There’s also a flipside.
“Or I could stink it up, too,” Williams said.
What we know about the Cowboys1. The offensive line has issues » This once was a big and talented bunch. Now they’re either experienced, aging or old. Four of their starters are either 32 or will turn 32 this season. And lines don’t age slowly; once they’re old they crash. Will this be Dallas’ downfall? Only left tackle Doug Free is considered young (entering his fourth season), and he’s a question mark himself as a first-year starter. At some point, old lines become injured ones. It may not matter in the opener, but it will as the season unfolds. Guaranteed.2. The defensive line does not » It starts with Jay Ratliff at nose tackle, but the ends, Marcus Spears and Igor Olshansky, do what good 3-4 ends must: their jobs. The reason the Cowboys linebackers are so good, aside from talent of course, is that the line usually keeps them clean. Ratliff is terrific. Though undersized (303 pounds), he is effective because of his quickness. That could cause problems on the Redskins’ stretch run plays.3. Anthony Spencer is underrated » The outside linebacker not named DeMarcus Ware had a terrific game vs. Washington in the first meeting last season, yet didn’t record a sack. He’s excellent against the run and can be disruptive. But is he a blossoming rusher? In the last five games of 2009, including two in the playoffs, Spencer recorded six sacks.4. The offense is explosive » Quarterback Tony Romo and the talent around him obscure the issues along the offensive line. He makes plays on the move and takes care of the ball (23 interceptions the past two years). The Cowboys have three talented running backs offering different styles. They have one of the game’s best tight ends in Jason Witten, a terrific receiver in Miles Austin and a potentially explosive rookie receiver in Dez Bryant. But Bryant missed all five preseason games, and that could impact him early in the season.
And that’s the danger of opening the season — and your career — against an elite player such as Ware, a Pro Bowl starter after each of the past four seasons. He’s recorded six sacks in 10 career games vs. Washington.
Week 1Redskins vs. CowboysWhere » FedEx FieldWhen » Sunday, 8:20 p.m.TV » NBCRedskins notes» Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth will be with Washington for Sunday’s season opener vs. Dallas. Haynesworth’s name has come up in trade rumors, and one NFL source said, “Tennessee really wants him. The coaches are very motivated to get him.” But, the source said, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt is not one to surrender high picks for players. Various reports have suggested Washington wants a second-rounder, but Tennessee is only willing to give up a fourth. League sources say Shanahan rarely budges on his demands. “It’s how motivated Washington is to get rid of him,” the NFL source said. Shanahan did not deny trade discussions. But Haynesworth “will be with our team Sunday,” Shanahan said. “He’ll be ready to go this weekend, and we’ll leave it at that.” Shanahan would not say how much Haynesworth would play, if at all.» Receiver Malcolm Kelly said he should have done a better job telling the Redskins how bad his hamstring injury was before training camp. That would have led to them putting him on the Physically Unable to Perform list instead of eventually landing on injured reserve and lost for the season. “I told them what was wrong, but at the same time who wants to be hurt on the first day of camp? So you don’t tell them every little thing,” Kelly said. Kelly said he plans to stick around, proving to Shanahan that he wants to be here next season, too. Shanahan wants him to watch film, sit in on meetings and, when finally healthy, run pass routes. Often times, players on injured reserve don’t stick around.
Though Dallas moves him around, he’ll mostly play on Williams’ side.
“It would have been a lot easier to open with somebody not as good, but it sets the stage,” Williams said. “I’m kind of a mellow dude so I’m really taking it day by day. I’m not trying to overwhelm myself.”
The Redskins always can opt to help him by putting a tight end on his side, either to double team or just to chip him before running a pass pattern. Mostly, though, it’ll be up to Williams.
“You can’t rely on athletic ability,” Williams said. “He’s one of the most athletic big men in the game so you have to fall back on technique.”
Williams is helped by a few other factors, too. He faced Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo all summer. Orakpo offers some of the same skills as Ware: They’re fast and powerful. Also, Williams has talked with former Redskins tackle, and current coaching intern, Chris Samuels, who played four seasons vs. Ware.
Samuels talked to Williams about some of Ware’s tendencies, particularly how he likes to use his speed outside to set up a bull rush.
“I think he’s ready,” Samuels said.
Williams has no choice. In the Redskins first six games, he’ll face not only Ware, but Houston’s Mario Williams, Philadelphia’s Trent Cole and Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney. In the preseason, Williams faced Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, who used his speed to win some battles. It was Williams’ toughest game of the preseason.
Ware is a lot like Suggs.
“He threatens you with speed, but he can run over you just as quickly,” Redskins offensive line coach Chris Foerster said of Ware. “He plays hard all the time, run and pass … He’s the total package.”
But the Redskins consider Williams a total package as well. That’s why they selected him fourth overall and instantly started him.
“It will be one heck of a test, but Trent’s up for it,” Redskins center Casey Rabach said. “There will be some things he hasn’t seen and he’ll have to use his God-given talents to overcome them.”
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