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2002 NFL draft

Hail to the Chiefs

Jones again toast of Big D

By Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor of special projects
April 20, 2002

The addition of Oklahoma S Roy Williams is icing on the cake to a busy offseason in Dallas, where Big D is taking on a whole new meaning. Dallas’ defense finished in the top 10 last season overall, but gave up too many points.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones, traditionally a free-agent penny-pincher, opened his pocket book to bring in several new faces to impact his lackluster defense. DT La’Roi Glover to add a pass rush — Glover led the league in sacks with 17 in 2000 — that has been ultimately non-existent outside of DE Greg Ellis, who has never reached double-digits but figures to thrive alongside a playmaking tackle. Then CB Bryant Westbrook, a one-time top five pick out of Texas.

Westbrook has shown signs of promise, but he is somewhat of a risk. He missed most of the 2001-02 season with ruptured Achilles, not necessarily what you look for at a position that thrives on speed.

Then, last week, Jones took a shot at another reclamation project, LB Kevin Hardy. Hardy, though proven as a Pro Bowl-caliber player, didn’t see a lot of action last season either, sidelined with a bum knee. In addition, Dallas brought back free agent DTs Michael Myers and Brandon Noble, dissolving the need to add another primetime tackle via the draft, such as Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth or North Carolina’s Ryan Sims.

Dallas was 30th in the NFL in interceptions in 2001. It had no one to pressure or cover. Now the Cowboys have both. Williams makes the Cowboys’ secondary a versatile unit. It may still lack one corner, but no NFL club has a pair of safeties that can do more. SS Darren Woodson is a fourth linebacker on short yardage and won’t have to go out of his way to show Williams, a speedy safety who likes to stick his helmet in the pile, the ropes. The LB corps — Dexter Coakley, Dat Ngyuen and Hardy — is the most talented unit on the squad. Now with Williams, Westbrook, Woodson and CB Mario Edwards, the secondary might have the most potential.

We know the offense has some questions: Can Emmitt hold up? Will the real Quincy Carter please stand up? Can Joey Galloway make an impact? Who catches the ball over the middle (a tight end)?

But after adding Williams with the eighth overall pick, following a trade that should save Dallas roughly $1 million to sign Williams (based on last year’s contract figures) and added a third-round pick, Jones can concentrate on addressing those needs. Reserve RB Troy Hambrick ran for 600 yards last season and averaged better than 5.0 yards per carry.

However, coach Dave Campo and Company would be wise to grab a player like RB Ladell Betts (Iowa) or Lamar Gordon as the heir to Emmitt. In the second round, I go for one of two players if I’m Jones. Washington TE Jerramy Stevens or Florida State WR Javon Walker. Both can be instant contributors and provide Carter with potential go-to guys and large targets.

Love him or hate him, Jones is righting past draft wrongdoings (read: Ebenezer Ekuban, two first-round picks for Galloway, Carter in Round Two). For as much as he deserved the undressing by media and fans alike in the past, on this day he has earned a raise of the glass.

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