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Roster Rundown
Brandon Williams Still A Project
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is outside linebacker Brandon Williams.)
Name: Brandon Williams
Position: Outside Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6-3/246
Experience: Two seasons
College: Texas Tech
Key stat: Finding himself behind not only DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, but also fellow 2009 fourth-round pass rusher Victor Butler for most of the season, Williams' defensive snaps were highly limited. He recorded only three stops on scrimmage downs, with one tackle for loss, but no sacks.
Contract Status: Signed through 2012.
2010 Impact: For many players recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, it takes more than a year before they reach 100 percent, and Williams was definitely in that category in 2010. He never seemed sure about the knee in training camp, and didn't have the same first-step acceleration that excited Wade Phillips in 2009, reason enough for him to be on the inactive list the first six weeks of the season. He appeared on special teams in two games, then went back to being inactive before reappearing the last month of the season. With the Cowboys playing many young players because they were already out of the race, he received a few defensive snaps, but most of his playing time came on special teams.
Where He Fits: Going into camp, the Cowboys would love for Williams to reclaim the explosiveness they saw his rookie season, because he certainly could overtake Butler as the third pass-rusher if he's better. Unfortunately, the team probably isn't sure it can count on either guy as a capable replacement for Ware or Spencer, so they may keep looking in the offseason. Outside linebacker would seem to be a good place to add a modestly-priced veteran free agent, someone with starting experience who could help out in a number of ways, including special teams and to spell the starters on occasion. That might leave Williams and Butler fighting for the same roster spot.
Writers' Analysis:
Josh Ellis: Oh look, another guy from that 2009 class that hasn't panned out. To be fair, Williams was handicapped at the start because of the injury, but he shouldn't be on scholarship anymore. They can only afford to keep him if he is deserving of a roster spot, whereas last year his promise won him a job more than his preseason performance. Some pass-rushing development would be nice to see, but priority No. 1 for Williams going into this year needs to be special teams, otherwise he won't make it out of camp.
Nick Eatman: We thought he was going to have a good rookie season, but then he got hurt and missed the entire year. We thought he might be ready to make a splash in 2010, but it never materialized - partially because ACL injuries aren't easy to recover from, but the reason also being that he's not the best special teams player and that's his primary spot from last year. So who knows what to expect this year. I think you have to be cautious with expectations. His problem is that there are two starters ahead of him, plus Butler and then anyone else they might draft or sign.
Brandon Williams Still A Project
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2011 plans. Today's featured player is outside linebacker Brandon Williams.)
Name: Brandon Williams
Position: Outside Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6-3/246
Experience: Two seasons
College: Texas Tech
Key stat: Finding himself behind not only DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, but also fellow 2009 fourth-round pass rusher Victor Butler for most of the season, Williams' defensive snaps were highly limited. He recorded only three stops on scrimmage downs, with one tackle for loss, but no sacks.
Contract Status: Signed through 2012.
2010 Impact: For many players recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, it takes more than a year before they reach 100 percent, and Williams was definitely in that category in 2010. He never seemed sure about the knee in training camp, and didn't have the same first-step acceleration that excited Wade Phillips in 2009, reason enough for him to be on the inactive list the first six weeks of the season. He appeared on special teams in two games, then went back to being inactive before reappearing the last month of the season. With the Cowboys playing many young players because they were already out of the race, he received a few defensive snaps, but most of his playing time came on special teams.
Where He Fits: Going into camp, the Cowboys would love for Williams to reclaim the explosiveness they saw his rookie season, because he certainly could overtake Butler as the third pass-rusher if he's better. Unfortunately, the team probably isn't sure it can count on either guy as a capable replacement for Ware or Spencer, so they may keep looking in the offseason. Outside linebacker would seem to be a good place to add a modestly-priced veteran free agent, someone with starting experience who could help out in a number of ways, including special teams and to spell the starters on occasion. That might leave Williams and Butler fighting for the same roster spot.
Writers' Analysis:
Josh Ellis: Oh look, another guy from that 2009 class that hasn't panned out. To be fair, Williams was handicapped at the start because of the injury, but he shouldn't be on scholarship anymore. They can only afford to keep him if he is deserving of a roster spot, whereas last year his promise won him a job more than his preseason performance. Some pass-rushing development would be nice to see, but priority No. 1 for Williams going into this year needs to be special teams, otherwise he won't make it out of camp.
Nick Eatman: We thought he was going to have a good rookie season, but then he got hurt and missed the entire year. We thought he might be ready to make a splash in 2010, but it never materialized - partially because ACL injuries aren't easy to recover from, but the reason also being that he's not the best special teams player and that's his primary spot from last year. So who knows what to expect this year. I think you have to be cautious with expectations. His problem is that there are two starters ahead of him, plus Butler and then anyone else they might draft or sign.
