Vela: He’s Lost Top Gear and His Technique

[dmq]

He’s Lost Top Gear and His Technique

I’ve been transferring the last of my ‘07 Cowboys games to tape this past week, and I can’t help but notice how much Roy Williams‘ game further deteriorated. I reviewed the second Eagles game, where Williams earned a one-game suspension for a horsecollar tackle on Donovan McNabb. That was Williams’ third flagged horsecollar that year but it was hardly his only offense.

I also saw him reach for the back of the neck in the second Commanders game and the Lions game as well. Any time an opponent got even or past him, Williams instinct was and apparently still is to grab the collar.

I’ll ask those of you who have played a down of football, on any level. When have you ever been taught to tackle like this? In what way does this even come close to good tackling technique? You’re not getting low. You’re not making any effort to strip the ball.

Never mind that there’s a rule banning this practice with your name on it! It’s just lazy football. If it were not so dangerous it would be pathetic.

So what are we left with here? Coverage skills are suspect. Blitzing skills no longer exist. No sacks last year. No sacks in three of the last four years to be exact. And Roy isn’t even dependable as a tackler any more. Seriously, what’s left? ‘07 was worse than ‘06. And ‘06 was bad. Here’s my write up on Williams after the Seattle playoff loss:

Five Words That Give Me Pause

Roy Williams — Cowboy for Life.

How bad is he going to be when he loses a step?

The Seahawks had six plays of over 15 yards last night:

1. Bobby Engram catches a 36 yard pass from the slot in Seattle’s opening drive. Williams takes a bad angle, misses a tackle and lets Engram get past him;
2. Deion Branch catches a short out. Anthony Henry misses the tackle and Branch runs up the sideline for 27 yards;
3. Jerramy Stevens catches a 15 yard out for a TD. Williams never gets close to covering him;
4. Engram beats Terence Newman on a flag route for 30 yards;
5. Stevens runs down the right seam, gets beyond Williams and catches a 37 yard TD;
6. Shaun Alexander runs 20 yards from the Seattle two. [Williams freelances and leaves his gap. What should have been a tackle for loss or no gain gives the Seahawks a critical first down when Dallas still had a chance to win the game.]

Williams was involved in four of them. Sixteen of Seattle’s 21 points left tread marks on his jersey. I think the Cowboys will come to regret the big deal they gave him in a couple of years. He’s not going to get any faster. To me, he’s the second coming of the Bengals’ David Fulcher, a king-sized, big-hitting safety who went to three Pro Bowls between ‘88 and ‘90, and then disappeared once he lost his top gear…

– “He’s got Joe Pisarcik Eyes” January 7, 2007

He’s lost his top gear and his technique. And he’s only 27.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Wow, let it go. That was the 06 playoff loss. How abotu talking about how he played in the Giants playoff loss huh?

We know he's not improving, and may be getting worse, but let it go already and stop beating a dead horse.

 

[sacase]

Horsecollars happen at all levels of football, its only banned in the NFL becase some superstar players got hurt. I am tired of hearing this crap about bad form yada yada, whatever dude.

 

[Kilyin]

Transferring games to tape? Is that VHS or Betamax?

 

[superpunk]

Vela was clearly short on article ideas. When all else fails, write something about Roy.

 

[iceberg]

He’s Lost Top Gear and His Technique

I’ve been transferring the last of my ‘07 Cowboys games to tape this past week, and I can’t help but notice how much Roy Williams‘ game further deteriorated. I reviewed the second Eagles game, where Williams earned a one-game suspension for a horsecollar tackle on Donovan McNabb. That was Williams’ third flagged horsecollar that year but it was hardly his only offense.

I also saw him reach for the back of the neck in the second Commanders game and the Lions game as well. Any time an opponent got even or past him, Williams instinct was and apparently still is to grab the collar.

I’ll ask those of you who have played a down of football, on any level. When have you ever been taught to tackle like this? In what way does this even come close to good tackling technique? You’re not getting low. You’re not making any effort to strip the ball.

