DC.COM: Blog: Brandon Williams Practices, Expects To Play

[speedkilz88]

Brandon Williams Practices, Expects To Play


Posted by rphillips at 8/18/2009 6:15 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com



[FONT=verdana,geneva]Rookie linebacker Brandon Williams (strained shoulder) practiced Tuesday afternoon for the first time in nearly a week and said he expects to play Friday against Tennessee.

Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips hasn't said whether the fourth-round pick will be available Friday, but Tuesday's practice was a positive step. The Cowboys will hold a final walkthrough here Wednesday and a light practice Thursday, so it was imperative for Williams to get a full practice in. The Cowboys held him out last week against Oakland.

The Cowboys need Williams and fellow fourth-rounder Victor Butler to replace Greg Ellis as third-down pass rushers, as well as contribute on special teams and be prepared to start if Anthony Spencer or DeMarcus Ware get injured. That's a lot of responsibility for a pair of former college defensive ends who are adjusting to outside linebacker.

Preseason reps are vital for both rookies. Butler struggled against the Raiders, but at least he has some game experience. Williams doesn't -- yet.

"Yeah, practice-wise not being able to physically hit somebody and just go out there and run around with the guys," Williams said of the time he missed. "The mental reps, I got that in, but it's pretty much the physical thing that I missed."

(One more quick note: Tampa Bay has claimed CB Michael Hawkins (knee) off waivers from the Cowboys. RB Alonzo Coleman (quad) cleared waivers and reverts to the Cowboys' reserve/injured list.)

-Rob
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[Dawgs0916]

Niiiiiiiice. Do your thing B-Will

 

[Rampage]

B-Will will get some pressure unlike Victor "sloooooooow mo" Butler

 

[Dawgs0916]

Everybodys hopped on Butler's tippage this offseason, even though players and coaches have been consistently raving about Brandon since he got here.

Ideally both will do well, but I do think Williams is a better pass rusher, and I promise I would say that even if I didn't go to Tech.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Everybodys hopped on Butler's tippage this offseason, even though players and coaches have been consistently raving about Brandon since he got here.

Ideally both will do well, but I do think Williams is a better pass rusher, and I promise I would say that even if I didn't go to Tech.

they've been raving about Victor Butler too

 

[Dawgs0916]

cool beans.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

That's great news.... Finally get to see him in action!

 

[RS12]

B-Will will get some pressure unlike Victor "sloooooooow mo" Butler

Butler looked plenty quick to me against Oakland. Just that his quickness did not amount to productivity. Has alot of work to do on not over running plays and taking propper routes to ball carriers and QB's. Will need some kind of inside pass rush move, that he does not seem to have right now.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

cool beans.

[youtube]ZxBozYRMO18[/youtube]

cool beans

 

[Dawgs0916]

lmao I was actually perturbed by your quip up there, which is why I sarcastically said cool beans.

but with this, you instantly redeemed yourself.

 

[zrinkill]

Everybodys hopped on Butler's tippage this offseason, even though players and coaches have been consistently raving about Brandon since he got here.

Ideally both will do well, but I do think Williams is a better pass rusher, and I promise I would say that even if I didn't go to Tech.

I think Williams is gonna force the Boys to try playing Spencer at DE a little ..... just to get all 3 of them on the field.

 

[Dawgs0916]

I think Williams is gonna force the Boys to try playing Spencer at DE a little ..... just to get all 3 of them on the field.

Thank you kind sir.

 

[dbair1967]

Pretty excited to see him on the field, have heard alot of good about him.

Certainly would love to see him and some of our other guys jack up a certain bust of a 1st rd pick/head case at QB the Titans will trot out there some time Friday evening as well.

 

[BAT]

I think Williams is gonna force the Boys to try playing Spencer at DE a little ..... just to get all 3 of them on the field.

Spencer is 6'3 and under 260 lbs, not exactly ideal for a 3-4 DE. Besides, the Cowboy package allows for 3 OLBs to play at the same time, so it is not necessary to sacrifice size on the DL to have the 3 best pass rushers playing together.

 

[bayeslife]

I think Williams is gonna force the Boys to try playing Spencer at DE a little ..... just to get all 3 of them on the field.

You don't think Butler will be the one they force?

 

[viman96]

Butler is too small to play DE

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't expect him to look great with all the practice time he's missed.

I just hope whatever's wrong with his shoulder heals up ASAP so he can resume practicing... And lifting. He needs all the experience he can get now in case he has to play for us during the year.