Gill's top NFL safeties of all time

[John813]

Fair enough, but you must admit, John, that the horse collar rule deeply affected his game, as well?

You even mention the RW rule.

I agree about the passion, too. He lost his fire. Shame, really.

Sean Taylor, despite the fewer INTs, was better at coverage, imo. And maybe, like you said, John, that had to do with the revolving door at S once Woody left.

Oh it it affected his game. Just think his spiral started in 2004, same year he was the only safety worth a damn on the roster, and in turn was asked to do too much. That man used to blow up people and then he started to have to run down people which obviously led to him getting lazy and pulling on the collar.

Taylor was looking like the complete package. Remember watching him at the U. Definitely had the potential to be a HOF Safety.
The weeks after his death was one of the few times recently where there was no hate between the Cowboys and Commanders as both fanbases were paying their respects to ST over such a senseless tragedy.

 

[Trouty]

Oh it it affected his game. Just think his spiral started in 2004, same year he was the only safety worth a damn on the roster, and in turn was asked to do too much. That man used to blow up people and then he started to have to run down people which obviously led to him getting lazy and pulling on the collar.

Taylor was looking like the complete package. Remember watching him at the U. Definitely had the potential to be a HOF Safety.
The weeks after his death was one of the few times recently where there was no hate between the Cowboys and Commanders as both fanbases were paying their respects to ST over such a senseless tragedy.

I went back to the the Zone when it happened. Some amazing posts here on that fateful day.

Your postulation on why Roy evolved into using the horse collar is very compelling, John. Excellent post, brother.

Roy was my favorite Cowboy for a couple/few seasons. He was so damn good.

In my opinion, we're a true-blue SB contender with a legit RDE and SS (praying for steals in Taco [he would be a steal if he evolves into a 10+ sack/yr end] and Woods).

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He was murdered by some thugs over an ATV.

And Roy wasn't in the same stratosphere as Taylor. Once horse collaring was outlawed, Williams became far less of a force.

Taylor was 215 lbs of pure explosive dynamite that didn't need a horse collar.

Taylor was also horrendous in coverage. Giving up the most TD's of any player in the league in 2006. It got to the point where Gregg Williams would force him to play 20-25 yards back because Taylor would get fooled too often for the big score.

Roy was exceptional for 3 years, but couldn't adjust to the new TE's and Zimmer/Parcells couldn't adjust either. And for whatever reason, Roy lost his explosiveness. But for those first 3 years, he was excellent and a far better player than Taylor ever was.

Taylor had eye popping explosiveness and could do things you wouldn't believe, but he was a clearly a target for opposing teams in pass coverage.





YR

 

[Trouty]

Taylor was also horrendous in coverage. Giving up the most TD's of any player in the league in 2006. It got to the point where Gregg Williams would force him to play 20-25 yards back because Taylor would get fooled too often for the big score.

Roy was exceptional for 3 years, but couldn't adjust to the new TE's and Zimmer/Parcells couldn't adjust either. And for whatever reason, Roy lost his explosiveness. But for those first 3 years, he was excellent and a far better player than Taylor ever was.

Taylor had eye popping explosiveness and could do things you wouldn't believe, but he was a clearly a target for opposing teams in pass coverage

YR

He worked on his range, in between trips to his family. His play his first couple years suffered greatly from lack of practice, but he was gifted with innate instincts.

He finally realized, in his last two years, that he needed to work on it, and he was doing so. There's no doubt in my mind he would've worked it out. Remember, he was just a kid, still, when he died.

Roy had those first three years, but fell off a cliff. Sean was ascending, imo, YR.

Still, thanks for the reply, YR. I really appreciate it.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

He worked on his range, in between trips to his family. His play his first couple years suffered greatly from lack of practice, but he was gifted with innate instincts.

He finally realized, in his last two years, that he needed to work on it, and he was doing so. There's no doubt in my mind he would've worked it out. Remember, he was just a kid, still, when he died.

Roy had those first three years, but fell off a cliff. Sean was ascending, imo, YR.
Still, thanks for the reply, YR. I really appreciate it.

Range wasn't an issue with Sean Taylor. It was that he constantly got fooled, particularly with play fakes. Go back and see what team and what safety Parcells always used the flee flicker against.

