And the hits just keep on coming. Not only has the 2010 season not played out well, but the 2009 Dallas Cowboys draft is turning into one to forget. Today, the Cowboys cut their top pick in the 2009 draft, third-round linebacker Jason Williams. If you remember, that was the draft when the Cowboys ended up with 12 picks. So far, basically two have contributed in a significant way.
Jason Williams was a supremely athletic linebacker who was supposed to use his physical gifts to help inside, backing up the two main starters, and hopefully one day stepping into a starter's role himself. It never panned out. Injuries, an inability to learn the defense, and middling play relegated Williams to a special-teamer. Even that wasn't good enough to keep him around
Aaron detailed the carnage that is turning out to be the 2009 draft class in a post a couple of weeks ago. That was written because the Cowboys had just cut their other third-round pick, lineman Robert Brewster (who has since ended up on the practice squad). And bunched in was the release of 2009 pick Mike Hamlin.
See the 2009 draft carnage details below...
Out of that 2009 draft, only John Phillips and David Buehler have contributed in a meaningful way. Victor Butler has had a few moments at outside linebacker along with special teams, and Stephen McGee and Brandon Williams have managed to hang on in backup roles.
Aaron's recap with updates:
Jason Williams - Was a special teamer and gets in some on nickel and dime packages.
Robert Brewster (PS) - The Cowboys brought him back to the practice squad. Seeing that they just invested a roster spot on OT Jeremy Parnell (plucked him from the Saints' practice squad), that could be all the project they want on the outside. We all know they're planning on drafting four offensive tackles in 2011 right?
Stephen McGee - He's kind of active every now and the,n when the team doesn't take advantage of that emergency-third quarterback rule. Looked pretty good at the end of the preseason.
Victor Butler - Special teamer and gets in on the rotation behind Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware. Was all over the field in the preseason.
Brandon Williams - Always inactive. Probably just a number crunch thing but this guy turned heads in camp and is said to have a good pass-rushing burst.
DeAngelo Smith - Trivia question: Who did David Buehler beat in a footrace in the '09 camp? Yeah, this guy didn't make the cut that year. Don't think that race had anything to do with it.
Mike Hamlin - Whodathunkit? Was it the Matt Forte touchdown? The presence of Danny McCray and Barry Church?
David Buehler - After last season, Buehler arguably shared the '09 cool rookie crown with the team's later 6th-rounder. His booming touchbacks are not automatic anymore. His placekicking accuracy is still a work in progress.
Stephen Hodge - Put on IR, recovering from microfracture surgery. Is he an inside linebacker? Probably more than a safety. He could be one heckuva special teams guy.
John Phillips - On IR. Admit it. We all miss him. The TE/FB situation has been a turnstyle. He's likely the class of this class.
Mike Mickens -See "Deangelo Smith" minus the Buehler race thing and add that Mickens remained on the practice squad until the Bucs snagged him last November.
Manny Johnson (PS) - In his second-year on the practice squad. After seeing his buddy Holley get the call during his second year on the P-squad, Johnson has got to have some hope the team will someday do the same for him. It's a logjam at the wideout position right now. The Cowboys, though, love them some WRs on special teams units.