We all know the story, the Cowboys trade the 18th pick of the 2013 draft to the 49ers for the 31st pick in the first round and the 74th overall pick, in the third round. Fans react with the typical vitriol that comes with failed Cowboys drafts of the past. The Cowboys draft Travis Frederick with the 31st pick, and Cowboys fans react with the above mentioned vitriol. With the 74th pick, the Cowboys select Terrance Williams, the wide receiver from Baylor. Fans yet again rage over the fact the Cowboys didn’t address the defense, reach of a pick, Jerry Jones should fire the GM, etc.
Fast forward to now – Travis Frederick makes the All-Rookie Team (the Niners pick in that trade, Eric Reid, makes the All-Rookie Team as well), and Terrance Williams ends up with 44 receptions for 736 yards and 5 touchdowns. While Eric Reid is a helluva player (at what was and still is a position of need for the Cowboys), it seems that those two picks were knocked out of the park. The offense should be a monster in 2014 with the help of those two.
Now it’s time for me to focus on Williams.
Most rookie wide-outs struggle in their first year. There are obvious exceptions in recent times, Julio Jones’ rookie year and most definitely Randy Moss’ rookie year stand out to me. Comparative to other elite receivers wing-men, Williams’ rookie year stacks up very favorably.
Just to name a few from the past few years:
[table id=24 /]
And just for fun, I looked up a great Cowboys wing-man from my youth.
Granted, I only provided a very small sample size of second wide-outs, but Williams had a pretty standout year. It can only be assumed he will improve upon last year. From all of the reports I’ve read he’s gone from being a shy rookie to a vocal leader. He has also worked hard on his tendency to catch the ball with his body.
With Dez Bryant having another Dez-like year (in a contract year no less), Jason Witten being Jason Witten, also coupled with the emergence of a bulkier and more involved-in-the-game-plan Gavin Escobar, and perhaps Devin Street emerging as some sort of threat, this could be the year Williams and Dez take the next step into elite receiving tandem status.
This will be a very explosive offense this year that will hopefully take pressure off of a very inexperienced defense.
Can’t wait for training camp.
I have been a cowboys fan my entire life and really appreciate your opinion Blaine. Terrance is a tall vertical red zone target who can go up and get the ball. Eats up space quickly against soft coverage. Shakes his man off the line and has enough speed to get a step down the sideline. Is a sideline threat with quick feet for his size and body control in the air, making his stop, fade, and comeback routes more effective. Tracks the ball and adjusts to it in the air, and shows the ability to stop and turn for the back-shoulder fade. Adjusts his route to make himself available to his scrambling quarterback, going deep or crossing into an opening. Willing, strong, and physical blocker on bubble screens and in the run game, throwing his body into defenders and sticking with blocks. His blocking is excellent also. I wouldn’t trust him anywhere near my wallet for obvious reasons, but as long as he catches the ball, keeps his mouth shut, and produces he is going to be a special player.
Blaine – I really appreciate your opinion. It is good to hear from a regular old Cowboy fan from Ft. Worth. I think you’ve put a lot of pressure on a guy to try to be the next Alvin Harper. Yet he seems to have the tools to do this. I am going to keep your ever optimistic view on him. What kind of dog do you have?
Blake, you think the loss of Miles Austin will hurt the boys? love your writings, big alvin harper fan, I remember watching the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers: with Troy Aikman knocked out of the game with a concussion, Dallas backup quarterback Bernie Kosar connected with Harper for a 42 yard touchdown. My dad was watching the game with the entire neighborhood a lot of high fiving, chest bumping, hugging, celebrating, and he even gave me a spit handie. You think the cowboys will ever bring back the glory days of the 90s? We were the last real dynasty and I’d love to go through those good times again. This is a great site with a lot of writers that bleed blue.
Speaking of draft day trades, The Dallas Cowboys traded down their first round draft choice in the 1996 NFL Draft, sending the Washington Redskins the 30th and 250th picks, in exchange for their 37th and 67th draft choices. The team gambled that they could move down into the second round and still select Tony Brackens, while changing a seventh round selection into a third. The Jacksonville Jaguars ended up selecting Brackens and the Cowboys still needing a defensive end, drafted Kavika Pittman in the second round. He was originally seen as a project, with the plan of eventually replacing Shante Carver.
As a rookie he contributed in special teams recording 17 tackles (third on the team). He was a backup defensive end until earning a starter position in 1998, playing opposite to Greg Ellis and finishing with 6 sacks (led the team), 16 quarterback pressures (third on the team), 59 tackles, 7 passes defensed, 2 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
The next year he started all 16 games and registered a career-high 74 tackles, 3 sacks, 21 quarterback pressures (second on the team) and 10 pass defensed (led the team). After his rookie contract ended, the team didn’t resign him because of salary cap constraints. Will not resigning Pitman be looked at as one of the biggest blunders in Cowboy history?
@Tony Richards The fans and media in Dallas never gave Pittman a fair shake. In fact, Pittman said he thinks media criticism, not his poor play is what swayed Jones in the end.
@Tony Richards Great point, I think top four defensive ends in dc history will be haley, white, pittman, and ware. I heard Jerry was considering KP for the ring of honor this year.
@Tony Richards- Great point, Blair, you should write a piece on how the cowboys prematurely wrote off pittman. I think the top four defensive ends in dc history will be haley, white, pittman, and ware. I heard Jerry was considering KP for the ring of honor this year.
@Tony Richards Blade, Is this a serious thread, kavika pittman in the roh? the guy was average at best as a cowboy. he showed a little promise in his last year but then asked for an absurd amount of money to remain with the boys. He had great size( but never lived up to the potential. Thelma I would slap (possibly rape) you for using Pitman in the same sentence with cowboys legends Haley, White, and Ware. Are you getting Pittman confused with someone?
blair you have written two of the best posts on this website by far. I nearly vomited when reading the article someone wrote on josh Brent. You should give a quick clinic to the other pieces of shit on this site on how to do the things that all us cowboy fans are good at and proud of- watching football, evaluating football, writing about football, and picking up men.
Jacob S. Ladder
Jacob, I honestly can’t tell if you’re a Cowboys fan or just trolling your buddy Blair. But either way, knock off the personal attacks (2 “piece of shit” remarks so far). It’s called a difference of opinion and if you can’t handle yours like an adult, then thanks for visiting and don’t come back. The next such remarks from you will be the last.
Here’s a thought, instead of acting like a douche, go comment to Brian on the Josh Brent article with thoughtful and logical opposition to his point. Beats the hell out of stinking up Blair’s post with your big tough “I’m on the internet” insults, which aren’t nearly as anonymous as you might think, by the way.
If you have a problem this, go to the contact page and send me an email. Happy to oblige!
Let’s write another article you fucking piece of shit!!!
Blade, I can tell you are a huge cowboys fan so I will share some pretty fascinating inside info with you. i was in the bathroom next to Terrance William’s and glanced over the stall- the guy is hung like a horse.
Ted Darvey
WTF??? lmao
Glad to hear some chatter about Pitman. Underrated in my book as well. Productive, and not a big price tag. Plus he reminds me of a young Tyrese Gibson facially. Not a bad thing!
I can’t believe there are dumb – dumbs like Danny out there talking about Pitman still. Worry about something important.
Blantche – you do bring up some good points on Williams. I’d probably
agree with you on all all points and disagree on some others, but good
read. Physically, I do liken him to a young Eric Davis formerly of the
Cincinnati Reds. I used to have a bunch of posters of that guy. Great.
player!