What specifically is wrong with Roy Williams?

[catskillthunder]

Yes.

You don't see any QC/C Hutch threads any more do you?

Just give it a few years.

Hopefully by then I wont be able to see from doing the thing my dad told me I would go blind from as a child. :laugh2:

 

[PuertoricanBoy]

Too much money for a guy that is not capable to cover a 3 month baby with a blanket

 

[31smackdown]

Basically what InManRoshi said...

For some reason he seems to get caught in the wrong hole or taking the wrong angle or hesitating to the persuit and not being even able to crash through on blitzes anymore. He has basically slowed down and become less reckless.. which used to get him out of position on occassion but he was rewarded with a few impact palys every game. Now... it's bend but don't break Roy.. last line of defense Roy... reroute the guy back to help instead of going for the tackle yourself Roy.. Basically.. it's Bill Parcells Roy.. maybe not completely, but I really think Bill made him play more conservative and think before he reacts.. Roy played best when he just attacked and had a very narrow focus. Give him one guy, one mission and I think he gets the job done.. make him work within a bigger framework or in space and he is not being used the best way.. you are basically making an impact player into a solid, yet unspectacular player.

 

[Wood]

to know whats wrong will Roy Williams...you have to see him play in person. He is a loner. He often doesnt accompany his teamates in the huddle. You need a fire-plug back there. Somone like a B. Dawkins, S. Taylor, Sanders (from Indy), Harrison (NE). He doesnt need to be the most skilled guy...but he needs to bring that warrior attitude. Roy is the most mentally fragile player I can recall...and i have been watching the cowboys 25+ years.

 

[chinch]

The only reason he'll be on the team next year is because his cap hit makes it prohibitive to release him.

Lets hope this is the reason he's gone. One bad salary doesn't need to keep an overpaid non-leader on the team. We have alot of cap room.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

He tackles offensive players by running them down from behind....grabs their shoulder pad behind the neck collar area with his right hand and drags them to the ground like a horse. Hense Horse Collar penality and susupension......lately he has trouble covering a TE...any TE.....other then that he is an Pro Bowl Saftey.

 

[Rampage]

i went to watch a video on nfl.com the other day. before the video there was a 30 second commercial featuring nfl players talking about various topics. one of those players was roy williams and he said " i never really learned how to read till my senior year". now i doubt he's talking about reading coverages. my point is the nfl isn't like college where you can rely on pure athletic ability and talent. teams have figured out how to outsmart roy and i think it has shown more and more the past few seasons. imo i don't think roy is smart enough to play pro football anymore among other mental problems relating to his lack of play.

 

[cowboyed]

I'm trying to figure out how fans know that Roy isn't committed to the game, or isn't working hard, or working out. Are they there to see him missing meetings, falling asleep during a meeting (if he even attends them), missing film session, not working out. That like saying I'm slacking off from work and not committed to my job cause I make a post on this site.

Last night I saw Troy Polamalu miss a tackle on Stephen Jackson. Does that mean Troy isn't committed and doesn't care about football ?

It has been periodically reported that Roy Williams usually does not prepare adequately,that he stubbornly relies on his abilities. Parcells has made a comment or two in the past and Wade Phillips has spun it more positively to the effect of that it is always better for a player to prepare for the opponent.

He has appeared more lost out on the field than ever in recent years. Studying film of the opposing players tendencies can help you react quicker or take the right angle whether you have to break up a pass, stop a receiver or running back.

Roy is already on record stating that football is a short term career goal. Personally I think he has a few screws loose, insisting on horse collaring to the point of being suspended and then being outraged when the flag is thrown. Seriously how can you horse collar a franchise quarterback like Donovan McNabb who has bad knees and expect to get away with it.

Hard clean hits and heady play by Roy is always welcomed. That is what he was doing when he first joined the Cowboys. Take the money and slack apperars to be his mission statement these days.

When you look at film of Roy on the field in his earlier Cowboys years it makes you both angry and sad compared to what he has regressed into these days. It is not like he is over the hill, Roy is in his prime. If he would have made it a point to continue his football education he most certainly would have be a more instinctive and confident defender.

As a key defensive player it appears that his malperformance has had a serious domino effect on his teammates.

 

[bysbox1]

...that he is still a good defensive player, but his talents are not being used in all the situations he's being played in.

This league is all about managing your weaknesses. You minimize yours and isolate on theirs. That's a certain amount of the coaching in the NFL.

If I was to talk about Roy Williams I would say:

Eager to go downhill to fill the gap on running plays.

Better than average recognition skills.

Fills well in short to intermediate zones.

Poor when transitioning from back pedal to forward run.

Average tracking ball in the air.

Prone at times to poor form tackling.

Not an ideal cover two safety.

I would also add to that:

Since he plays forward he gets sucked into plays and then finds himself behind the runner. Hence the horse collar tackle. But lately he's been even getting burned on running plays too.

