus and not get caught up in hoopla of their recent wins and the accompanying press clippings, the Cowboys should tally another win.

“…each week it just presents different challenges, but to stack up wins you’ve got to just take it one game at a time,” said linebacker Bradie James. 

I get the sense this current team gets it; they’ve seen this movie before and didn’t like the ending.

Bring on the cheese.

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Cowboys’ Spotlight: Mike Jenkins’ Star Is Rising

Perhaps lost in the hysteria created by Miles Austin’s meteoric rise; Romo’s improved game management and the Cowboys’ subsequent four game win streak, is a player on the defensive side of the ball that might quietly be making the biggest impact of them all.

Cowboys’ second year cornerback Mike Jenkins is flat-out ballin’ (as they say).

In fact, Jenkins’ stellar play traces back to the start of the season when he was named starter for the opener against Tampa Bay.

Wade Phillips’ and the coaching staff went into the season undecided on whether Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick would be the starter opposite of veteran Terence Newman.

They decided to rotate both players in the starter’s role game-by-game, as both players had solid training camps without either clearly claiming the role. 

After Scandrick was humbled in his lone start in Week Two, Jenkins started the following week and never relinquished the spot again.

Since then, he’s been a supreme difference maker.

During the Cowboys’ current four game win streak, Jenkins has registered the following:

12 tackles (10 solo)
4 passes defended
2 INT

The secondary’s improved overall play, and specifically, Jenkins’ ability to lock down his receiver, has enabled the DeMarcus Ware and company that extra half-second to get to the quarterback (Weeks 1-4: 6 sacks vs. Weeks 5-9: 15 sacks).

His highlight interception against the Eagles is exactly the type of make-it-happen playmaking the Cowboys haven’t seen in the secondary since Deion.

On the play, Jenkins wasn’t fooled by Jeremy Maclin’s running-play posturing off the line.  Jenkins took an angle to get on top of Maclin as they streaked up the field.

McNabb’s throw left just enough air under it for Jenkins to undercut the route and make a leaping interception in front of Maclin’s outstretched hands.

(Jenkins discusses interception )

That’s not the type of interception your average cornerback makes.

Jenkins’ is showing himself to be anything but ordinary.

The second (No. 25 overall) of the Cowboys’ first round picks in 2008, Jenkins came highly touted out of the University of South Florida.

Three cornerbacks (Leotis McKelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Aqib Talib) were taken before him in the draft. 

Jenkins came into camp with a chip on his shoulder stemming from his belief that he was the best corner in the draft.

Admittedly, he didn’t prepare himself both mentally and technically as he should have coming into the league.

His rookie season was dotted with some highs (pick-six vs. the Giants in Week 9) and lows (his infamous ole’ tackle attempt on Derrick Ward during the same game).

That low light in fact helped him become a lightning-rod of criticism inside Cowboy Nation, who incessantly questioned his toughness and heart.

This season, Jenkins is arguably the best tackler of the cornerback crew, and his preparation for the game is evident on the field.

If Jenkins’ play of late continues to trend upward, the Cowboys may have just found their future No. 1 corner.

 

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Game within the Game: Better Have a Double-Move

Want to know if Garrett is truly a red-headed genius?

This week’s matchup against the Eagles’ Asante Samuel will be an indicator.

A stock route the Cowboys love to run is the simple comeback or curl route.  The curl route has the receiver run what looks like a go, straight up the sideline 10-15 (or whatever predetermined depth).  They then curl and comeback toward the quarterback.  The Cowboys like to have their receiver curl toward the sideline.

This route has been the bread and butter of a lot of Miles Austin’s success of late (see the Chiefs and Falcons games).

You better believe the ball-hawking Samuel knows this.

Look for Samuel to be eager to jump this route at the slightest hint of a shoulder flinch from Austin.

It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys anticipate this and incorporate some type of double-move to counteract and exploit Samuel’s aggressiveness.

The Cowboys could utilize a stop n’ go route which can get Samuel to bite on the initial move.  Austin (or name your receiver) would then continue streaking up the sideline for a potential big play.

The Cowboys ability to capitalize on the Eagles’ traditionally aggressive defense will be a key to victory.

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Roy Williams’ Time Will Come

Let’s get something straight; Roy Williams is a good receiver.

What Jerry Jones gave up in order acquire him and the amount of the extension he immediately paid him is inconsequential.

Roy Williams is a good receiver.

It’s seems that Cowboy Nation has found its latest gripe to unite around: Bench Roy Williams!

Since the trade mid-season last year, here are Williams’ sobering numbers with the Cowboys:

15 games
31 receptions
428 yards
2 TDs

By comparison, Miles Austin’s last two games have been more productive (16 rec., 421 yards, 4 TDs).

