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There's reason to believe Roy Williams will wreak havoc
4:30 PM Thu, Aug 21, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Roy Williams struggles in pass coverage. Let's accept that fact and move on.
Wade Phillips and his coaching staff have done just that. That's why No. 38 will be standing on the sideline in obvious passing situations.
Hey, no shame in that. LB Zach Thomas is one of the starters who will be standing next to him. A two-down player can still be a dominant force. Roy Williams will be if he returns to his old form.
Phillips like to cite Williams' tackle total (115) from last season while defending the strong safety, but two other stats are much more indicative of the lack of impact he had in his final season as No. 31. I'm referring to his tackles for losses (0) and forced fumbles (0).
Compare that to his rookie season, when he had seven TFLs and four FFs. Or his second season, when he had six TFLs and two FFs.
It can't hurt Williams to work again with DB coach Dave Campo, the head coach when the Cowboys drafted Williams. But pride and personnel are the two primary reason Williams could wreak havoc again.
Williams knows what's been written and said about him, and he's determined to prove it wrong. And he certainly doesn't want his Cowboys career to end with a whimper, which will happen if he doesn't make an impact this season.
He wore a T-shirt last night that had his new number on the front and "NO HORSING AROUND IN '08" on the back. There was a picture of a hand reaching up to make a horse-collar tackle, but the double-meaning is pretty clear.
As far as personnel goes, this is by far the Cowboys' best secondary since Williams arrived in Dallas. That's why they can take him off the field on third downs. He'll obviously still have some coverage responsibilities when he's on the field, but his role will often be simplified: Seek and destroy.
The return of Ken Hamlin, the secondary's vocal leader, was a big deal for Williams. While Williams didn't have a great season last year (Pro Bowl berth or not), he built trust with Hamlin after playing next to guys like Lynn Scott, Tony Dixon, Keith Davis and Pat Watkins since mentor Darren Woodson retired after Williams' second season.
"Our chemistry back there works really well," Williams said. "I feel just as comfortable as when Woody was back there. We have a bond. It was the same thing with Woody."
We should see the same Williams as those days, just on fewer downs.
4:30 PM Thu, Aug 21, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Roy Williams struggles in pass coverage. Let's accept that fact and move on.
Wade Phillips and his coaching staff have done just that. That's why No. 38 will be standing on the sideline in obvious passing situations.
Hey, no shame in that. LB Zach Thomas is one of the starters who will be standing next to him. A two-down player can still be a dominant force. Roy Williams will be if he returns to his old form.
Phillips like to cite Williams' tackle total (115) from last season while defending the strong safety, but two other stats are much more indicative of the lack of impact he had in his final season as No. 31. I'm referring to his tackles for losses (0) and forced fumbles (0).
Compare that to his rookie season, when he had seven TFLs and four FFs. Or his second season, when he had six TFLs and two FFs.
It can't hurt Williams to work again with DB coach Dave Campo, the head coach when the Cowboys drafted Williams. But pride and personnel are the two primary reason Williams could wreak havoc again.
Williams knows what's been written and said about him, and he's determined to prove it wrong. And he certainly doesn't want his Cowboys career to end with a whimper, which will happen if he doesn't make an impact this season.
He wore a T-shirt last night that had his new number on the front and "NO HORSING AROUND IN '08" on the back. There was a picture of a hand reaching up to make a horse-collar tackle, but the double-meaning is pretty clear.
As far as personnel goes, this is by far the Cowboys' best secondary since Williams arrived in Dallas. That's why they can take him off the field on third downs. He'll obviously still have some coverage responsibilities when he's on the field, but his role will often be simplified: Seek and destroy.
The return of Ken Hamlin, the secondary's vocal leader, was a big deal for Williams. While Williams didn't have a great season last year (Pro Bowl berth or not), he built trust with Hamlin after playing next to guys like Lynn Scott, Tony Dixon, Keith Davis and Pat Watkins since mentor Darren Woodson retired after Williams' second season.
"Our chemistry back there works really well," Williams said. "I feel just as comfortable as when Woody was back there. We have a bond. It was the same thing with Woody."
We should see the same Williams as those days, just on fewer downs.
