Davis set to quiet critics
Jean-Jacques Taylor
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02:24 AM CDT on Sunday, May 21, 2006
Keith Davis has never been handed anything when it comes to football.
So he knows how to fight for what he wants – and he’s not afraid to do it. Actually, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
So he listens to the criticism directed toward him and laughs. He doesn’t worry about those who say he can’t cover. Or doesn’t force enough turnovers. Or isn’t good enough at making adjustments.
He’s used to the doubters. They drive him to succeed.
Those are the same people who told him he wouldn’t play in the NFL after a good career at Sam Houston State. And they were the same people who said he wouldn’t get back in the NFL after the Cowboys cut him the day before training camp in 2003.
But Davis has always been a fighter. Give him an opportunity and he’ll take advantage of it.
It’s not that he’s a perfect player or that he’ll ever make the Pro Bowl. Not everyone has that type of talent.
Davis, though, is a student of the game and last year was his first as a starter. So he was still learning how to prepare for different teams and understanding route combinations and figuring out tendencies.
He blew coverages last season and made mistakes, but he wasn’t the reason Dallas went 9-7. You’d have to discuss Flozell Adams’ injury, Julius Jones’ injury, right tackle Rob Petitti’s ineffectiveness, the worst field goal kicking in the NFL and the lack of a consistent pass rush before you can start talking about Davis’ role in the disappointing end to a season that started with such promise.
Davis understands why fans think the Cowboys need a new starter at free safety. He understands why coaches want more than one turnover from the Cowboys’ free safety.
He even understands what the Cowboys like about Marcus Coleman and Pat Watkins, the players they acquired to compete for his job.
He doesn’t care. He likes the competition. He expects the best man to win.
He expects to be starting against Jacksonville in the first game of the season.
Archive
E-mail | Bio
02:24 AM CDT on Sunday, May 21, 2006
Keith Davis has never been handed anything when it comes to football.
So he knows how to fight for what he wants – and he’s not afraid to do it. Actually, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
So he listens to the criticism directed toward him and laughs. He doesn’t worry about those who say he can’t cover. Or doesn’t force enough turnovers. Or isn’t good enough at making adjustments.
He’s used to the doubters. They drive him to succeed.
Those are the same people who told him he wouldn’t play in the NFL after a good career at Sam Houston State. And they were the same people who said he wouldn’t get back in the NFL after the Cowboys cut him the day before training camp in 2003.
But Davis has always been a fighter. Give him an opportunity and he’ll take advantage of it.
It’s not that he’s a perfect player or that he’ll ever make the Pro Bowl. Not everyone has that type of talent.
Davis, though, is a student of the game and last year was his first as a starter. So he was still learning how to prepare for different teams and understanding route combinations and figuring out tendencies.
He blew coverages last season and made mistakes, but he wasn’t the reason Dallas went 9-7. You’d have to discuss Flozell Adams’ injury, Julius Jones’ injury, right tackle Rob Petitti’s ineffectiveness, the worst field goal kicking in the NFL and the lack of a consistent pass rush before you can start talking about Davis’ role in the disappointing end to a season that started with such promise.
Davis understands why fans think the Cowboys need a new starter at free safety. He understands why coaches want more than one turnover from the Cowboys’ free safety.
He even understands what the Cowboys like about Marcus Coleman and Pat Watkins, the players they acquired to compete for his job.
He doesn’t care. He likes the competition. He expects the best man to win.
He expects to be starting against Jacksonville in the first game of the season.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:17 PM
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