OXNARD, Calif. - Despite playing just two seasons, safety Pat Watkins has already had quite a rollercoaster ride in his career.
He went from the disappointment of falling to the fifth round of the NFL Draft in 2006 to winning the free safety job in training camp as a rookie.
Watkins experienced a disastrous game early in his career in Philadelphia that ultimately led to him being benched. He returned in the second half of the season to record three interceptions to regain his confidence.
Then the Cowboys signed veteran Ken Hamlin, who took over the starting duties from the start. Watkins was relegated to special teams, where he led the team in tackles with 25, the most by a Cowboys player in 10 years.
And then things actually got a little better for Watkins in the off-season, when Hamlin sat out the entire summer with a contract holdout. Watkins took all of the first-team reps at free safety and started to look the part of a starting safety in this league.
Here in training camp at Oxnard's River Ridge Sports Complex, Watkins admits things haven't been as smooth as he would like.
That's because what he would like is to start at either free safety or strong. And with Hamlin and Roy Williams in front of him, he knows that's a long shot for now.
And now, Watkins saw his first-team reps in the dime defense get handed over to Courtney Brown during Saturday's two practices, further adding to the frustration that is mildly brewing in the third-year safety.
"I really just want to play, that's all," Watkins said. "It's all about playing and nothing else. I want to get out there and prove myself.
"I'm not unhappy or anything. I love this team. I love this organization. I love playing in Dallas. And I love to win. It's a great place. But really, it's hard to be completely satisfied unless you're starting. So that's obviously my goal."
And Watkins saw that goal take a backseat at least for the time being when the Cowboys locked up Hamlin to a six-year, $39 million deal last month.
"That kind of shot down my chances to start when that happened," Watkins said. "But that's the way it goes. I love Ken. He's a great player and he deserves everything he has. He's a great player for this team, too. You can't get mad at that. But at the same time, I know it's going to be harder to get in there."
But that doesn't mean Watkins won't continue to work. In fact, he says his hunger is much greater as he enters his third season, than it was for his first.
"Oh, it's much different now because you understand what's going on now," Watkins said. "Before, you just got thrown in there and you were just playing. But now, not having (started) very much, you want to get back in there. And even if it doesn't work out here, you know someone will notice. So you've just go to keep going."
As a rookie in 2006, Watkins beat out Keith Davis in training camp to earn the starting job. By the third game of the season, things were rolling for Watkins, who led the team with seven tackles against Tennessee, along with two pass breakups and a 53-yard fumble return, most of which he ran without a helmet that was ripped off in the process.
But things turned quite sour for Watkins the very next week in Philadelphia. He gave up two long touchdown passes, including an 87-yarder in the third quarter in which he was beaten in single coverage by then-Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. Watkins and Roy Williams were both beaten for a touchdown later in the fourth quarter.
Watkins was crushed emotionally, and the TV cameras made sure they zoomed in as the dejected rookie starred into space on the sidelines.
It didn't get much better for him after that. The Cowboys eventually benched him midway in the season, although Watkins eventually returned to the starting lineup for the last three games.
"I think (getting benched) really helped me," Watkins said. "It gave me time to sit back and really learn the playbook even more. I went back to playbook and tried to learn it as hard as I could. I came out and got all three of my interceptions in the second half of the season."
And then last year, with Hamlin on board, Watkins turned into a special teams demon, leading the team in tackles. His biggest play of the season, not to mention his young career, occurred late in the third quarter against Minnesota when he returned a blocked kickoff return 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
"That was probably the biggest play of my career," Watkins said. "I got a chance to run with the ball and show my speed a little bit. That was a big play."
And Watkins wants to make more of them. If that means they have to occur on special teams, then he's all for it.
"If that's where they want me, then I'm going to go all out," Watkins said. "I'm going to set my goals high. If where I play the most this year is special teams, then I'm going to set records."
Watkins said he wants to break the Cowboys' single-season record for special teams tackles. Since the club only started keeping that stat in 1990, the official record is 32, set in 1996 by former linebacker Jim Schwantz, who was selected to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player that year.
But Watkins doesn't just want to break the record.
"I want to smash it in 10 games," Watkins said. "Whatever the number is, I want to break it in 10 games. You have to set your goals high all the time.
"Of course, I want to be starting and playing every down. But if not, I'm going to make the most of whatever opportunity I get."
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Nick Eatman - 