Never mind that there’s a rule banning this practice with your name on it! It’s just lazy football. If it were not so dangerous it would be pathetic.

So what are we left with here? Coverage skills are suspect. Blitzing skills no longer exist. No sacks last year. No sacks in three of the last four years to be exact. And Roy isn’t even dependable as a tackler any more. Seriously, what’s left? ‘07 was worse than ‘06. And ‘06 was bad. Here’s my write up on Williams after the Seattle playoff loss:

Five Words That Give Me Pause

Roy Williams — Cowboy for Life.

How bad is he going to be when he loses a step?

The Seahawks had six plays of over 15 yards last night:

1. Bobby Engram catches a 36 yard pass from the slot in Seattle’s opening drive. Williams takes a bad angle, misses a tackle and lets Engram get past him;
2. Deion Branch catches a short out. Anthony Henry misses the tackle and Branch runs up the sideline for 27 yards;
3. Jerramy Stevens catches a 15 yard out for a TD. Williams never gets close to covering him;
4. Engram beats Terence Newman on a flag route for 30 yards;
5. Stevens runs down the right seam, gets beyond Williams and catches a 37 yard TD;
6. Shaun Alexander runs 20 yards from the Seattle two. [Williams freelances and leaves his gap. What should have been a tackle for loss or no gain gives the Seahawks a critical first down when Dallas still had a chance to win the game.]

Williams was involved in four of them. Sixteen of Seattle’s 21 points left tread marks on his jersey. I think the Cowboys will come to regret the big deal they gave him in a couple of years. He’s not going to get any faster. To me, he’s the second coming of the Bengals’ David Fulcher, a king-sized, big-hitting safety who went to three Pro Bowls between ‘88 and ‘90, and then disappeared once he lost his top gear…

– “He’s got Joe Pisarcik Eyes” January 7, 2007

He’s lost his top gear and his technique. And he’s only 27.

this is like one of the last people to come through wearing bell bottoms. yea, it used to be the fad but many have moved on and you're just late now.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Roy....the world is watching you

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

While he continues to horsecollar and go for runners from behind which drives me nuts....

Its only because he is desperate at that point in the play.

Put the man in better scenarios coupled with his RE-RE-dedication and all will be better.

Oh yeah he could hit hard again too I wouldnt mind.


Come on Roy... come on buddy

 

[khiladi]

While he continues to horsecollar and go for runners from behind which drives me nuts....

Its only because he is desperate at that point in the play.

Put the man in better scenarios coupled with his RE-RE-dedication and all will be better.

Oh yeah he could hit hard again too I wouldnt mind.


Come on Roy... come on buddy

It is a matter of technique and position, which has nothing to do with how much you lift. It is part of studying... And Jerry even said this about Roy, i.e. he needs to put himself in better position... SO it isn't some hog-wash that Vela is talking about...

 

[Rampage]

Bambi Williams:laugh2:

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

It is a matter of technique and position, which has nothing to do with how much you lift. It is part of studying... And Jerry even said this about Roy, i.e. he needs to put himself in better position... SO it isn't some hog-wash that Vela is talking about...

Yeah and.... did I say anything about lifting?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Surprised Vela got the 37 yard TD to Stevens incorrect. Dallas was playing the Cover 2 and Seattle sent a WR (I think it was either Branch or Engram) deep up the sideline while Stevens ran a deep seam. Roy's responsibility in the Cover 2 is to help over the top sideline, not to help on Stevens (unless the WR goes short instead of deep).




YAKUZA

 

[iceberg]

Surprised Vela got the 37 yard TD to Stevens incorrect. Dallas was playing the Cover 2 and Seattle sent a WR (I think it was either Branch or Engram) deep up the sideline while Stevens ran a deep seam. Roy's responsibility in the Cover 2 is to help over the top sideline, not to help on Stevens (unless the WR goes short instead of deep).

