Dallas Needs Roy Williams to Produce, But Not Act, Like T.O.

CARROLLTON, Texas -- There was a moment during Monday's minicamp practice where Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams was wide open and didn't get the ball.

Quarterback Tony Romo missed his new lead receiver over the middle, and as a result, Williams shot Romo a look, then talked to him when the play was over.

If this had been Terrell Owens, who is now in Buffalo, there would have been a federal investigation into why and how Romo missed him.

But the facts are Williams wants the ball just as much as Owens, and isn't afraid to complain about it. The difference is that Williams will not do his complaining through the media, he will do it in private.

"I let him know today I was frustrated coming across the middle by myself," Williams said. "I was frustrated and I let him know and that's what we're supposed to do, this is our job. His job is to deliver the ball and my job is to catch it and get open -- that's how you win."

The Cowboys gave Detroit three draft picks at the trade deadline last year for Williams. All they got in return were a measly 19 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown. Part of the problem was that Romo missed three games with a broken pinkie right after the deal was completed, while Williams battled plantar fascia, or a form of it, for the last month of the season.

"Mismatched the whole season," Williams said.

Could anything be learned from watching film of the 2008 season?

"I don't look at no film of last year," Williams said. "Pointless. "For me to watch film from last year -- maybe if I watch T.O -- but I'm not going to watch myself block all day long."

The Cowboys need Williams to become the big-play threat they told everybody they were getting last season.

Williams played slow when he got off the line of scrimmage, though, the foot issue and a lack of confidence in Romo creating further obstacles.


During the year, Williams, along with Owens and fellow receiver Patrick Crayton, spoke with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about the direction of the team's offense. It developed into a big story in Dallas, but Garrett tried to downplay the situation, saying communication is the key to success.

In the Cowboys' case, it wasn't.

The team missed the playoffs, and might have misdiagnosed what Williams is -- he's not a man with blazing speed who will beat defenses one-on-one. He's a possession receiver.

He also wants his quarterback to throw the ball into coverage, especially when he's got a shorter cornerback on him. Romo is not prone to taking those chances, and will also have to curtail finding his favorite target: tight end Jason Witten.

Williams is confident he can build a relationship with Romo, one where a trust is formed on and off the field.

"I just got to continue to be his best friend," Williams said of Romo. "I have to put my arm around his neck and hug him and tell him that his girlfriend looks pretty good and go from there."

Williams is trying to rediscover the form that sent him to the Pro Bowl in 2006, when he posted 82 catches for 1,310 yards and seven touchdowns, while developing into a major weapon for Detroit's offense.He had six games with at least 100 receiving yards, but there was a six-game stretch where he didn't catch a touchdown pass.

That season, Williams weighed 212 pounds. Today, he's at 220 -- too heavy, not fast enough.

So, Williams is determined to get to back down to 212.

"It's going to make me more explosive, faster," Williams said of losing the weight. "A lot of people try to figure out, what does eight pounds do? You lose eight pounds at the wide receiver position, you feel much more lighter and much faster."

The Cowboys need Williams to develop into a Pro Bowl receiver again. If not, there will be problems, even if they happen behind the scenes.