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Should You Buy Your Roy Williams Dallas Cowboy Jersey Now?

I know there are doubters out there, and that's your prerogative. However, I'm thinking that Roy Williams is going to have a great year in 2009.

Last year was not a stellar year and his low production gave fuel to those who doubt that Williams was worth what the Cowboys gave up for him. There were three contributing factors to his lack of production last year (19 receptions/198 yards/ 1 TD) that need to be taken into consideration.

He came to the Cowboys with the season well underway and he had to adjust to a new QB and new teammates almost overnight.  To illustrate how familiarity can impact a player's performance, consider that he had more yards in the first five games with Detroit than he had the rest of the season in Dallas.

More after the jump.

Star-divide

He struggled with plantar fasciitis, a painful foot condition that caused him problems for a significant part of his season.  All players endure and play with some degree of pain, but mix the pain with the uncertainty that comes with being the new guy and you have a better understanding of why his timing and reactions might have been off.

The third contributing factor was that the Cowboys lacked balls. (Shame on you) What I mean is the team had a lot of talent and Romo had other options to spread the balls around to - options that Romo may have had more confidence in.

That was 2008, now take a look at his last two full seasons in Detroit. In 2007 he missed four games with an injury and his production was still 64 receptions/ 838 yards/ 5 TDs on a team that finished 7 - 9. That season the Lions offense was ranked last in rushing attempts, ranked next to last in rushing yards, gave up 20 interceptions and 51 sacks. When you played the Lions you schemed to stop the pass; you keyed on the receivers. If you were to extrapolate out for Williams having a full season his numbers that year would look more like 85 receptions/ 1117 yards/ 6 TDs.

Go back another year and look at 2006 when the Lions finished 3 - 13 and that year their offense was ranked dead last in rushing attempts and yards, with Kitna being tagged for 22 interceptions and 63 sacks. Williams had his best year as a pro compiling 82 receptions/ 1310 yards/ 7 TDs. His complimentary receiving mate was Mike Furrey. Admittedly, Detroit was operating under the pass-happy offensive scheme of Mike Martz and William's numbers may have benefited from playing there. However, if everyone in the stadium is thinking pass, and your receiver is still winning those battles, that's a good thing.

Fast forward to 2009. Roy Williams looks healthy and focused. He is in his home state where his folks will have to read every comment written about him. Williams and Romo have developed a connection, getting familiar with each others timing. Opponents will have to account for Smash, Dash and Tash as well as players like Jason Witten and Marty B. Roy Williams' complementary receivers are at least as good if not better than Mike Furrey.

If Roy Williams can put up respectable numbers on a struggling team with a marginal supporting cast, isn't it safe to assume he could do the same on a more balanced team with stronger players around him?

I think he can and I think he will. You may want to buy your Roy E. Williams jerseys now folks, they could get more expensive as the season rolls on.

Poll
Do you think Roy E. Williams will have a 1000 yard season in 2009?
Yes
1216 votes
No
218 votes

1434 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 52 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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You just can't go adjusting....

….What a guy’s stats would look like if he’d lasted through a whole season. Staying healthy is the most important trait for a player. And since Williams has only played the entirety of one season totally healthy; considering that he’s halfway through his career, I can’t think of a bigger red flag concerning him than that.

I don’t think Williams necessarily needs a 1,000-yard season to be considered a success story in ’09. Consider this: Would the team benefit more from…….

A.) Williams having 1,100 yards but needing a disproportionate amount of targets (i.e., forcefeeding, the biggest complaint against T.O. last year) to achieve that milestone
OR…………

B.) Would the team be better served by Williams merely contributing 850-900 yards but with guys like Marty B and Felix becoming way bigger factors in the passing game because everybody is getting their catches in the flow of the game and no one player is considered the overwhelming primary target the way T.O. was?

by MadMick on Jul 17, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions  

Austin & Hurd

Should get a few more passes and this would make Williams not have to have TO numbers? This is the biggest argument made from those that claim the Cowboys are going to slip this year. The argument is they will miss the talent of T O and have made a terrible mistake by releasing him.