YAKUZA

have you not learned by now that if roy is on the field, he blew the coverage?

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

I’ll ask those of you who have played a down of football, on any level. When have you ever been taught to tackle like this? In what way does this even come close to good tackling technique? You’re not getting low. You’re not making any effort to strip the ball

Any fool should know that a horse-collar tackle is made AFTER the opposition has gotten past you, am I right? So if I interpret these statements correctly, Raef's saying that Roy's horse-collaring instead of using proper technique while the receiver is in front of him where he has the opportunity to use good tackling technique! I don't know about you guys but I've never seen a face-to-face horse collar...or maybe I'm reading his statements incorrectly...or maybe he's reaching in order to justify his Roy:spanking: bashing!

 

[adbutcher]

have you not learned by now that if roy is on the field, he blew the coverage?

:laugh2:

 

[bbgun]

Generally speaking, I don't look for (or demand) a lot of sacks from my strong safety. Nor is he a competent blitzer.

 

[AdamJT13]

1. Bobby Engram catches a 36 yard pass from the slot in Seattle’s opening drive. Williams takes a bad angle, misses a tackle and lets Engram get past him;

Roy was playing deep safety and broke straight toward the ball, which was thrown underneath. If the ball had gotten past Engram for an interception, would it still have been a "bad" angle?

And Roy didn't miss the tackle, Ware did.

5. Stevens runs down the right seam, gets beyond Williams and catches a 37 yard TD

Stevens got beyond Bradie James, not Roy. Roy was off to the side of Stevens, helping over the top of another receiver, too.

6. Shaun Alexander runs 20 yards from the Seattle two. [Williams freelances and leaves his gap. What should have been a tackle for loss or no gain gives the Seahawks a critical first down when Dallas still had a chance to win the game.]

Roy was "freelancing" right to the hole where the lead blocker went. If Roy had stayed where he was, he would have been blocked by Walter Jones and/or Will Heller, and Alexander might have just followed the lead blocker over the right guard, instead of cutting back. And funny how Vela doesn't mention Canty stunting ("freelancing"?) to the outside and Ferguson slanting ("freelancing"?) to his right, both of which opened the cutback lane.


Here's what it looked like before the snap ---v

Roy is at the top, on the 5-yard line. Ware is at the far left (defense's right), with Canty to the inside of him and Ferguson at the other tackle.




As the play develops ---V

Canty is now to the far left, just behind Ware, after stunting ("freelancing"?) around Ware. That's Ferguson penetrating up the middle and across the formation, unfortunately taking himself out of the play. Roy is coming across the field, around that big pile of blockers, to where the fullback (38) is about to meet Akin Ayodele in the hole. Kenyon Coleman and Bobby Carpenter are on the right, against the right tackle and a backup tackle who was lined up as a tight end.


Just before the cutback ---v

If Alexander follows the blocker, Roy is in the hole, where he could make the play. Instead, Alexander cuts back behind the three blockers in the middle and inside the tight end (Will Heller, the guy with his arms on the back of No. 67, Rob Sims). And that's Canty, still unblocked on the far left.


Now let's see what it would have looked like if Roy hadn't "freelanced" but stayed in his gap (excuse the quick MS Paint job) ---v

Now the cutback lane looks clogged (although there are four blockers for Roy and James), but there are only three defenders on the right, where Alexander is headed, and they all have a blocker. James (fourth defender from the right) is getting double-teamed and shoved backward (which is understandable). Ferguson is blocked out of the play, and Canty and Ware are caught on the outside (neither could make the play when Alexander cut back to the left).

Vela is blaming Roy for it not being "a tackle for loss or no gain," as if staying in his original gap would have allowed him to cut through that traffic, beat two blockers and stop Alexander before he reached the 2-yard line, most likely three gaps away from Roy. Does anyone care to explain how that would have been possible -- especially considering that six other defenders in the box who were either unblocked or single-blocked couldn't do it?

