DMN Blog: Tony Romo vs. Gregg Williams

[WoodysGirl]

3:30 PM Wed, Dec 16, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

New Orleans defense has changed its ways this year largely because of coordinator Gregg Williams.

Sean Payton wanted him so badly that he gave back $250,000 of his salary, so Williams would join the Saints. And Williams has delivered.

The Saints have the 21st ranked defense but have created 37 takeaways, including 24 interceptions. New Orleans defense has scored five touchdowns this year.

Tony Romo has experience against a Williams' defense but it's hard to judge. Williams was Washington's defensive coordinator from 2004-07 and Romo put up a 1-2 record.

Romo completed 55 of 84 passes for 663 yards with six touchdowns and two picks. He was sacked four times as well. One of the losses, however, was the 2007 season finale when the Cowboys had wrapped up homefield advantage and Romo didn't play the whole game in a 27-6 loss.



Comments (12) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[Cover 2]

If Greg Williams runs the same scheme he did in Washington, then the safeties play back, but they are also responsible for stopping the run. So they might be vulnerable to play action. That's if they run the same defense though.

 

[khiladi]

If Greg Williams runs the same scheme he did in Washington, then the safeties play back, but they are also responsible for stopping the run. So they might be vulnerable to play action. That's if they run the same defense though.

You mean they are vulnerable to something we never run?

 

[DaBoys4Life]

You mean they are vulnerable to something we never run?

 

[AsylumGuido]

If Greg Williams runs the same scheme he did in Washington, then the safeties play back, but they are also responsible for stopping the run. So they might be vulnerable to play action. That's if they run the same defense though.

Well, safeties have been back at times, but with the shifting between the 4-3, the 3-4 and the cover two it is never known where they will align.

Oh, and the Saints have scored eight times on defense, not five.

 

[notherbob]

The Saints always play hard against Dallas and the Cowboys should be getting desperate so it should be a good game. The Cowboys will have to play their best to win. Now is when we see what this team really has.

They're up against the cream of the conference, do they have it in them or is this going to be another visit from the ghost of December past?

The Saints will be sky-high.

It's crunch time, literally.

 

[Rampage]

if you don't turn the ball over vs NO than their defense is a below average unit. easier said than done though

 

[AsylumGuido]

if you don't turn the ball over vs NO than their defense is a below average unit. easier said than done though

IF is the key word there. In 13 games EVERY team has given the ball up to the Saints league leading turnover defense. No reason to believe that trend will not continue, especially in the Dome at home.

 

[Cover 2]

Well, safeties have been back at times, but with the shifting between the 4-3, the 3-4 and the cover two it is never known where they will align.

Oh, and the Saints have scored eight times on defense, not five.

Would you say you guys run more Man or zone? Also do you guys blitz very often, or just rely on four to get pressure?

 

[Hoofbite]

If Greg Williams runs the same scheme he did in Washington, then the safeties play back, but they are also responsible for stopping the run. So they might be vulnerable to play action. That's if they run the same defense though.

Guess which team rarely runs play action.

 

[Cover 2]

Guess which team rarely runs play action.

Hopefully Garrett can impliment it into the game plan. I guess we'll see.

 

[theebs]

he also took them apart the first time he played them in 06.

They blitzed constantly and he sat in their and made plays.

Buffalo bill dropped a perfectly thrown deep ball which would have been a walk in TD resulting in a blowout. INstead the drop swung the momentum the other way. And we lost after the blocked field goal.

It should be fun saturday.

 

[Rampage]

Playaction also works well with a rb who can threaten to break off a long run like Choice and Felix. safeties don't bite on Barber cause they know they can catch him if he runs past them.

 

[CF74]

What is this play action ya'll speak of? Where's craig?

 

[AsylumGuido]

Would you say you guys run more Man or zone? Also do you guys blitz very often, or just rely on four to get pressure?

Primarily man. Rarely zone. Some cover two. We blitz often with a mix of LB, CB and Safety blitzes. Williams may bring any on any down. But, the front four quite often is in a three DE and Sedrick Ellis alignment having Ellis drawing doubles freeing at least one of the three DE's (Will Smith, Charles Grant and Tony Hargrove) for a free run at the QB.

 

[Cover 2]

Primarily man. Rarely zone. Some cover two. We blitz often with a mix of LB, CB and Safety blitzes. Williams may bring any on any down. But, the front four quite often is in a three DE and Sedrick Ellis alignment having Ellis drawing doubles freeing at least one of the three DE's (Will Smith, Charles Grant and Tony Hargrove) for a free run at the QB.

Interesting. If you guys run a lot of man, I wouldn't be surprised to see Miles Austin have a big game. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like that's when he excels is when he faces man coverage. I guess you guys will just roll a safety over and leave Roy one-on-one.

 

[AsylumGuido]

Interesting. If you guys run a lot of man, I wouldn't be surprised to see Miles Austin have a big game. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like that's when he excels is when he faces man coverage. I guess you guys will just roll a safety over and leave Roy one-on-one.

Yup. That's what you'll be looking at. And that safety rolling over will likely be Sharper. The advantage is that the Cowboys rarely spread giving that secondary coverage a better chance. Miles is a real weapon, but the Saints were able to shut down virtually all of the #1's (which is Austin) they have faced.

 

[AsylumGuido]

Interesting. If you guys run a lot of man, I wouldn't be surprised to see Miles Austin have a big game. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like that's when he excels is when he faces man coverage. I guess you guys will just roll a safety over and leave Roy one-on-one.

Oh, and don't forget, the Saints held Wes Welker to 6 catches for 32 and Randy Moss to 3 for 67 yards with virtually the same defensive backfield we have in place now.

 

[hairic]

Guess which team rarely runs play action.

Just went back in the past 20 minutes and watched every offensive snap.

We ran a play action play 10 times out of 57 snaps, including plays with penalties (plays not counted in play by play).

If that's indicative of any type of trend, we run play action every 5 snaps.

Data:

Pass
Play action: run
run
pass - hands to face penalty
pass
pass
pass
run
Play action: pass
pass
pass - sacked
pass
pass
run
run
run
play action: run
run
pass
run
run
play action: run
run
run
run
run
play action: run
run
pass
run
pass
kneel down
pass
run
pass
play action: run
play action: run
pass
run
pass
run
pass - neutral zone penalty
pass
pass
play action: run
play action: pass
run
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
pass
play action: pass
pass

 

[Cover 2]

Good stuff, AsylumGuido. You've been one of the more informative posters from opposing teams.