Cowboy fans should realize Williams isn’t Terrell Owens. 

He’s not a stretch-the-field, deep attack, down-the-field receiver.  In fact, he’s much more of a move-the-chains type of receiver who thrives in short to mid-range route running and is an asset to the run game with his blocking. 

If anything, Williams is a younger, faster, stronger version of Keyshawn Johnson circa 2004.

Let’s not get it twisted, though; Williams is a talented receiver. 

You don’t put up a 1,300+ season in the NFL by accident.

Williams’ role is still to be determined in Garrett’s offense.  Make no mistake though, he has a role.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Williams to be benched either. 

Right, wrong or indifferent, there is no scenario in which Williams will find himself demoted and coming off the bench.  Jerry didn’t make Williams the second highest paid receiver in the game for that honor.

Ironically, Austin’s emergence stands to benefit not only Williams, but the rest of the receivers, including tight end Jason Witten.

Going into training camp, the Cowboys envisioned Austin playing across from Williams as the No. 2 receiver.  Austin would provide the team its first true deep threat since Terry Glenn.

Unfortunately, Austin had a lingering hamstring injury that carried on through camp.  Crayton, who was having a great camp, assumed the No. 2 role out of necessity.

Now it appears the receiving corps is set with Williams being the “chain moving” No. 1; Austin the “deep threat” at No. 2, and Crayton at No. 3, working the slot where he’s one of the league’s best.

Williams’ time will come.

Standing 6’3” and 215 pounds, Williams is a big target with good hands and surprising build-up speed. 

It’s apparent Garrett has realized making Williams a moving target is the best way to utilize his specific skill set. 

During the past few games we’ve seen at least attempts to get the ball to Williams on quick slants.  This will continue to be a work in progress as Romo has historically been inaccurate on these types of routes, often throwing behind or high to receivers.

It’s coming.

This offense precludes a dominant, game-in, game-out receiver.  As we’ve seen thus far, Witten, Crayton, Hurd and Austin have all at one time been the team’s leading receivers for the game this season.

Williams’ time will come.

Will he ever perform enough to earn that contract?  Probably not, but that should be taken up with the man who orchestrated the trade and created the contract.

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Gerald Sensabaugh: The “Sensei” Delivers Again

Perhaps lost in the Cowboys’ important win against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons this weekend  was the quietly stellar performance of starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh.

Coming back for his first game since breaking his thumb against Denver in Week Four, Sensabaugh was faced with the tall task of matching up with Atlanta’s future Hall of Fame tight end, Tony Gonzalez.

Sensabaugh didn’t flinch.

After giving up a 17-yard reception early to Gonzalez in the first quarter, Sensabaugh put the clamps on him the rest of the game.  Gonzalez was limited to just four catches for 37-yards on the afternoon, and was effectively shutout of any impactful plays on the game.

Sensabaugh should be commended.

He brings an air of confidence and competence to the position the Cowboys haven’t seen since the days of Darren Woodson.

Interesting enough, both players share similar size (about 6-foot-1, 215 lbs) and skill sets. 

Like Woodson, Sensabaugh has seen time during his days with the Jacksonville Jaguars and lined-up covering the slot receiver.

The Cowboys haven’t saddled him with those duties yet, but he’s shown he’s more than capable of handling some of the league’s better tight ends (Kellen Winslow, Kevin Boss, Tony Gonzalez).

That ability allows the Cowboys to get additional coverage men like Orlando Scandrick or Alan Ball on a wide receiver during certain schemes, maximizing their turnover opportunities during obvious passing downs.

Woody and Sensabaugh also share a love of delivering bone-crushing hits.  Sensabaugh brings a physical presence to the secondary that the Cowboys have sorely been lacking since the early years of Roy Williams.

On a crucial third down play late in the game, Matt Ryan delivered a quick slant to receiver Eric Weems who was racing up the middle of the field toward the first down marker.  Sensabaugh came crashing in for a textbook tackle which stopped Weems dead in his tracks, like a dog yanked back by a chain staked to the ground.

Fans should pay attention to the vigor he applies when tackling a ball carrier.  In fact, Ken Hamlin would do well to pay attention to him.

Sensabaugh’s versatility makes Hamlin potentially expendable at the end of the season.  The Cowboys coaching staff are said to be high on rookie fifth-rounder, Mike Hamlin, and may be keen on incorporating him into the defense as the season goes on.

Ironically, Sensabaugh finds himself in a similar situation that Ken Hamlin was in two seasons ago.  Like Hamlin, Sensabaugh is effectively playing on a one-year “show me” contract.  Clouding the situation is the looming collective bargaining agreement on the horizon. 

Esoteric collective bargaining talk and salary cap ramifications aside, all Sensabaugh needs to do is continue balling out.

The rest will fall in place.

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