IMO they could get a few passes to Felix Jones and a few more to Witten. However, I am really concerned about Williams. He could be a complete bust and catch just a few passes or he could have a good year. IMO it will be somewhere in between. I am basing this on last years’ production. He was awful. I have a good feeling about the team this year. But I do not have one about Williams.

by cowboy1966 on Jul 17, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

I have my own reservations but have to have some faith in the Cowboys evaluation

I can’t believe they would totally whiff on a guy and misjudge him that badly. I have to believe he’s capable of putting up some pretty solid numbers.

by StillHateTheGiants on Jul 17, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions  

I agree with you here

It’s the same tired argument Giants fans hear about Burress. If you have the weapons to spread the ball around, you don’t need a number one guy hogging the passes.

Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!

by bigbluethruandthru on Jul 18, 2009 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

I agree

The problem is in the adjustment period though. Over time the Giants will be jsut fine without LPax, but it’ll take some time to re-calculate the touches, etc. Same with Dallas.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 18, 2009 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

That would be "Plax"

if you’re not fluent in dyslexia…

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 18, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions  

Dyslexia is such a cruel word

For dyslexics to spell.

How Bout Them Cowboys!

by sprprsnmn on Jul 19, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions  

Passing Yards

For most NFL teams, but sure enough the Cowboys, the numbers that will count are passing yards. It doesn’t matter who does the catching, what matters is how many yards/touchdowns are gained. There are a plethora of receiving targets on this team. Roy Williams doesn’t have to lead the league in receiving yards this year, heck he doesn’t even have to lead the team so long as the ball is thrown around to the other guys.

Personally, I look for Williams to have a very solid year.

by geth13 on Jul 18, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

+1

if RW has 800 yards and 10 TDs it will be a very productive year for him. Moreover, I am looking for sizable YAC

by dcfanz on Jul 18, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

The health issue is a concern

but the same has been said of TO and he was still marginally effective in the league. I think the Second Coming (RW2) will be fine.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 18, 2009 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions  

3rd and longs.

Should be fun to watch with Witten and Martellus and Williams.

x

by BlueZombie on Jul 18, 2009 12:17 AM CDT reply actions  

Don't Know!

I was under the impression Roy had speed, but was a long strider, kind of like Burress or Moss, but smaller. Now what I’m hearing is he is a big bodied possesion guy, kind of like Keyshawn Johnson, but maybe faster and not quite as physical; or is he a higbred mixure of both or neither?
 I guess I’ll go with: 850 to 1000 with 7 to 12 TDs. Guess I couldn’t brag alot, but I wouldn’t have to be ashamed.

by bad knees on Jul 18, 2009 12:49 AM CDT reply actions  

Roy has what it takes to be successful

I don’t think he needs to be T.O. 2.0 in order to be a good #1 receiver for us. We have a metric f’ing ton of weapons in the passing game. He’s capable of being a good receiver, which is really all we need.

But sure, I think he’ll get 1000 yards or so. I don’t think it’s all that far fetched. I don’t expect us to completely shift from pass first offense to a run first offense. Pretty sure Romo’s going to be throwing a ton this season, and Williams’ numbers will likely benefit.

Epic Fail since 1985

by the red scare on Jul 18, 2009 1:24 AM CDT reply actions  

It's not the yards I'm concerned with

I think he’ll end up with around 900 or so, and that’s fine because he can still be very effective.

What I really want from RW is the touchdowns. I want him to be an effective red zone target. I want Garrett to remember that RW can go up and get the ball in the back of the end zone especially when he’s trying to be too cutesy near the goal line.

