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Mailbag: Roy Williams contribute to special teams?

DallasCowboys.com Report
August 11, 2008 6:33 PM
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 OTHER RECENT NEWS

Off-Season Program Begins Tuesday For Injured Rookies  2/8
Rob Phillips: Saints' Rise Should Lend Some Perspective  2/8
Mailbag: Monday, February 8, 2010
As Expected, Smith Gets First-Ballot Hall of Fame Call  2/7
Spagnola: Payton's Aggressive Nature Has Super Results  2/7
A Look Back At Emmitt's Hall of Fame Career  2/7
Notes: Committee Denies Haley For HOF Once Again  2/6
What Great RBs - Past & Present Are Saying About Smith  2/6
Haley Has Strong Canton Credentials  2/5
Barry Sanders On Emmitt's Legacy, Records & Felix  2/5
 MORE MAILBAG

Mailbag: What Made Emmitt Special?  2/8
Mailbag: Any One Player The Cowboys Have To Get?  2/5
Mailbag: Your Take On The Anderson Situation?  2/4
Mailbag: How Can The Offense Score More Points?  2/3
Mailbag: Could The Cowboys Get Julius Peppers?  2/2

(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

GEORGE AVARA, EL PASO, TX: If I recall correctly, Darren Woodson was a special teams player for most of his career even when he was our starting safety. So, why doesn't Roy Williams play on special teams? He's no longer an every down player because of his limited pass coverage skills but he can still tackle pretty darn good and maybe cause some turnovers. The problems the Cowboys are having on special teams need to be addressed immediately and this would give Roy a chance to contribute to the team in other ways. What are your thoughts?

Josh: I think Roy would be a fine addition to the special teams. Remember, he was like the Grim Reaper out there his rookie year on kickoff coverage with some of those big hits. Jimmy Williams, the ex 49ers return man is still having nightmares. The only thing is, does Roy want to play special teams? That's not something you want to hear, but in reality, it's probably his call.

Rob: You're right, Williams isn't an every-down player anymore, but he's still your starting strong safety. I certainly wouldn't put him on every special teams unit, but if the coverage struggles continue maybe it's something Wade Phillips should consider. Williams did play special teams as a rookie in 2002.

Mickey: I certainly don't have any problems with that. And you are right, until the very end, Woodson played special team, mostly on kick-off coverage that latter part of his career, and I remember this distinctly because we'd joke with him about can't an old man get off special teams at some point in his career. The Cowboys coverage units must improve, and if that is at the expenses of some starters having to play a few more down, like a Roy Williams, then so be it. This weakness from last year cannot continue to be this week again.

GABY CHAMOUN, OTTAWA, ON: Is it just me or did anyone else see the way Brad Johnson played in the first preseason game? He sure didn't look like a 17 year veteran. Why not cut Johnson to create more salary cap room and keep Bartel instead?

Josh: Don't know how much of the game you saw up there, but Bartel wasn't particularly great either. His stats were better, sure, and he didn't take the sacks Johnson did, but there were a few occasions when he threw into traffic unnecessarily and kind of got bailed out. He might be worth keeping on the roster to continue developing, but if they're worried about Johnson they should be looking for someone to bring in.

Rob: Richard Bartel had his own struggles Saturday night and needs to make an impression in these next couple of weeks. He's young, though, and still gaining experience. As for Johnson, he had a mixture of good (nice drive at the end of the first half) and bad (interception, sacked twice). Would bet the Cowboys are still keeping their eyes peeled for another quarterback to potentially bring in -- but as a No. 3, not necessarily a No. 2.

Mickey: You're kidding me, right? So your solution to whatever problem the Cowboys might have at backup quarterback, and I don't think they have as big a one as you suggest, is to make Richard Bartel the backup to Tony Romo, which means a guy who has never, ever taken a snap in a regular-season game, and has only been in the league one season, and at that on the practice squad, will be one snap away from being the Cowboys starting quarterback. Seriously? Now Johnson was not as bad as the backups he was playing with made him look. And remember, if Johnson has to play in a regular-season game, chances are he's not going into the back with the second offensive line, backup running backs, receivers and tight ends.
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