In 2007 Gregg Williams moved Taylor back 25 yards from the LoS and kept him there. That's absurdly far from the LoS to keep a safety on every down. This way he wouldn't get fooled. He did get 5 TD's in that short season, but most of them were poor throws by the QB, like the Green Bay game when it was raining out.

Roy was a more complete SS type, kinda like a Kam Chancellor is today. Unfortunately, it only lasted for 3 years. I'm a believer that it's important to get and develop players when they are young and if you're not careful...you can destroy their confidence. Zimmer's heavy reliance on the Cover 2 which was becoming passe due to the big TE's really put Roy in some impossible spots that even more athletic safeties are just not put into because coaches realized the potential hazards of the Cover 2 scheme.

I remember they asked Wade about the Cover 2 and he said if he ever uses it, he always brings a blitzer because you can't play Cover 2 effectively without blitzing. When asked about Parcells/Zimmer's unwillingness to blitz, Wade replied 'some coaches are just stubborn.'

Gregg Williams at least adjusted to Taylor's weaknesses. Roy never got that.




YR

 

[Jenky]

"Like" for Ed Reed (and I noted him), but Sean was destined for Canton.

Sorry brudda, I wholeheartedly disagree. I'm also infatuated with Sean, so you won't convince me otherwise.

Ed Reed is the epitome of a true FS ballhawk. Every fan in the NFL wishes they had one on their team. The closest thing to that mold is Earl Thomas and theres a huge gap between the two.

 

[Jenky]

"Like" for Ed Reed (and I noted him), but Sean was destined for Canton.

Sorry brudda, I wholeheartedly disagree. I'm also infatuated with Sean, so you won't convince me otherwise.

Sean had elite talent but we will never know what could have happened. He also had a very underrated teammate in Ryan Clark.

 

[Trouty]

Sean had elite talent but we will never know what could have happened. He also had a very underrated teammate in Ryan Clark.

Love me some Ryan Clark, brother. To this day, Ryan says that Sean was the greatest defender he ever played with.

He tears up when talking about him. Clark is one of the very few analysts on ESPN worth a darn.

 

[Jenky]

Love me some Ryan Clark, brother. To this day, Ryan says that Sean was the greatest defender he ever played with.

He tears up when talking about him. Clark is one of the very few analysts on ESPN worth a darn.

Ryan Clark got to play with Troy P also, so that's a huge compliment.

 

[Trouty]

Ed Reed is the epitome of a true FS ballhawk. Every fan in the NFL wishes they had one on their team. The closest thing to that mold is Earl Thomas and theres a huge gap between the two.

Imagine having Ed at FS and Sean at SS

 

[Trouty]

Ryan Clark got to play with Troy P also, so that's a huge compliment.

Man, it certainly is. Troy P was a force, too, when he was healthy.

But Clark was mesmerized by Taylor, Jenky.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3...5574468=1&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Booooooooo. Woodson should be on that list. But I'm biased. At least Charlie made it

Shocked Woodson wasn't on that list.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Could you imagine having Thomas Everett and Darren Woodson as safeties. Woah

 

[Sarge]

I stopped reading after no Matt Johnson.

Ya but you had to read the whole list to do that.

 

[BAT]

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3...5574468=1&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Booooooooo. Woodson should be on that list. But I'm biased. At least Charlie made it

Hilarious. Waters on this list instead of Darren Woodson was funny, but he's got Waters over Browner, Lake, Tatum, etc. And Ronnie Lott is top 3 at minimum.

 

[John813]

Man, it certainly is. Troy P was a force, too, when he was healthy.

But Clark was mesmerized by Taylor, Jenky.

Thought you would like this.

 

[Trouty]

Thought you would like this.

Thanks, John. Great stuff!

 

[haleyrules]

At least he had Charlie and Cliff on the list. Tatum should have been rated much, much higher.

 

[dfense]

I remember the Kenny Easley and Steve Atwater hits. Didnt Easley have kidney issues from hitting people so hard?

Too bad Roy Williams flamed out so fast. His hits were legendary. Remember his shot on the Giants receiver after he mouthed off to him. He knocked his chin strap into his eyes. I miss Roy.

 

[jrumann59]

Darren Woodson was far better than Lynch over the long haul no ****** way should Lynch be on that list without Darren Woodson.