Dispelling two myths on Roy Williams

[BuckyG]

Myth 1: His numbers went down after Darren Woodson left

WRONG they went up in every part of his game. His 2nd to worst year in the NFL was Woodson's last year in 2003. Woodson's numbers were the ones that took a sharp downward turn after Roy came in.

Myth 2: Roy Williams is bad in coverage

Despite being a bad coverage safety as most here think. Which isn't really true. A safety is probably the most difficult DB spot to play now because TEs and slot WRs are getting so much better and so much harder to scheme against. The 3-4 probably doesn't fit against it well unless there is pressure at the QB. And that's what Roy Williams should be doing more of yet he doesn't because the 3-4 really doesn't allow that.

Despite all that every year of his career he's had at least 2 INTs. His worst statistical year in number of tackles, in 2006 he had 5 INTs and he had the most pass deflections of his career in that year also. I would say the 3-4 has probably hurt him more than any other member of the defense. He isn't a guy that should be in pass coverage that much. He wasn't at OU. It's not that he's really bad in pass coverage. His stats show he can cover. But you can't put him in coverage all the time. He's one of the best players in the NFL if he's near the line of scrimmage. That's where he needs to be utilized the most. And I don't think that's happened since the switch to the 3-4.

Myth #1. In 2002, Williams' rookie season, Woodson played only ten games due to injury. His 2002 stats averaged out over 16 games are almost identical to his 2001 numbers, and his 2003 numbers were about the same, except for drastic increases in passes defensed due to being shifted to free safety.

Myth #2. While the 3-4 may have had some effect on Williams stats, that doesn't explain why his key numbers in 2007 dropped off from 2006, both seasons in which he played in a 3-4. Last year Williams set or matched career lows in tackles for loss, passes defensed, sacks, forced fumbles, and interceptions. And when you say "He isn't a guy that should be in pass coverage that much," then what you're really saying is that he probably shouldn't be playing in the NFL, since Williams is a safety, and the NFL is a passing league. I think Williams is a decent player, but you don't adapt your defense to suit a decent player. The rest of the team seems to be adjusting just fine to the 3-4--including Greg Ellis, who's had to learn an entirely new position--and Williams needs to work harder to learn how to play more effectively in it.

 

[NickZepp]

I've always been a big RW supporter. One of the things that I respected the most was his closing speed and tackling ability. Last year he was a shell of his former self. He missed more takles and played more timid than I've seen him. He looked like he lost his passion. He was very inconsistent around the line of scrimmage.
Hopefully he will use all the criticism as motivation to bring his game back to the lofty level it used to be.

He still ended with 90+ tackles, despite missing a game. He could have easily gotten 100 tackles this year. his worst year was 06. He wasn't really that good that year in any aspect of the game. Last year he wasn't as bad as most credit him to be. I think he probably could have been better. But every since the switch to the 3-4 he probably hasn't been as good as he was his first 3 or 4 years in the league. Last year he actually helped win some key games without him.

 

[NickZepp]

Myth #2. While the 3-4 may have had some effect on Williams stats, that doesn't explain why his key numbers in 2007 dropped off from 2006, both seasons in which he played in a 3-4. Last year Williams set or matched career lows in tackles for loss, passes defensed, sacks, forced fumbles, and interceptions.

He had 92 tackles last year. Which is his 3rd best year. 73 solo tackles, 2nd most of his career. Pass deflections went down from 06 but they weren't as bad as his rookie year. He did have his low on INTs but it's also his 3rd best year in INTs because he's has 3 years with 2 INTs, 1 year with 3 INTs and 2 years with 5. The only numbers that went down from 06 were his coverage numbers. He had 3 less INTs and 4 less passes defended. He also had 30 more tackles. Can't find a tackle for loss stat for either 2006 or 2007. I would guess he had more since he had more chances to tackle. He was in coverage a lot more in 2006.

 

[BuckyG]

He had 92 tackles last year. Which is his 3rd best year. 73 solo tackles, 2nd most of his career. Pass deflections went down from 06 but they weren't as bad as his rookie year. He did have his low on INTs but it's also his 3rd best year in INTs because he's has 3 years with 2 INTs, 1 year with 3 INTs and 2 years with 5. The only numbers that went down from 06 were his coverage numbers. He had 3 less INTs and 4 less passes defended. He also had 30 more tackles. Can't find a tackle for loss stat for either 2006 or 2007. I would guess he had more since he had more chances to tackle. He was in coverage a lot more in 2006.