The Cowboys’ O is good enough to keep the chains moving. In the T.O. era, it seemed like a lot of our TDs came as a result of a big play. But it also seemed that we faltered sometimes as we approached our opponents’ end zone. This year, in similar situations, I’m really looking forward to Romo getting the ball to Williams for the score.

Everything's looking up, Milhouse!

by accidental innuendo on Jul 18, 2009 2:35 AM CDT reply actions  

sooo... Off Topic But!!!

Ok … let me first warn you *The following footage may not be suitable for small children…*

If the cowboys have a chemistry issues this season you can’t blame it on our guy TChoice… he gets everyone involved in the locker room humor… Watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61cxISKkd7Y

Whether you think you can or you think you can't either way your right

by UnNessecsary Roughness on Jul 18, 2009 5:47 AM CDT reply actions  

wow

"What you get when you put that #9 wit that #11? ...That's right 9-1-1!" - Roy Williams.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jul 18, 2009 6:52 AM CDT up reply actions  

hmm

Prime Time: If we were playing a game of pickup basketball, what should I expect?
Tony Romo: Well...I'd spot you 10 points if we were playing to 11.

by aussie_cowboy on Jul 18, 2009 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions  

mwahahahhahaha

Don't believe everything you think.

Your causes are cute!!!

by stoproyce on Jul 18, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions  

That's just wrong...

on sooooo many levels.

It's not personal, it's just business

by Fighter15 on Jul 19, 2009 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions  

Disturbingly accurate

Training Camp '09 = Mega Thunder Dome....80 men enter, 53 men leave.

by APerfectStar on Jul 19, 2009 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

funny how....

No one seems to remember how roy busted us up everytime we played detroit!roy is one of the best wideouts in the game. He’s tall, sure handed, and ran a 4.37 at the combine. I think everyone is waaaaaayyyy to caught up in these labels!!!“is he fast enought? Is he a possession guy? Is he TO 2.0?”look it aint about speed jerry rice proved that first of all. If everyone was meant to be a blazer like steve smith than smith wouldn’t be that unigue. The common thread with all great receivers is they all can do something that the defense simply can’t stop ever play. Jerry rice had THE BEST rout running and hands, moss had the best speed and hands, steve smith has elite speed, quickness, and elusiveness and roy has the ability to catch it in traffic, great hands(evidenced by his one hand catches in games and practice),and is probably the 2nd best redzone target amongst wideouts(not many corners stopping a job ball to him). My point is no wide receiver beats the defense every play,they just have to be able to do it maybe 5 to six times a game. Six catches a game equals 98 catches……. probowl numbers. And sidenote what if williams is keyshawn like? We all remember key at the end of his career but he was dominating force at the beginning….

by da universe's team on Jul 18, 2009 6:38 AM CDT via mobile reply actions  

I voted no

I think that RW11 will end up with double digit TDs and about 900 yds. I think Witten will be the #1 target now, and he has a better chance of 1,000 yards. Sounds dumb, but that’s my gut feeling.

Sugar ... water .... and, of course, purple.

by Dub_TC on Jul 18, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions  

I think they both can go over 1,000 yards

because Romo is going to throw close to 4,000.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 20, 2009 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions  

I for one am not worried in the least about how RW will preform

Even if he rounds out the season with 800-900 yards it should be considered a very good season, though I still think he breaks the 1000 yard mark and somewhere around 8-10 TD’s. If we didn’t have all the other great players around him, and he was the only go to guy, then I have no doubt he would be putting up 1200-1400 yards. Name me another team that has this many serious threats on O at the same time;

Roy W.
Jason Witten
M.Barber or T.Choice
Felix Jones
Martellus Bennett

That’s not even including the other receivers that could in all reality have break out years.

This league has not yet seen the best of Roy Williams, you can count on it.

by sublimezg on Jul 18, 2009 11:21 AM CDT reply actions  

I hate the Bawstun baked bean eating bastids but the Pats......

