SAN ANTONIO - Don't count out this 2009 draft class.
Remember? The Cowboys' 12-pick platoon that, unlike the famed "Dirty Dozen" in 1975, never really got its hands dirty last year?
It was more of a developmental group to begin with. The highest pick, third-rounder Jason Williams, had never played his NFL position (3-4 inside linebacker), and several others were learning new spots.
Then, the injuries. Of the 10 who made the 53-man roster, three missed the entire season. Three more recovered from preseason ailments but rarely played. Fifth-round kickoff specialist David Buehler and his league-leading 29 touchbacks had the biggest impact.
Many seem to have written off this 2009 class, now pointing toward uber-talented Dez Bryant and his seven-man 2010 troupe.
Don't. There's a reason they require about three years for full, fair judgment.
Quietly, the Cowboys have groomed Buehler for full-time kicking duty. Fifth-round free safety Michael Hamlin will play on defense even if he doesn't wrest the starting job from Alan Ball. Seventh-round tight end John Phillips is catching everything but a cold in this chilly Alamodome.
And then there's Brandon Williams, the fourth-round outside linebacker from Texas Tech who, according to Wade Phillips, has "DeMarcus Ware quickness off the ball."
That's an eyebrow raiser. That's like saying a young shooting guard has LeBron James leaping ability, or a hitter has Albert Pujols pop in his bat.
I needed confirmation from the man himself. Is that statement accurate, No. 94?
"It is," Ware told me with a grin.
The four-time Pro Bowler would go on to tell reporters, "Sometimes I feel like it's me when I'm watching film."
Brandon Williams wears No. 59. Keep an eye on him in preseason. No, keep two.
He's only practicing once a day here in San Antonio, still working his way back from season-ending surgery last fall to repair a torn anterior cruciate in his left knee. After conducting a successful rehab, the Cowboys' training and medical staff is being cautious with him.
But he's already showing the same natural pass rush skills Phillips noticed right away in rookie minicamp last May, before he wound up getting hurt covering a punt in the Cowboys' preseason home opener against Tennessee.
Watching him in team drills, he's always around the quarterback. Doesn't always get there, but he's close. In Wednesday's afternoon practice, he blew past tackle Alex Barron for a would-be sack.
Phillips and Ware are right: he's extremely quick off the snap. Phillips says he has a long, fluid first step that catches linemen off guard. It's as good as Anthony Spencer's - and that's the guy Phillips just compared to Rickey Jackson, who's headed to the Hall of Fame in 10 days.
"It's probably a tie with them two," says linebackers coach Reggie Herring.
Williams is working behind Ware at the "Will," or weakside linebacker spot in Phillips' 3-4 defense. It's the primary pass rush position; Spencer's strongside "Sam" spot faces tight ends, requiring more coverage and run support.
At the Will, Williams can basically do what he did best as a 4-3 defensive end in college: chase the quarterback. It's not his only responsibility - perhaps the biggest misnomer on this team is that Ware's purely a rush guy, when he's equally good at stopping the run - but it accentuates his greatest strength.
"He's a pass rusher," Herring said matter of factly.
Herring says Williams added bulk this offseason, strengthening his shoulders, to become a more physical run stopper, too. He's also had to learn to trust his knee again. Aside from a shoulder strain that sidelined him for part of last year's training camp, the 22-year-old hadn't suffered much worse than a sprained ankle in his career.
Williams is relieved to be on the field again, for sure. Rehab was necessary and productive, but isolated. He missed his teammates. At least he had two other fellow rookies, Robert Brewster (torn pectoral muscle) and Stephen Hodge (microfracture knee surgery), sharing the same routine: early morning treatment sessions at Valley Ranch.
"You can't really do too much, you can't go to
meetings," he recalled. "Just go home and just relax or try to prop your knee up. It wasn't very exciting and you couldn't be with the team."
Now he's back, gaining more confidence in the knee. He understands it might get a little sore, but he has to let it "slip his mind." He's in good hands.
On the field, he and fellow '09 classmate Victor Butler - another linebacker with ability - have advisors. Spencer and Ware share daily pass rush proposals - different moves, hand techniques and angles for an extra edge.
There isn't exactly a surplus of snaps available. Ware and Spencer combined for 17 sacks last year. They might be the best rush duo in the league, and they're in for just about every play.
But no mortal can play all-out at an optimal performance level for an entire game. Everyone needs a break, and Williams, if he continues to progress from last year's injury, could get some action. Phillips' perpetual mantra is playing guys who have earned the right to play, no matter who's in front of them.
"I think Brandon is that guy," Ware says after validating Phillips' comparison. "I think Brandon can do it."
Replies Brandon: "For him to say that, it's big to me. And it makes me want to step up even more."
