ESPN: Cowboys' Williams stops blame game

[Avaj]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/news/story?id=4782343

RVING, Texas -- A few days after saying he would perform better if given more opportunities, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams reversed field.

Williams said Wednesday that the onus is on him to earn more opportunities. He has only one catch in each of the past two games, during which he has had four passes fall incomplete after hitting him in the hands.

Quarterback Tony Romo threw only seven passes to Williams in wins over the New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders.

Romo's only interception of December was a ball that ricocheted off Williams' hands to Commanders safety Reed Doughty. After Williams dropped a perfect throw during a two-minute drill before halftime, Romo didn't look his way again Sunday night.

"You know I have to get the confidence of my quarterback, because I didn't get a look after the first half," Williams said. "I didn't get a look in the second half. That's telling me that my quarterback has lost confidence in me, and so has the coordinator as far as calling plays for me.

"That's not on them. I don't blame them. I blame myself. I've got to get my crap together and try to help this team win some games in the playoffs."

Coach Wade Phillips praised Williams earlier this week by saying he "played really hard," but Williams acknowledges that he has been a disappointment since arriving from Detroit in a blockbuster trade last season.

Williams, who signed a five-year, $45 million extension after the trade, had only 19 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown in 10 games for the Cowboys last season. He was expected to replace Terrell Owens as the Cowboys' No. 1 receiver this season, but his struggles have continued while Miles Austin morphed into a Pro Bowler.

Williams, who has 38 catches for 596 yards and seven touchdowns, is tied for 12th in the league with eight drops. He has caught only 44.7 percent of the passes thrown to him, which is the sixth-worst percentage among receivers who have been targeted at least 50 times.

"If I make the opportunities in my favor, make the plays, make the three or four plays a game, then that will relate to maybe five the next game," said Williams, who vows to catch 100 balls from the pitching machine after practice every day this week. "Make those and that relates to eight or nine the next game. Then, boom, there we go.

"But if I continue to do the things that I've been doing, then I'm going to mess around and be on the sideline, playing special teams."

 

[theogt]

That's the first step, even if it took this long.

 

[Dodger]

"You know I have to get the confidence of my quarterback, because I didn't get a look after the first half," Williams said. "I didn't get a look in the second half. That's telling me that my quarterback has lost confidence in me, and so has the coordinator as far as calling plays for me.

"That's not on them. I don't blame them. I blame myself. I've got to get my crap together and try to help this team win some games in the playoffs."

Well, look who just caught up...

 

[RS12]

Roy got a clue for Christmas.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Late, but still good to hear this...

 

[Doomsday101]

RW just go out and do the job. Hell if you have to, stay after practice with the juggs machine what ever it takes.

 

[theogt]

RW just go out and do the job. Hell if you have to, stay after practice with the juggs machine what ever it takes.

He is.

...Williams, who vows to catch 100 balls from the pitching machine after practice every day this week.

 

[superpunk]

I'm pretty impressed with what he said. I think that just speaks to the attitude of this entire team - and he's getting on board with the personal accountability that our team leaders are demanding. Sounds like Garrett and Romo sent him a loud and clear message, and to his credit, he took it exactly the right way.

 

[speedkilz88]

Despite the continuing problems, it doesn't appear that its a chemistry/timing problem between Roy and Romo anymore. Just Romo's confidence in Roy and Roy's confidence in himself. Because when Romo does throw to Roy they all seem to be on target now.

 

[CowboyWay]

Can the juggs machine teach him how to run routes?

 

[vta]

He's known all along, he was taking the worst part of valor and thinking it would just go away by ignoring it. It is all a mental condition and pretending it's an anomaly hasn't worked, so now he's come around to meeting it head on.

He's embarrassed and I hope he works it out.

 

[Don Corleone]

A step in the right direction...

 

[Arch Stanton]

....if he could only catch the ball....

 

[rexrobinson]

That's the first step, even if it took this long.

If he truly believes this, it could be a powerful thing for him. When a person blames their problems on others usually nothing changes.

 

[Hoofbite]

That's the first step, even if it took this long.

I agree.

His lack of performance is frustrating but his excuses have been sickening.

 

[Stash]

That's the first step, even if it took this long.

Absolutely.

Kudos to Roy for admitting blame and moving in a positive direction to correct it.

I applaud him and wish him well in turning things around, both for his and for my favorite team's sake.

 

[dbair1967]

Good for him.

I still think he could be a big part of the offense and really help us be better offensively. Hopefully it starts this weekend and continues in the postseason.

With as much attention as teams are going to give Austin and Witten, if RW steps up and makes some plays our offense would take the next step IMO.

 

[Doomsday101]

Can the juggs machine teach him how to run routes?

Routs have not been the issue, Romo has been putting the ball there for RW to make he is not making them. Early in the year both Romo and RW looked off but that not what is happening now, catches RW should make he is not making.

 

[WarDaddy]

Roy got a clue for Christmas.

lmao. Yes.

I like how this team seems to be all about business right now. No finger pointing.

Man, I am so excited about the playoffs.


I'm not even a Roy fan necessarily but I could see him having a big impact in the playoffs. If he becomes even a half-way decent #2 the offense will start to score more.

I even had a dream he won Super Bowl MVP. (we'll see if that holds up...)

 

[DallasEast]

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