Seriously, unless Brady is a shell of his former self, I don’t know how those douchebags won’t be dropping 63 points a game on fools’ heads. Well, maybe Billy Boy will be a little leery of leaving Tom Teriffic and his new ligament out there all exposed in blowouts…..

For example, if the Pats thought enough of Galloway to sign him, he’s obviously got something left and will still probably present at least an ’06 Terry Glenn-quality type of deep threat.

by MadMick on Jul 18, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

They come the closest

But they still don’t have as many weapons IMO. Moss, Welker, Galloway (getting really old). None of their RB’s scare me but I’ll even toss in Maroney and Fred Taylor. Their TE’s? no thanks. Brady is obviously scary good too.

by sublimezg on Jul 18, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions  

speaking of Moss, I read somwhere that

hypothetically if the Cowboys would have drafted him instead of Ellis, he would of had a messy divorce with the organization, because after Troy Aikman went down, there would have been nobody to throw him the ball and he would have wanted out.
Who knows, but sounds like a plausible scenario to me.

by dcfanz on Jul 18, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

I don't understand your point

You’re trying to say that Moss would have been unimpressed with the quarterbacking prowess of Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, and Chad Hutchinson??

Absurd.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 18, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

I was going for the cream of the crap

so Henson should have made the list, no doubt.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 19, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions  

While we're speculating ...

maybe Troy doesn’t get hurt with a loaded Moss(berg) available. Shotgun formation, here we come!

by GalTex on Jul 18, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

I have always thought that. He wouldnt have put those numbers here.

He went to probably 1 of 3 places that had a QB with an arm he couldnt outrun.(Farve and maybe Elway the other 2)

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gen. George Patton

by squidlo97 on Jul 18, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

I remember this guy in his first couple of years

I really wished that the Cowboys had selected him. He may not be the slickest, fastest, most explosive WR in the league, but he has a talent for catching the ball in a crowd, and muscling his way to get open. He definitely has great hands.

I agree that we should be spreading the ball around. I also think that Felix, if healthy, will be the new star and number 1 threat on the team. Barber has his value in short yardage, goal line, and late game applications. Choice can be a durable between the tackles runner. Bennett is a dangerous TE, and Witten can be your bread and butter target.

We should be using all of these players for their skill sets. We need to take advantage of what each player can do. We need to keep the defenses guessing by moving the ball around the offense. Between Crayton, Hurd, and Austin we have a trio of WR that can contribute.

Romo needs to protect the ball, and stop the wild throws. The offensive line needs to play as a unit, and each do their job. All of these things are doable. If Garrett can just envision this philosophy, and Romo can be effective at finding the open man, this offense will flourish. If all of these things can come together, I don’t think the league has ever seen an offense quite like this before.

Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.

Joe ThEEsman

by SB Six on Jul 18, 2009 11:47 AM CDT reply actions  

Even though I am concerned about Williams

I do think he will be a good choice in the red zone. With the 3 headed monster on the running game and Williams, Witten & Bennett as options the red zone offense looks very very good.

by cowboy1966 on Jul 18, 2009 6:22 PM CDT reply actions  

I look at it this way

TO was struggling against press coverage, possibly because he’s lost a little bit of explosiveness. Williams should not have that problem because he’s stil young and much more physical. Given that Owens was having trouble getting open quickly while the line has had issues holding blocks, I think this should be an upgrade.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 19, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

It's his hands...

Roy has much better hands, fights for the ball, and uses his body better than t.o. ever did.

With all the crucial drops the past few years, you would think everyone would be doing cartwheels knowing that we finally have a proven #1 receiver that will make the tough catch in the clutch.

It's not personal, it's just business

by Fighter15 on Jul 19, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions  

I was thinking the same thing.

His hands and use of body make him potentially an elite WR.

by staubachfan on Jul 19, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions  

I agree with you dunkman, Fighter15 & staubachfan with all of your

knocks on TO and that Roy has better hands. But I am still wrapped up in the year that Roy had in 2008. He didn’t do anything last year.

by cowboy1966 on Jul 19, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

It is a tough one to think about

but I think it was an anomaly. And I think Owens has lost just a touch of his explosiveness, which if nothing else wold have brought him back to the field in terms of production.

