Is Roy Williams a liability in coverage?

[ABQCOWBOY]

No.

Stop asking. The answer's not going to magically change.

Actually, the question was possed by Jarv in another thread.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74144&page=2

I simply carried out the question by creating this poll. It's interesting to see the reactions you get. Those who believe him to be a liability are not bashful about presenting there opinion on the subject. Those who do not believe him to be a liability take it almost as a personal attack. It's interesting.

 

[royhitshard]

Actually, the question was possed by Jarv in another thread.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74144&page=2

I simply carried out the question by creating this poll. It's interesting to see the reactions you get. Those who believe him to be a liability are not bashful about presenting there opinion on the subject. Those who do not believe him to be a liability take it almost as a personal attack. It's interesting.

I would have to say that both sides take it as a personal attack. It is a touchy subject no matter what a person believes. I have seen both sides present facts for their arguments. Whatever a person believes, the other side will discount the facts presented.

 

[superpunk]

Actually, the question was possed by Jarv in another thread.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74144&page=2

I simply carried out the question by creating this poll. It's interesting to see the reactions you get. Those who believe him to be a liability are not bashful about presenting there opinion on the subject. Those who do not believe him to be a liability take it almost as a personal attack. It's interesting.

The reactions probably have alot to do with one side (those who do not believe him to be a liability) being tired of trying to defend him to people who have ridiculous expectations for a SS and clearly watch little of the rest of the NFL.

If they did watch the rest of the NFL, they would see the best safeties routinely getting their butts torched for big gains and TDs. They would see safeties getting INTs, not because of a great read or a nice physical play like Roy's have been this year, but because they were deep, a ball was tipped, and it fell in their lap. They would see that there is not a single safety in the league that makes more plays than Roy, and there are precious few who equal his production.

It's a little aggravating to have the same question posed over and over again because he has a rough game, and the mouth-breathers feel inclined to sow their wild oats and air all their grievances with Roy. Maybe they didn't want a safety that high. Maybe they are Texas fans who hate Oklahoma and Roy. I just know that I have never seen such a fantastic player take so much undeserved garbage from their uneducated fanbase with ridiculous expectations.

 

[Da Hammer]

Its a yes and no for me. Yes because he cannot guard many receivers deep down the field but no because he's in coverage a lot more than he is supposed to be playing SS. But i voted yes because well he is a liability in coverage...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The reactions probably have alot to do with one side (those who do not believe him to be a liability) being tired of trying to defend him to people who have ridiculous expectations for a SS and clearly watch little of the rest of the NFL.

If they did watch the rest of the NFL, they would see the best safeties routinely getting their butts torched for big gains and TDs. They would see safeties getting INTs, not because of a great read or a nice physical play like Roy's have been this year, but because they were deep, a ball was tipped, and it fell in their lap. They would see that there is not a single safety in the league that makes more plays than Roy, and there are precious few who equal his production.

It's a little aggravating to have the same question posed over and over again because he has a rough game, and the mouth-breathers feel inclined to sow their wild oats and air all their grievances with Roy. Maybe they didn't want a safety that high. Maybe they are Texas fans who hate Oklahoma and Roy. I just know that I have never seen such a fantastic player take so much undeserved garbage from their uneducated fanbase with ridiculous expectations.

This is a discussion board. I see no better place to discuss these kinds of things. Of course, the advantage is that each person has the ability to simply avoid any given topic. This thread is clearly labled for what it is. It would seem logical that if you are tired of a subject, you simply avoid it.

I watch a fair amount of football and I agree with some of the things said on both sides. I do believe that Roy is a liability in coverage but I also believe that he is an impact player. RLW moving forward on the football field is a star. RLW back peddling on the football field is an big play waiting to happen IMO.

 

[royhitshard]

Whenever I read threads like this I always think back to when Roy was at OU. Was he a liability in coverage at OU?...no. Now before you all bash me, I realize this is the NFL and not college. Roy was a monster at OU and was all over the field.

The reason I think Roy was so successful in college was the simple fact that Mike and Bob Stoops put him in a position to be successful and to use his talent to the fullest. I can't help but think that he is not being put in the best position to make plays right now. He is not made to sit back there all day and chase WR's. He never has been.

I just think that BP and company are not doing enough to help him be successful. They are just putting him back there and hoping for the best...which is not working. That is just my 2 cents.

 

[bbgun]

this gets my vote for stupid poll of the day

31 other teams would kill for this guy

David

And none of them would dare pay him what we're paying him.

 

[Concord]

Williams just isn't good in coverage.

I really don't know how people could think he is.

 

[The30YardSlant]

Yes. Great safety, subpar in coverage. Anyone who says otherwise is simply a liar.

He CAN cover, but doesnt far too often

 

[The30YardSlant]

And none of them would dare pay him what we're paying him.

