Cowboys pick brimming with bravado
By Tom Orsborn - Express-News
It's hard to imagine Dallas Cowboys draft pick Jason Williams ever having a crisis of confidence.
In an interview Tuesday, the linebacker from Western Illinois called himself a “great football player” and indicated he likes his chances of beating out veterans Bobby Carpenter and Keith Brooking and fellow rookie Stephen Hodge to replace Kevin Burnett in the substitution packages.
“I'm not going to say I'm definitely going to start, but I definitely feel I can come in and get the job done right away,” said Williams, who was selected in the third round. “I'm a playmaker, a great football player.”
Picked 69th overall, Williams was the first player from a Football Championship Subdivision program taken in this year's draft. He said it would be a mistake to underestimate him just because he's from a small school.
“I've been underrated for so long, I have a chip on my shoulder,” Williams said. “Nobody realizes what a great player I am. Now that I'm on a national scale, playing with the best players, everyone is going to see what a great player I am.”
With San Diego signing Burnett in free agency, the Cowboys considered moving up to select Williams. In the end, they remained at No. 69 and took Williams with an eye toward him starting at inside linebacker when the 33-year-old Brooking's three-year deal expires.
Williams wonders why he has to wait.
“I don't ever want to settle for being a backup to anyone,” Williams said.
Such talk doesn't surprise Western Illinois coach Don Patterson.
“He recognizes he's been genetically blessed with great athleticism,” Patterson said. “He also understands part of being successful is playing with great confidence.”
The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Williams wasn't invited to the NFL combine, but he dazzled scouts at his school's pro day with impressive showings in the 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds), vertical jump (39 inches) and bench press (26 repetitions of 225 pounds).
“He recognizes very few guys can run as fast as he can or jump as high as he can,” Patterson said. “He understands that football, if played right, is a game of physics. If you can have decent mass and acceleration, you can exhibit more force than the guy you're going against.”
Williams played quarterback as a two-way star at Chicago's DuSable High School. He was a running back and safety for Western Illinois before moving to linebacker as a sophomore.
Playing for a coordinator who emphasized turnovers, Williams forced an FCS career-record 14 fumbles.
“We do emphasize turnovers, but that record was mostly Jason,” Patterson said. “It relates to his athleticism. It's an unusual ability he has.”
Williams also excelled on special teams.
“Even as a senior after he became a star, he was out there protecting the punter, covering kickoffs,” Patterson said. “A lot of stars don't understand the importance of special teams.”
Said Williams: “It's one of my favorite parts of the game. You can change the game with one play.”
Williams proved that when he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff in the season opener against Arkansas last year. He finished with seven tackles, two sacks and another forced fumble in a game that saw the Leathernecks lead 24-14 in the fourth quarter before falling 28-24.
“My best came out when I played better competition,” Williams said. “I went into those games wanting to dominate.”
It's hard to imagine Dallas Cowboys draft pick Jason Williams ever having a crisis of confidence.
In an interview Tuesday, the linebacker from Western Illinois called himself a “great football player” and indicated he likes his chances of beating out veterans Bobby Carpenter and Keith Brooking and fellow rookie Stephen Hodge to replace Kevin Burnett in the substitution packages.
“I'm not going to say I'm definitely going to start, but I definitely feel I can come in and get the job done right away,” said Williams, who was selected in the third round. “I'm a playmaker, a great football player.”
Picked 69th overall, Williams was the first player from a Football Championship Subdivision program taken in this year's draft. He said it would be a mistake to underestimate him just because he's from a small school.
“I've been underrated for so long, I have a chip on my shoulder,” Williams said. “Nobody realizes what a great player I am. Now that I'm on a national scale, playing with the best players, everyone is going to see what a great player I am.”
With San Diego signing Burnett in free agency, the Cowboys considered moving up to select Williams. In the end, they remained at No. 69 and took Williams with an eye toward him starting at inside linebacker when the 33-year-old Brooking's three-year deal expires.
Williams wonders why he has to wait.
“I don't ever want to settle for being a backup to anyone,” Williams said.
Such talk doesn't surprise Western Illinois coach Don Patterson.
“He recognizes he's been genetically blessed with great athleticism,” Patterson said. “He also understands part of being successful is playing with great confidence.”
The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Williams wasn't invited to the NFL combine, but he dazzled scouts at his school's pro day with impressive showings in the 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds), vertical jump (39 inches) and bench press (26 repetitions of 225 pounds).
“He recognizes very few guys can run as fast as he can or jump as high as he can,” Patterson said. “He understands that football, if played right, is a game of physics. If you can have decent mass and acceleration, you can exhibit more force than the guy you're going against.”
Williams played quarterback as a two-way star at Chicago's DuSable High School. He was a running back and safety for Western Illinois before moving to linebacker as a sophomore.
Playing for a coordinator who emphasized turnovers, Williams forced an FCS career-record 14 fumbles.
“We do emphasize turnovers, but that record was mostly Jason,” Patterson said. “It relates to his athleticism. It's an unusual ability he has.”
Williams also excelled on special teams.
“Even as a senior after he became a star, he was out there protecting the punter, covering kickoffs,” Patterson said. “A lot of stars don't understand the importance of special teams.”
Said Williams: “It's one of my favorite parts of the game. You can change the game with one play.”
Williams proved that when he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff in the season opener against Arkansas last year. He finished with seven tackles, two sacks and another forced fumble in a game that saw the Leathernecks lead 24-14 in the fourth quarter before falling 28-24.
“My best came out when I played better competition,” Williams said. “I went into those games wanting to dominate.”
posted by The Gryphon at 6:42 PM
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