Cowboys Feel The Need, The Need For Speed

The Dallas Cowboys will be looking for several things in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the missing element of game-changing speed is a commodity that will be available.

While many predict that the Dallas Cowboys will be on the lookout for help for their lackluster pass rush in the 2016 NFL Draft, others are focused on the need for a future franchise quarterback that can both backup Tony Romo and eventually take over the reigns.

Other will point to the need for more help in the defensive secondary and there’s also rumblings about Dallas’ need to either trade for or draft a future tight end to succeed Jason Witten.

All of the above are valid observations – and there’s other areas to be addressed as well. It will be virtually impossible for the Cowboys to address all needs in the coming draft, thus the importance of free agency, which officially kicks off on Wednesday.

We do know this – the Cowboys are in the market for speed.

I’m not just talking about speed in general, but rather the type of speed that keeps both defensive and special teams coordinators awake at night trying to find ways to stop it, which is close to impossible.

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Ever heard of Wendall Williams of University of Cumberlands in Kentucky?

One thing’s for sure in that for a player from a school this small to get national recognition, something pretty profound must be going on. This is true with Williams, although if you blink, you just might miss it.

In this case, it’s Williams’ speed.

At the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, running back Chris Johnson shocked the football world with what was then the fastest time in the 40-yard dash ever recorded. For eight years that record stood – until last Saturday.

Johnson’s time of 4.24 back in ’08 was blistering and it paved the way for the former East Carolina star to become a first-round draft selection while also joining the exclusive Single Season 2,000 Rushing Yards Club following his second NFL season in 2009.

Now, Williams is a wide receiver for the Patriots of University of Cumberlands and doesn’t appear headed for an illustrious career as a star tailback in the NFL. On the contrary, Williams appears to be well-suited to play a third or fourth receiver role on an NFL roster and, most likely, a kickoff and punt return specialist.

Williams posted an unofficial time of 4.19 at a regional scouting combine on Saturday, a mark that could be adjusted later on as an official time.

However you want to slice it, Williams is a guy who can really run with the football. He’s the type of player that stretches the field without even moving and is a huge problem to deal with when he has the football in his hands.

It’s been suggested that the Cowboys need more depth at wide receiver, an idea that I don’t necessarily agree with, unless that additional pass-catcher brings an intangible that can’t be found every day. There’s no denying that Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler or Devin Street are in the NFL because of their speed alone. Neither one of these pass-catchers are known for having what Williams has.

Granted, Williams comes from a tiny NAIA school that doesn’t exactly prepare football players for life in the NFL. The Patriots play at James H. Taylor II Stadium, a facility dwarfed by high school football stadiums throughout Texas.

So, why look into a player like Williams in the later rounds?

Again, speed.

There’s two physical traits that translate immediately to the NFL, provided a given player has the mental aptitude to grasp NFL plays and assignments. Those elements are strength and speed, Williams obviously possessing plenty of the latter.

As of right now, the Cowboys are without the services of third-down running back Lance Dunbar, a player who was easily the quickest on the Dallas roster, and possibly the fastest. An unrestricted free-agent about to test the market after having rehabbed from last season’s torn ACL injury, it’s quite unclear as to whether or not Dunbar will return to the Cowboys.

Wide receiver Lucky Whitehead is also a player that shows some big-play potential for the Cowboys, possibly as soon as his second year with the Cowboys next season.

Having said that, nobody compares to the speed factor that Williams could bring to the table.

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There’s little doubt that Williams’ draft stock will go from likely undrafted free agent to potentially a third or fourth round pick simply because of those wheels. The Cowboys should be taking note, if for no other reason that there’s at least some room for future candidates at the kick return positions that absolutely could use a game-changer as soon as possible.

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