That's No. 59. Keep your eyes peeled starting Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Remember? The Cowboys' 12-pick platoon that, unlike the famed "Dirty Dozen" in 1975, never really got its hands dirty last year?
It was more of a developmental group to begin with. The highest pick, third-rounder Jason Williams, had never played his NFL position (3-4 inside linebacker), and several others were learning new spots.
Then, the injuries. Of the 10 who made the 53-man roster, three missed the entire season. Three more recovered from preseason ailments but rarely played. Fifth-round kickoff specialist David Buehler and his league-leading 29 touchbacks had the biggest impact.
Many seem to have written off this 2009 class, now pointing toward uber-talented Dez Bryant and his seven-man 2010 troupe.
Don't. There's a reason they require about three years for full, fair judgment.
Quietly, the Cowboys have groomed Buehler for full-time kicking duty. Fifth-round free safety Michael Hamlin will play on defense even if he doesn't wrest the starting job from Alan Ball. Seventh-round tight end John Phillips is catching everything but a cold in this chilly Alamodome.
And then there's Brandon Williams, the fourth-round outside linebacker from Texas Tech who, according to Wade Phillips, has "DeMarcus Ware quickness off the ball."
That's an eyebrow raiser. That's like saying a young shooting guard has LeBron James leaping ability, or a hitter has Albert Pujols pop in his bat.
I needed confirmation from the man himself. Is that statement accurate, No. 94?
"It is," Ware told me with a grin.
The four-time Pro Bowler would go on to tell reporters, "Sometimes I feel like it's me when I'm watching film."
Brandon Williams wears No. 59. Keep an eye on him in preseason. No, keep two.
He's only practicing once a day here in San Antonio, still working his way back from season-ending surgery last fall to repair a torn anterior cruciate in his left knee. After conducting a successful rehab, the Cowboys' training and medical staff is being cautious with him.
But he's already showing the same natural pass rush skills Phillips noticed right away in rookie minicamp last May, before he wound up getting hurt covering a punt in the Cowboys' preseason home opener against Tennessee.
Watching him in team drills, he's always around the quarterback. Doesn't always get there, but he's close. In Wednesday's afternoon practice, he blew past tackle Alex Barron for a would-be sack.
Phillips and Ware are right: he's extremely quick off the snap. Phillips says he has a long, fluid first step that catches linemen off guard. It's as good as Anthony Spencer's - and that's the guy Phillips just compared to Rickey Jackson, who's headed to the Hall of Fame in 10 days.
"It's probably a tie with them two," says linebackers coach Reggie Herring.
Williams is working behind Ware at the "Will," or weakside linebacker spot in Phillips' 3-4 defense. It's the primary pass rush position; Spencer's strongside "Sam" spot faces tight ends, requiring more coverage and run support.
At the Will, Williams can basically do what he did best as a 4-3 defensive end in college: chase the quarterback. It's not his only responsibility - perhaps the biggest misnomer on this team is that Ware's purely a rush guy, when he's equally good at stopping the run - but it accentuates his greatest strength.
"He's a pass rusher," Herring said matter of factly.
Herring says Williams added bulk this offseason, strengthening his shoulders, to become a more physical run stopper, too. He's also had to learn to trust his knee again. Aside from a shoulder strain that sidelined him for part of last year's training camp, the 22-year-old hadn't suffered much worse than a sprained ankle in his career.
Williams is relieved to be on the field again, for sure. Rehab was necessary and productive, but isolated. He missed his teammates. At least he had two other fellow rookies, Robert Brewster (torn pectoral muscle) and Stephen Hodge (microfracture knee surgery), sharing the same routine: early morning treatment sessions at Valley Ranch.
"You can't really do too much, you can't go to
meetings," he recalled. "Just go home and just relax or try to prop your knee up. It wasn't very exciting and you couldn't be with the team."
Now he's back, gaining more confidence in the knee. He understands it might get a little sore, but he has to let it "slip his mind." He's in good hands.
On the field, he and fellow '09 classmate Victor Butler - another linebacker with ability - have advisors. Spencer and Ware share daily pass rush proposals - different moves, hand techniques and angles for an extra edge.
There isn't exactly a surplus of snaps available. Ware and Spencer combined for 17 sacks last year. They might be the best rush duo in the league, and they're in for just about every play.
But no mortal can play all-out at an optimal performance level for an entire game. Everyone needs a break, and Williams, if he continues to progress from last year's injury, could get some action. Phillips' perpetual mantra is playing guys who have earned the right to play, no matter who's in front of them.
"I think Brandon is that guy," Ware says after validating Phillips' comparison. "I think Brandon can do it."
Replies Brandon: "For him to say that, it's big to me. And it makes me want to step up even more."
That's No. 59. Keep your eyes peeled starting Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