When a WR loses that part of his game (and they all do eventially) they have to fall back on precise route running (as Jerry Rice did) and/or hands (like Keyshawn) to stay productive. TO doesn’t have either one of those ad I think the team realized that they had seen the best of him and could afford to let him go.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 20, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

I, too, look for a good year from Roy.

He’s not been unproductive in Detroit, as you point out, and there’s every reason for him to be comfortable and focused here this year after training camp. The coaches, the QBs, the meetings, hell, getting from home to practice, are all becoming familiar.

"We'll see." --Bill Parcells

by Uncle Angus on Jul 18, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions  

If we had Moss....

Aikman may not have gotten hurt.
Irving may have been let go because of this exact argument about enough balls to go around and who is number one.
Irving doesn’t get in the HOF
No Forth and Long.

by staubachfan on Jul 19, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions  

Except

Randy Moss was drafted in 1998.

I don’t think that the 1 and a quarter year year left on Irvin’s career got him in the hall, it’s probably the years before that combined with 3 super bowl rings.

by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on Jul 19, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions  

Dude; are you high?

I have no idea who this Urbing is you speak of, but Michael Irvin was already a shue-in. Also, not enough balls to go around? Too cliche. Cris Carter averaged right on 87 receptions a season opposite Randy Moss. Unless you want to argue that Emmitt still got more carries than most backs and that’s why there wouldn’t be enough balls to around for two great receivers. However, by that point, Emmitt never averaged more than 20 carries a game or more specifically got near the 360-carry mark which he had hit when he and the team was in its prime.

by MadMick on Jul 19, 2009 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

Aikman would have held on to the ball longer waiting for the deep route.

He actually would have taken more shots. He wasnt mobile to begin with and he was a statue by 98.

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gen. George Patton

by squidlo97 on Jul 19, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

I do kind of get the Aikman point.

However, Rocket Ismail was a fairly dangerous deep threat with Aikman throwing to him during that period. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say having Moss wouldn’t have at least been worth 3 more wins per season. That doesn’t necessarily mean the franchise would’ve been reinvigorated in the most meaningful way; i.e. hoisting Lombardies. But Moss would’ve made a huge difference. The guys Aikman was throwing to after Irvin went down and then after Galloway went down in the next year’s season opener were supernobodies.

by MadMick on Jul 19, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Thats true.

But he took big shots with them as well. I was thinking in terms of extending his career. You have to hold on to the ball longer for the deep ball. Moss coming out really had only 2 routes he excelled at. The go, and then when some body gave him to much cushion, the stop. We would have probably won more though and wouldnt have wasted 2 first rounders on Galloway.. I cant argue with that.

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gen. George Patton

by squidlo97 on Jul 19, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions  

Great points.

Yeah, I can’t discount how susceptible Aikman was to the big killshot by that point. Much like Steve Young, who still had fine weapons when he was forced out of the game by similiar issues, Aikman was very punch-drunk by that point. Obviously passing on Moss was a mistake. I think we can all agree on that. If it’s any solace to Jerry, aside from Fred Taylor whose career has been marred by injuries, there weren’t any all-time greats in the first round of that draft sandwiched between No. 1: (Peyton Manning) and No. 22 (Moss) so you can’t kick Jerry for passing on Moss when nearly 3/4’s of the other owners also did.

by MadMick on Jul 19, 2009 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

+1

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gen. George Patton

by squidlo97 on Jul 20, 2009 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions  

You know you never here Fred Taylors name mentioned

but despite his injuries he was almost as talented. I wonder if he would have had as many injuries behind our line.

A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. Gen. George Patton

by squidlo97 on Jul 20, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions  

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