ESPN Mosley: Vet on the hot seat: Roy Williams

[WoodysGirl]

May 13, 2009 12:00 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley


Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams will face huge expectations in '09 based on the draft picks the Cowboys gave up to acquire him last season. He was supposed to be the perfect complement to Terrell Owens, but he instead ran around looking lost in the second half of the season. His 19 catches for 198 yards in 10 games were embarrassing in Dallas.

But according to everyone at Valley Ranch, Williams has been one of the team's most committed players this offseason. During the recent rookie minicamp, receivers coach Ray Sherman couldn't stop bragging on how Williams is becoming more of a complete player. And for the Cowboys to have a chance at making the playoffs, Williams has to at least be a threat on the outside.

Veterans on the Hot Seat
• AFC: N | S | E | W
• NFC: N | S | E | W


I can't think of anyone in the division who will face more scrutiny -- outside of the quarterbacks of course. Even former quarterback Troy Aikman has questioned the Williams trade, saying it could by "one of the biggest busts" in league history if it doesn't work out. I think Williams will be better this season, but it's hard to project where that puts him. He's had one Pro Bowl season in the league. Other than that, he's had a very pedestrian career so far.

Honorable mention: I think all eyes will be on Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. Was he worth a first-round draft pick? Well, we're about to find out. Can he return to the form of '07 or will he look like the player who was beaten for way too many sacks in '08? I think he'll be excellent in Philly, but he's still firmly on the hot seat.

 

[Rampage]

nevermind Romo rarely threw him the ball but Roy is the one on the hot seat.

 

[khiladi]

man... the pressure is really on Roy... The fans are going to turn on him quick, just like they did this year if he doesn't catch 80 plus balls and scores 10 TDs....

 

[Ren]

man... the pressure is really on Roy... The fans are going to turn on him quick, just like they did this year if he doesn't catch 80 plus balls and scores 10 TDs....

Welcome to the Dallas Cowboys...

 

[theebs]

man... the pressure is really on Roy... The fans are going to turn on him quick, just like they did this year if he doesn't catch 80 plus balls and scores 10 TDs....

I will put money on that. The fans loved roy last year. He gets a big ovation in pregame and he and bennett are fun loving guys who I think will become go to guys for the media when we get to camp. Those two guys were great to fans last year at the stadium, a place where players dont generally sign autographs or talk to fans on the field, they both did.

He is a texas guy, he will have a long leash because of it. The only way I see the fans turning on him is if he is plain awful, like dreadful. I dont see that happening.

or if the morons at nfl network and espn like mosley and sanders do nothing but obsess over him because they are too lazy to talk or write about anything else.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm glad to see that RW has been working hard and look forward to him proving his critics wrong.

 

[Woods]

Honorable mention: I think all eyes will be on Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. Was he worth a first-round draft pick? Well, we're about to find out. Can he return to the form of '07 or will he look like the player who was beaten for way too many sacks in '08? I think he'll be excellent in Philly, but he's still firmly on the hot seat

=================================

I find this interesting.

I'm curious as to why he's suddenly going to turn it on now that he's gotten his money?

In fact, the Bills didn't want to pay the man. And one reason was because they couldn't trust him if they paid him all that money.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Honorable mention: I think all eyes will be on Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. Was he worth a first-round draft pick? Well, we're about to find out. Can he return to the form of '07 or will he look like the player who was beaten for way too many sacks in '08? I think he'll be excellent in Philly, but he's still firmly on the hot seat

=================================

I find this interesting.

I'm curious as to why he's suddenly going to turn it on now that he's gotten his money?

In fact, the Bills didn't want to pay the man. And one reason was because they couldn't trust him if they paid him all that money.

You're right, it is a little hypocritcal of the media who hailed this as a great trade without even seeing the man in uniform yet, especially considering he was NOT a pro bowl tackle last season I can tell you that.

 

[NeonDeion21]

You're right, it is a little hypocritcal of the media who hailed this as a great trade without even seeing the man in uniform yet, especially considering he was NOT a pro bowl tackle last season I can tell you that.

No he wasn't. I watched every Buffalo game because of where I live and I can say this much, I am glad we have Flo instead of JP. I have much more faith in Flo than even a motivated Jason Peters.