He seems to play better in a 4-3 defense. His biggest impact his rookie and second year we were playing a 4-3. Once we made the transition to 3-4 he has not been as effective. I don't have know why since the secondary does not change between the two defenses, but that's what I have noticed.

As far as his football IQ, that's a scary thought if he is trying to play on abilities alone and not study the game. Knowing the game will extend your career even if you loose a step. Rod Woodson, Darryl Green, Aeneas Williams and even Deion Sanders are great examples of players who know schemes and tendencies so well he was able to play at a high level even after he lost a step. Darren Woodson was the same way. If Roy is not studying, hopefully someone will talk some sense into his head, because if he continues his downslide I am certain Jerry will let him go.

 

[wileedog]

I would also add to that:


He seems to play better in a 4-3 defense. His biggest impact his rookie and second yeara we were playing a 4-3. Once we made the transition to 3-4 he has not been as effective. I don't have know why since the secondary does not change between the two defenses, but that's what I have noticed.

I think that is just coincidence, because as you said Roy's responsibilities don't change overmuch between the two defenses.

If we remained a 4-3 defense the whole tenure of Roy's career this thread would still be here. The problem is the player, not the scheme.

I would put more stock in the loss of Woodson than anything, who was clearly a mentor to him and a far better on-field general than Roy will ever be. Once he was gone I think Roy's off-field dedication declined and he was pushed into a role on the field he is ill-suited for.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

He is too stiff and 20 pounds overweight. If Roy dropped 20 he would be unreal.

 

[bysbox1]

I think that is just coincidence, because as you said Roy's responsibilities don't change overmuch between the two defenses.

If we remained a 4-3 defense the whole tenure of Roy's career this thread would still be here. The problem is the player, not the scheme.

I would put more stock in the loss of Woodson than anything, who was clearly a mentor to him and a far better on-field general than Roy will ever be. Once he was gone I think Roy's off-field dedication declined and he was pushed into a role on the field he is ill-suited for.

I was going to mention the loss of Darren Woodson. Darren was another player who was a student of the game, and I think Roy started to follow in his footsteps. Roy has not had that on field general since Darren left.

This sounds a little crazy, but I wonder if picking up a safety like Bob Sanders as opposed to keeping Hamlin in the offseason would help Roy. Sanders reminds me a lot of Woodson in his work ethic and he is essentially an on the field leader for the Colts. He commands respect on and off the field. I wonder if that would help him . . .

 

[31smackdown]

I was going to mention the loss of Darren Woodson. Darren was another player who was a student of the game, and I think Roy started to follow in his footsteps. Roy has not had that on field general since Darren left.

This sounds a little crazy, but I wonder if picking up a safety like Bob Sanders as opposed to keeping Hamlin in the offseason would help Roy. Sanders reminds me a lot of Woodson in his work ethic and he is essentially an on the field leader for the Colts. He commands respect on and off the field. I wonder if that would help him . . .

Not that Ed Reed is available.. but he would also bring the study habits that Roy allegedly lacks.

 

[tunahelper]

I would like to see more Roy threads just too piss off those that are getting mad over a meaningless discussion.

*Reminder Cowboyszone is for Cowboys discussion, even if you are irritated by multiple thread topics.

Relax Francis!

 

[Cochese]

He is too stiff and 20 pounds overweight. If Roy dropped 20 he would be unreal.

Diddnt he lose 20 pounds going into this season? Its obviously not the weight thats an issue.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Diddnt he lose 20 pounds going into this season? Its obviously not the weight thats an issue.

If Roy was 210, hed be a beast.. Hes probably 235 right now if though the is probably listed at 228

 

[ChrisCanty99]

Re: suddenness

I think this is exactly the problem. He can't even rush the passer anymore. What was Roy's last sack? I only remember the slamming of Mark Brunell the night Santana Moss killed us.

I remember him bowling over the fullback and getting to Ramsey. Where has that guy gone?

 

[Cochese]

Re: suddenness

I think this is exactly the problem. He can't even rush the passer anymore. What was Roy's last sack? I only remember the slamming of Mark Brunell the night Santana Moss killed us.

I remember him bowling over the fullback and getting to Ramsey. Where has that guy gone?

His last sack was 10/9/05.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I knew it

All the self-appointed eye-rollers and thought cleansers would turn out to denigrate a post.
But they read and then respond and then perpetuate what they don't want: another Roy Williams thread.
Classic.
Thought Vigilantees.

There is nothing wrong with RW that a capable defensive coordinator can't remedy.
And that is to use his strengths.
But not in coverage. Cause when covering, he'll make the hit, the tackle, but only after the ball is caught and yards have been made against the defense.

He's being misused.
Make him a hybrid linebacker/short coverage-off-the-line specialist.
Problem solved.

 

[cowboyed]

Re: suddenness

I think this is exactly the problem. He can't even rush the passer anymore. What was Roy's last sack? I only remember the slamming of Mark Brunell the night Santana Moss killed us.

I remember him bowling over the fullback and getting to Ramsey. Where has that guy gone?

Roy's last sack were Krispe Kremes and Krystal Burgers.