“It was cool, really cool,” Williams said. “We talked a lot about football and off the field stuff. Hopefully one day I can play with them … I stop the run, that’s what I do best.”

Dallas isn’t letting the fact that they have a Pro Bowl nose tackle currently on the roster stop them from interviewing big bodies for the defensive line. In addition to Williams, the Cowboys have set up a meeting with Baylor’s Phil Taylor.

This year’s training camp is going to be much, much different for the Dallas Cowboys.

There won’t be any cameras from HBO following Tony Romo around. No more Terrell Owens rants, questions, catches, etc.

But one thing is always the same at training camp: Jobs will be won and lost, careers will begin or end and dreams will start or be shattered.

Since training camp is less than a week away, we here at The Landry Hat are doing a series that showcases five different position battles to keep an eye on during two-a-days.

Number 5: Backup Nose Tackle.

Defensive tackle might be the position where the Dallas Cowboys are the thinnest.

Our starter, Pro-Bowler Jay Ratliff is pretty darn good. After him, though, is a collection of guys who have been in and out of the NFL over the last few years.

See if you recognize any of these names: Tim Anderson, Jonas Seawright and Junior Siavii.

No? That’s because every one of them has spent at least one full season out of football. Siavii sat out 2006 and 2007, Tim Anderson missed the 2008 season and Seawright has been out since 2006.

So this position battle, as inglorious as it may be, is wide open.

Favorite: TBA

Anybody else that the Cowboys bring in has to be the favorite here. I guess Tim Anderson would have the slight edge here, having played more than any of the other candidates.

But if Jerry Jones goes and gets somebody who has stayed in the NFL since he was drafted, which Jones should do, that player would have to be the odds-on favorite.

Long Shot: Jonas Seawright

Seawright might look the part at 6’6, 335 pounds, but he didn’t play the part when he got his chance with the Giants in 2006.

Seawright played in nine games that season. He had one tackle. Good luck, buddy.

Prediction: TBA

Jerry either has to go looking for another nose tackle or we’re stuck with one of these bums.

Next: Nickel Backer

But now, the Cowboys look to be moving him to defensive end. Under-performing Marcus Spears has been shifted to nose tackle.

At face value the move seems to make sense. But why fiddle with a recipe that tastes good already? Ratliff played nose tackle all season. Spears should be benched as far as I am concerned. The Cowboys needed to shop him to a new team for some draft picks. Ratliff believes the move is permanent and that concerns him.

“This is kind of a shock to me,” Ratliff said. “I play nose pretty much. All my game film has been nose or inside. I really don’t have any game film outside. I’ll get used to it.”

Coach Wade Phillips explained that Ratliff is much more active, and the defensive end position fits his style better. Maybe. But who is to say the nose tackle position shouldn’t be an active one either? Why do they always set down huge fat monsters there, when a good, strong fast player could do as much harm? Just ask Jay about that.