 

[gbrittain]

TO after 5 years:

Games 76
Rec 319
Yards 4748
TD 43

Career average after 5 years
Rec per game 4.19
Yards per game 62.47
TD per game .56
Yards per catch 14.88

RW after 5 years:

Games 70
Rec 281
Yards 4082
TD 30

Career average after 5 years
Rec per game 4.1
Yards per game 58.31
TD per game .42
Yards per catch 14.52

I wan't impressed with what I saw last year, but after looking at his stats I have no choice but to give the guy the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

I mean you don't put up those kind of numbers (very comparable to TOs first five years) and then look like what he did last year in Dallas.

He also put up thos numbers with mostly Harrington at QB (3 years) and Kitna for (2 years). I am in no way willing to write him off at this point.

This is a subject better discussed after the 2009 season.

 

[Dawgs0916]

Um why are you comparing a top 10 pick out of Texas's first five years, to a small tiny school third round pick's first 5 years? Im sorry but thats not fair to TO.

 

[AKATheRake]

TO after 5 years:

Games 76
Rec 319
Yards 4748
TD 43

Career average after 5 years
Rec per game 4.19
Yards per game 62.47
TD per game .56
Yards per catch 14.88

RW after 5 years:

Games 70
Rec 281
Yards 4082
TD 30

Career average after 5 years
Rec per game 4.1
Yards per game 58.31
TD per game .42
Yards per catch 14.52

I wan't impressed with what I saw last year, but after looking at his stats I have no choice but to give the guy the benefit of the doubt for the time being.

I mean you don't put up those kind of numbers (very comparable to TOs first five years) and then look like what he did last year in Dallas.

He also put up thos numbers with mostly Harrington at QB (3 years) and Kitna for (2 years). I am in no way willing to write him off at this point.

This is a subject better discussed after the 2009 season.

:bravo: Very good post!!!

 

[theebs]

Um why are you comparing a top 10 pick out of Texas's first five years, to a small tiny school third round pick's first 5 years? Im sorry but thats not fair to TO.

Hmm. I hope everyone remembers that logic the next time someone brings up aikman, eli, peyton, ben and phillip rivers in comparison to romo!

 

[gbrittain]

Um why are you comparing a top 10 pick out of Texas's first five years, to a small tiny school third round pick's first 5 years? Im sorry but thats not fair to TO.

Alrighty then. Lets compare Roy Williams first five years to Charles Rogers first 5 years and he was a #2 overall pick. There, Roy is a smashing success end of story.

 

[Dawgs0916]

Alrighty then. Lets compare Roy Williams first five years to Charles Rogers first 5 years and he was a #2 overall pick. There, Roy is a smashing success end of story.

That comparison is in fact a lot more fair than comparing him to a third round pick out of a tiny school. He did in fact severely outplay Rogers, and they both had very equal expectations coming out.

 

[1fisher]

I wish the season would hurry up and get here already. :bang2:

I hope RW shuts the mouths of all his critics. I for one am sick of it.

 

[28 Joker]

Hakeem Nicks
Jeremy Macklin

Two players with zero NFL experience at the WR position...

Jason Peters VS DeMarcus Ware

Who's really is the "hot seat"?

 

[Doomsday101]

Alrighty then. Lets compare Roy Williams first five years to Charles Rogers first 5 years and he was a #2 overall pick. There, Roy is a smashing success end of story.

The story ended the same the Lions as a football team still sucked. RW is here and is evidently putting in the work unlike reports that indicated he does not work hard. He has an oppertunity to play where he wants to be and is looking to make the most of it. I'm on his side and hope he does prove his critics and doubters wrong.

 

[Rampage]

I wish the season would hurry up and get here already. :bang2:

I hope RW shuts the mouths of all his critics. I for one am sick of it.

guess what I got from Oprah

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Hmm. I hope everyone remembers that logic the next time someone brings up aikman, eli, peyton, ben and phillip rivers in comparison to romo!

They won't.

It's completely fair to bash Romo, and compare him to those guys, despite the difference in draft status, but you can't do it to the people they like. It's just not fair to those guys.