Don Banks combine column CNNSI - Belichick talking evaluating safetys (bu bye Roy)

[RS12]

- In assessing this year's crop of defensive backs, Belichick was fairly expansive about the changing role of the safety position in the NFL.

"The safety position is becoming more and more a corner position in the NFL,'' Belichick said. "There was a time when some of the safeties, particularly the strong safeties, fit more almost like linebackers than they did as defensive backs. That's changed gradually, but now to the point where the defensive backs a lot of times have to cover either wide receivers or tight ends who are very, very good in the passing game. So the demands of that position have changed and we have to change the evaluation of them.

Nobody can argue Belichick knows defense. Sounds like unless Roy W can play LB, he has outlived his usefulness here. The guy cant cover a man hole cover.

[JonJon]

I think he still has a part-time role as a runner stopper in short yardage situations. Other than that, he needs to be on the bench.

[Canadian BoyzFan]

Well part time players should not make what Roy makes. It's time to go or re-do your contract if you want to stay.

[SLATEmosphere]

I think he still has a part-time role as a runner stopper in short yardage situations. Other than that, he needs to be on the bench.

:laugh2: Would he want to do that?

[5Countem5]

Whats the cap hit if he is cut or traded?

Anyone know?

[SLATEmosphere]

Whats the cap hit if he is cut or traded?

Anyone know?

We save 2.2 million if he's cut or traded.I think it's saving 10 million over the next two years or something crazy like that if he's cut this year.

[5Countem5]

We save 2.2 million if he's cut or traded.I think it's saving 10 million over the next two years or something crazy like that if he's cut this year.

Wow!!

Something's gotta give. He can't make that kind of money for what he contributes.

[Matt]

LOL, I love how every offseason there is always a question about Roy's cap hit.

[InmanRoshi]

I've been saying it for 3 years, back when everyone was blaming the scheme.

And NFL safety these days has to cover. It doesn't matter if he's free or strong. It's a fact that you can't scheme/wish/hope/pray away. The game is too spread out now and there's too many athletic pass catching TE's. NFL offensive coordinators are paid a lot of money to figure out ways to get safeties like Roy Williams in mismatches. There's nowhere to hide.

[big dog cowboy]

If he stays, his contract needs redone. Right now he is stealing Jerry money.

[newlander]

see ya Roy.

[burmafrd]

Frankly I see a time when you have 3 CBs starting and only 1 Safety.

[ddh33]

You know, it's kind of strange that college football has been a little ahead of the NFL lately.

Colleges were doing a lot of this several years ago, including when Roy Williams was playing a hybrid position at OU.

More recently, colleges are going almost exclusively to spread offenses, and we are gradually seeing more and more of that in the NFL too.

But I think Roy can still play. I think his strengths can still be used on a football team. I wonder what he would do as a LB, but even if he stays at S, I think he can still have a role.

So I hope that Roy does get to stick around, and I hope that the coaches can find a way to use him.

[RS12]

how do you keep a guy around who cant cover or tackle? Maybe I should get on Irvins reality show cuz I cant cover or tackle either, maybe there is is a roster spot for me.

[CATCH17]

If he still lit people up it would be a different story but he doesnt even do that.

[SLATEmosphere]

The NFL constantly evolves. Those hard hitting safetys are becoming more and more obsolete due to different schemes and packages. There's only a few rare exeptions that come along who can do both. Polamalu, Bob Sanders and Sean Taylor.

[ThreeSportStar80]

Roy Williams isn't getting paid like a part time player... They need to cut him and move on. Dallas needs a leader and a playmaker at the safety position.

[jobberone]

We save 2.2 million if he's cut or traded.I think it's saving 10 million over the next two years or something crazy like that if he's cut this year.

If he's traded then we save all the contract money. This would be a very good thing but who's going to take him?

I've been saying it for 3 years, back when everyone was blaming the scheme.

And NFL safety these days has to cover. It doesn't matter if he's free or strong. It's a fact that you can't scheme/wish/hope/pray away. The game is too spread out now and there's too many athletic pass catching TE's. NFL offensive coordinators are paid a lot of money to figure out ways to get safeties like Roy Williams in mismatches. There's nowhere to hide.

We caught some heat for that. The game has changed. We play the nickel, dime and other special packages a great deal of the time. The rule changes and the natural evolution of players gives makes passing much more effective.

[Clove]

If he still lit people up it would be a different story but he doesnt even do that.He would have a place on my roster if he would destroy every WR within 10 yards of him, but since his one act is gone, he should follow.

[Cowboyz88]

Isn't there a myth list somewhere that disputes this bunk?

"The safety position is becoming more and more a corner position in the NFL,'' Belichick said. "There was a time when some of the safeties, particularly the strong safeties, fit more almost like linebackers than they did as defensive backs. That's changed gradually, but now to the point where the defensive backs a lot of times have to cover either wide receivers or tight ends who are very, very good in the passing game. So the demands of that position have changed and we have to change the evaluation of them.

I kid, I kid.

[TheCount]

I think we missed Roy a bit in run support this year. Chances are he doesn't blow both tackles like Hamlin did on those two huge runs against the Ravens, but the money he's making is a little ridiculous considering he's not an every down player.

[Sam I Am]

Frankly I see a time when you have 3 CBs starting and only 1 Safety.

...and that safety will be a big physical free safety playing the SS position.

[InmanRoshi]

You know, it's kind of strange that college football has been a little ahead of the NFL lately.

Colleges were doing a lot of this several years ago, including when Roy Williams was playing a hybrid position at OU.

More recently, colleges are going almost exclusively to spread offenses, and we are gradually seeing more and more of that in the NFL too.


It's a trickle up effect. The NFL is almost forced to adopt more spread offenses, because all of the coaching and player talent infusing into the league from college and high school come from spread offenses. Eventually the NFL coaches have to make the best of what they have to work with, and now that's players who have played in spread offenses. You don't see many fullbacks coming out of college because they aren't implemented in the spread. I was reading a quote by an NFL general manager the other day lamenting that it's impossible to find all around TE's coming from college, because they're all 235-240 lbs. TE/WR hybrids who play spread out from the line of scrimmage. Chan Gailey had to implement the spread last year in Kansas City because it was an offense Tyler Thigpen knew from college.

[Future]

The NFL constantly evolves. Those hard hitting safetys are becoming more and more obsolete due to different schemes and packages. There's only a few rare exeptions that come along who can do both. Polamalu, Bob Sanders and Sean Taylor.
All of whom get burned as much as Roy.

[tyke1doe]

Belichick is trying to psyche us out. If the Cowboys cut Roy, the Patriots will pick him up and turn him into a monster again.

[Disturbed]

Belicheck takes players who perform on the field, so he won't be foolish enough to consider Roy Williams.

And I think we will see larger CB playing and ultimately teams will have 3 or 4 starting in the secondary...the current safety is obsolete.

[CATCH17]

All of whom get burned as much as Roy.

and get payed a lot less to do it while getting the same results....


Like I said if he still blew people up then every part of his game would improve because he makes players play timid and do things slower.

I seriously wonder if he was on steroids at OU and once he got to the league the results he had from it only lasted so long.

[Rampage]

no reason he should be on the cowboys roster next season.