Note I said his "key numbers" dropped off. I think tackles is an overrated stat: Deion Sanders never got a lot of tackles because nobody threw at him. Does a safety get a lot of tackles because he's a great player or because the front seven is porous? Or is it the system? Frankly, Williams had less tackles in 2006 than in 2007 but made a greater impact on the field. Williams' greatest asset was making impact plays, and last year was his worst in this area: no tackles for loss, no sacks, no forced fumbles, no fumbles recovered, career lows in passes defensed and interceptions. Again, you could do a lot worse at strong safety than Roy Williams, but you could also do quite a bit better. And I'm convinced that Williams could be a far better safety if he worked harder at it.

 

[burmafrd]

3-4 or 4-3 really matters little for the secondary. So that is no excuse at all.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

He still ended with 90+ tackles, despite missing a game. He could have easily gotten 100 tackles this year. his worst year was 06. He wasn't really that good that year in any aspect of the game. Last year he wasn't as bad as most credit him to be. I think he probably could have been better. But every since the switch to the 3-4 he probably hasn't been as good as he was his first 3 or 4 years in the league. Last year he actually helped win some key games without him.

Perhaps you should watch the games instead of just stats. Looking at stats doesn't necessarily show you the big picture. 98% of us here see that Roy is shell of his former self. The other 2% look at stats and see another Roy.

Go back and re-watch any of this past season games and you will hear the commentators talking about how far Roy has fallen.

 

[arync]

http://img139.*************/img139/4697/oliver2bd4.jpg
"Please, sir, might I have some more Roy threads?"

Hillarious

 

[CATCH17]

Myth 1: His numbers went down after Darren Woodson left
WRONG they went up in every part of his game. His 2nd to worst year in the NFL was Woodson's last year in 2003. Woodson's numbers were the ones that took a sharp downward turn after Roy came in.

Myth 2: Roy Williams is bad in coverage

Despite being a bad coverage safety as most here think. Which isn't really true. A safety is probably the most difficult DB spot to play now because TEs and slot WRs are getting so much better and so much harder to scheme against. The 3-4 probably doesn't fit against it well unless there is pressure at the QB. And that's what Roy Williams should be doing more of yet he doesn't because the 3-4 really doesn't allow that.

Despite all that every year of his career he's had at least 2 INTs. His worst statistical year in number of tackles, in 2006 he had 5 INTs and he had the most pass deflections of his career in that year also. I would say the 3-4 has probably hurt him more than any other member of the defense. He isn't a guy that should be in pass coverage that much. He wasn't at OU. It's not that he's really bad in pass coverage. His stats show he can cover. But you can't put him in coverage all the time. He's one of the best players in the NFL if he's near the line of scrimmage. That's where he needs to be utilized the most. And I don't think that's happened since the switch to the 3-4.

No one cares about Roys numbers.

Watch the damn games and tell me thats the same guy.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I have often said that many times a defensive play is called with the expectation that the pressure will get to the QB....and the coaches/players also know that if the pressure does not get there, the secondary is left vulnerable.....as fans.....fans that do not go beyond highlights....most just blame whomever is covering the guy that caught the pass...but trust me...players/coaches know that the blitzer that did not get there is just as guilty...if not more

 

[JohnL2288]

He still ended with 90+ tackles, despite missing a game. He could have easily gotten 100 tackles this year. his worst year was 06. He wasn't really that good that year in any aspect of the game. Last year he wasn't as bad as most credit him to be. I think he probably could have been better. But every since the switch to the 3-4 he probably hasn't been as good as he was his first 3 or 4 years in the league. Last year he actually helped win some key games without him.

he might've had a lot of tackles, but he also had a lot of missed tackles and that is something that hardly ever happened. It used to be that while watching the game on TV, Roy would come flying in from off the screen and close on the runner and make the tackle, many times behind the line of scrimmage. Once Roy made contact, he was as sure a tackler as I've seen.
Playing in the 3-4 has nothing to do with Roy's declining play, Safeties play the exact same role in the 3-4 as the 4-3. All you have to do is watch the games to see that the biggest difference in Roy's play has been his lack of intensity and confidence. If you watch the games, you can see why so many people criticize Roy for his film study and prepardness, because a lot of times he simply looks lost out there.

 

[JohnL2288]

No one cares about Roys numbers.

Watch the damn games and tell me thats the same guy.

nice and simply put

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Rumor has it that there is a thread that already addresses this stuff, called something catchy like "The Roy Williams Myth Thread"