I beg to differ on this point. Most teams would pay top dollar for a guy who leads the league in takeaways

 

[superpunk]

Whenever I read threads like this I always think back to when Roy was at OU. Was he a liability in coverage at OU?...no. Now before you all bash me, I realize this is the NFL and not college. Roy was a monster at OU and was all over the field.

The reason I think Roy was so successful in college was the simple fact that Mike and Bob Stoops put him in a position to be successful and to use his talent to the fullest. I can't help but think that he is not being put in the best position to make plays right now. He is not made to sit back there all day and chase WR's. He never has been.

I just think that BP and company are not doing enough to help him be successful. They are just putting him back there and hoping for the best...which is not working. That is just my 2 cents.

They've penned themselves into having Roy cover for other's deficiencies.

Liability is relative, in this case. For a SS, Roy is not a liability. Not at all.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

They've penned themselves into having Roy cover for other's deficiencies.

Liability is relative, in this case. For a SS, Roy is not a liability. Not at all.

The question really has nothing to do with the fact that he is a SS. I agree with you but it's really kinda irrelivant. Because of the fact that we try to play our safeties as interchangable, which is stupidity it's self, it makes the whole SS/FS thing a none issue. I have always believed that we should play our safeties in the traditional sense. True strong, true free, so as to use Roy to his greatest advantage. Unfortunatly...............

I agree with you but it doesn't make any difference. He has to play in coverage so the question is really outside of what he is best suited for or how he compares respective to his position of SS IMO.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Yes or no?

A news flash from the supreme truth broadcast booth:

Name me another safety who makes receivers drop passes just by being in the vicinity???

 

[AdamJT13]

Was he a liability in coverage at OU?...no.

Roy was the same in college. Defending the deep ball wasn't his strong suit there, either.

But as many have said in this thread, it's a ridiculous question. Is he a liability compared to Terence Newman? Of course. But is he a liability compared to other strong safeties? Absolutely not -- he's superior to most of them.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

A news flash from the supreme truth broadcast booth:

Name me another safety who makes receivers drop passes just by being in the vicinity???

Do you want me to start another poll and ask this question as well?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Roy was the same in college. Defending the deep ball wasn't his strong suit there, either.

But as many have said in this thread, it's a ridiculous question. Is he a liability compared to Terence Newman? Of course. But is he a liability compared to other strong safeties? Absolutely not -- he's superior to most of them.

I don't know if that's a yes or a no Adam.

 

[Juke99]

Roy was the same in college. Defending the deep ball wasn't his strong suit there, either.

But as many have said in this thread, it's a ridiculous question. Is he a liability compared to Terence Newman? Of course. But is he a liability compared to other strong safeties? Absolutely not -- he's superior to most of them.

I voted "yes"...But your point here is well taken.

Roy is what he is. The problem is that it's been years since Woodson has retired and we still have not found a good replacement. In fact, everyone we put at FS was either substandard of a SS playing out of position. The problem with Roy's coverage skills is that he's forced to use them too often. I don't remember his coverage skills being this bad when Woodson was back there with him.

 

[smarta5150]

Whenever I read threads like this I always think back to when Roy was at OU. Was he a liability in coverage at OU?...no. Now before you all bash me, I realize this is the NFL and not college. Roy was a monster at OU and was all over the field.

The reason I think Roy was so successful in college was the simple fact that Mike and Bob Stoops put him in a position to be successful and to use his talent to the fullest. I can't help but think that he is not being put in the best position to make plays right now. He is not made to sit back there all day and chase WR's. He never has been.

I just think that BP and company are not doing enough to help him be successful. They are just putting him back there and hoping for the best...which is not working. That is just my 2 cents.

I cant agree anymore.

We continue to put ALL our safeties in 1 on 1 situations and EVERYONE knows they are weak in coverage.

We have 3 CBs that IMO can cover downfield so why keep these guys in zone?

The coaching staff has who they went after and got. Its up to them to position the pieces now to fit our strengths and weaknesses.

No excuses.

 

[smarta5150]

A news flash from the supreme truth broadcast booth:

Name me another safety who makes receivers drop passes just by being in the vicinity???

Great point.

RW is in guys heads from the get go.

Why do you think the Colt receivers had so many uncharacterisitc drops?

Because RW laid wood on Utect (sp?) from the very beginning.

 

[scottsp]

It's not Roy's deep coverage vs. wideouts that alarm the masses, IMO. It's how he gets turned around by tight ends.

When they're in two-deep, there is no strong safety per se ...though, that's what he is recognized as. In those instances he's responsible for the deepest third, he seems to make some poor decisions. I don't think this is a physical issue with Roy, but moreso in judgement.

All that said, I take a much harsher stance towards our lack of pass rush. Quality pressure goes a long way in disguising those types of weaknesses.

And it's not just Roy. The safety play in general leaves something to be desired. But know, when we are going two-deep, he's got a target on his chest - just as Davis, Watkins, etc. will. And that really hurts when your defense can't make a push towards the quarterback.

I'm a big Roy Williams fan, but he's in a tough situation given the other problem areas on the defensive side of the ball.