IRVING, Texas -- Roy Williams remains the Dallas Cowboys' No. 1 receiver, at least in his mind.

After putting in a lot of extra offseason work with quarterback Tony Romo, Williams is stunned they haven't made more progress.

"It's just not even close," Williams said. "It's not even funny. Not even close."

Williams does not believe his poor production accurately portrays his performance.

"I'm the No. 1 receiver," Williams said. "But things are just going No. 2's way."

The No. 2 is Miles Austin, who has produced like a Pro Bowler since moving into the starting lineup. Austin has set an NFL record with 482 yards in his first three starts, scoring on five of his 21 receptions during that span.

Compare that to Williams' statistics in 16 games since arriving from Detroit in a blockbuster deal: 33 catches, 447 yards and three touchdowns.

Considering those numbers, how could Williams possibly still see himself as the Cowboys' No. 1 receiver?

"He gets the ball thrown correctly his way," Williams said of Austin. "I'm stretching and falling and doing everything. Everybody [else] who's been here's balls are there. Our footballs [from Romo to Williams] are everywhere right now."

Williams has caught only 14 of 37 passes thrown his way this season. Only four receivers in the league who have been targeted at least 25 times have caught a lower percentage of passes aimed at them.

Williams stressed that he's pleased that the Cowboys are winning, but he's frustrated that he hasn't been more effective. He isn't asking for more opportunities. He just wants to be put in better position to make plays -- which means getting on the same page with Romo.

"We're going to be fine there," Romo said after Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks. "I know what Roy's doing. It's just a matter of going back and looking the tape and seeing what we have to do better. But it's just part of growing with a receiver."

I don't know what happened to Williams, but this is not the same receiver I saw when he wore burnt orange.

That said, no one else seems to have the same problems with the ball location. I can only conclude that Williams is not running consistent routes and he's not running alternate routes when he should or vice versa.

By Ed Werder
ESPN.com
Archive

The Dallas Cowboys acquired wide receiver Roy Williams from the Detroit Lions on Tuesday.

The Cowboys will give up a first-round pick in 2009, plus a third- and sixth-rounder that year for Williams and a seventh-round pick in '10.

The Cowboys and Williams agreed to a five-year extension worth $45 million, including more than $20 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. The contract language is still being finalized.
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Maybe that fat contract killed his desire.

I'll bet JJ would like to have those draft picks back already. That's going to eat him up come April.

Speaking of the 2010 draft, Rd.1 will be held on a Thursday night. This is a step towards the draft being aired only on the NFL network pay channel...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...ts&confirm=true

He's acting nothing like TO. Even with all the issues the guy is giving 100%. He'll be fine. Injuries have been an issue and Garret another. Garret needs to work towards Roy's talents (slants, posts, routes that he can use his size). The alternate routes are not working. Not sure why Garret is sticking with them. None of our other recievers are doing them.

I hope they eventually get everything out of him they gave up to acquire him. Until then, don't whine to the press. Be professional, zip it, and understand that even if all you're doing lately is drawing some coverage off the other receivers, you're playing a part in the success of the team.

You know, like Miles used to do.

Receivers have two routes to run on almost every passing play, depending on what the defense shows before the snap.

If the defense drops back in coverage, the receiver runs rt1, if they show blitz, he runs rt2. If the QB expects one route and the receiver runs another, the odds are the pass won't be completed.

That's not what I'm talking about. On a blog off of dallascowboys.com early in the season they were explaining how they have alternates for the receiver, almost always the number 1, with him running one of two routes which best deals with how the db reacts to his move off the line and such.

It's just another thing I hate about Garret's offense. I think it's confusing for the qb and wr.

And prowling, you have to understand the Dallas media. Roy hasn't been whining about anything.

"I'm the No. 1 receiver," Williams said. "But things are just going No. 2's way."
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That has whiny written all over it. Sounds like if he does catch the ball, he might take it and go home.

Shooting his mouth off to the press.

"I'm the #1 receiver around here."

Throwing the QB under the bus.

Seems a lot like Owens to me.

Romo takes high road; Williams honest
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MacMahon By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com


Tony Romo wisely continues to take the high road regarding his lack of rapport with Roy Williams.

Williams was simply speaking the truth Wednesday when he noted that Romo's throws to other receivers are more accurate than the balls aimed in his direction. A media firestorm ensued.

Calvin Watkins and Tim MacMahon have the Cowboys blanketed for ESPNDallas.com. Check in with their constantly updated coverage. Blog

That's what happens with a franchise that basks in the spotlight like the Dallas Cowboys, especially considering the recent history around Valley Ranch with loquacious receivers.

A repeat of this past December's drama is the last thing Romo wants to deal with, especially because the Cowboys are rolling with three consecutive wins entering Sunday's showdown for the NFC East lead in Philadelphia.

Romo keeps his comments about Williams simple. He praises the receiver's work ethic and expresses optimism that the quarterback and receiver will click soon. Instead of critiquing Williams' sometimes sloppy route-running or mentioning that No. 11 leads the Cowboys in dropped passes, Romo avoids the blame game as if it's a blitzing linebacker.

"We've been through this before with people trying to intersect and divide a football team," Romo said. "This team is too strong from the core. I know the media is going to make certain things appear what they may not actually have been or things of that nature.

"This team is too committed to winning and too committed to improving to let anything like that or anything you guys may present to us divide this team. We're just going to keep improving, getting better, and we'll be ready to go this weekend."

Williams doesn't want to tear the team apart, either. The last guy to do that got a one-way ticket to the NFL Siberia known as Buffalo during Jerry Jones' Romo-friendly offseason.

No malicious tone came from Williams' mouth when he made the comments. He just gave an honest answer when asked why Miles Austin's production is so much better than his. Perhaps too honest.

"I'm not a T.O. or I'm not trying to be a T.O," Williams said. "I don't know why people are trying to put me in that category because I'm happy to win. I've said that 100 times."

Williams is smart enough to realize he'd lose a public battle with Romo. He also understands the Cowboys rank second in the league in offense despite his poor production.

"Everything is working for us -- offense, defense and special teams," Williams said. "The only thing that isn't working for us is Romo-to-Williams, and it's a big deal. It's the only thing that y'all have to talk about."

With that, Williams vowed he's finished discussing his faulty connection with his quarterback. Romo has avoided weighing in on the issue all along.

Of course, Romo took the same approach with Owens last season. It didn't work then. Maybe it will work with Williams. If not, well, does Romo really need No. 11? It hasn't looked like it the past few games.