As usual, Roy gets all of the blame no matter what happens or who is at fault.

 

[Hostile]

Vela was clearly short on article ideas. When all else fails, write something about Roy.

this is like one of the last people to come through wearing bell bottoms. yea, it used to be the fad but many have moved on and you're just late now.

Roy....the world is watching you

Three posts that described this off season to a perfect T.

 

[Bungarian]

Vela's stuff has really gone downhill and I am not just talking about this article.

 

[starfrombirth]

Roy was playing deep safety and broke straight toward the ball, which was thrown underneath. If the ball had gotten past Engram for an interception, would it still have been a "bad" angle?

And Roy didn't miss the tackle, Ware did.



Stevens got beyond Bradie James, not Roy. Roy was off to the side of Stevens, helping over the top of another receiver, too.



Roy was "freelancing" right to the hole where the lead blocker went. If Roy had stayed where he was, he would have been blocked by Walter Jones and/or Will Heller, and Alexander might have just followed the lead blocker over the right guard, instead of cutting back. And funny how Vela doesn't mention Canty stunting ("freelancing"?) to the outside and Ferguson slanting ("freelancing"?) to his right, both of which opened the cutback lane.


Here's what it looked like before the snap ---v

Roy is at the top, on the 5-yard line. Ware is at the far left (defense's right), with Canty to the inside of him and Ferguson at the other tackle.




As the play develops ---V

Canty is now to the far left, just behind Ware, after stunting ("freelancing"?) around Ware. That's Ferguson penetrating up the middle and across the formation, unfortunately taking himself out of the play. Roy is coming across the field, around that big pile of blockers, to where the fullback (38) is about to meet Akin Ayodele in the hole. Kenyon Coleman and Bobby Carpenter are on the right, against the right tackle and a backup tackle who was lined up as a tight end.


Just before the cutback ---v

If Alexander follows the blocker, Roy is in the hole, where he could make the play. Instead, Alexander cuts back behind the three blockers in the middle and inside the tight end (Will Heller, the guy with his arms on the back of No. 67, Rob Sims). And that's Canty, still unblocked on the far left.


Now let's see what it would have looked like if Roy hadn't "freelanced" but stayed in his gap (excuse the quick MS Paint job) ---v

Now the cutback lane looks clogged (although there are four blockers for Roy and James), but there are only three defenders on the right, where Alexander is headed, and they all have a blocker. James (fourth defender from the right) is getting double-teamed and shoved backward (which is understandable). Ferguson is blocked out of the play, and Canty and Ware are caught on the outside (neither could make the play when Alexander cut back to the left).

Vela is blaming Roy for it not being "a tackle for loss or no gain," as if staying in his original gap would have allowed him to cut through that traffic, beat two blockers and stop Alexander before he reached the 2-yard line, most likely three gaps away from Roy. Does anyone care to explain how that would have been possible -- especially considering that six other defenders in the box who were either unblocked or single-blocked couldn't do it?

As usual, Roy gets all of the blame no matter what happens or who is at fault.

This is another excellent illustration. My only problem with Roy "apologist" is that they refuse to believe he does anything wrong. Usually they take the one time, mentioned out of multiple examples, that they can tear apart and say "See he doesn't do anything wrong!". I think you and "they" are right in that Roy is not responsible for everything laid at his feet but he's certainly responsible for enough. I would love for him to be everything he was and I don't blame him for everything but I've yelled at him thru the tv enough for him to have failed the eyeball test. I'm not the expert at coverages that some on this board are but I know when someone is beat and recently Roy has been tenderized and the thing that makes it worse is that he no longer does the tenderizing to opposing wr's.

Still though, the education is fantastic and I hope that you will continue with these lessons. It actually makes me feel better about Roy when someone can explain away a percieved failure. Mostly I hope that in the future the defense as a whole plays better because as you illustrated above, even had he stayed at home, that play goes the distance as Alexander breaks through the main hole.

Again, thanks.