Let's talk about Roy Williams (safety)

[mcsully]

First comparison that came to mu mind was John Lynch. Lynch was a better tackler and better against the run than Williams. But BB released him due to his coverage issues even though he was a player he had tried to bring in previously and highly respected. I'm thinking that if BB couldn't find a roster spot for Lynch, then the chances of Roy Williams becoming a Pat are slim and none.

Lynch play has been off for a few years.. In his prime he was a great tackler but the short few weeks we saw him revealed that he no longer could meet the player head on..

 

[DW Toys]

The problem with Roy williams is that people just assume he hits hard and cant cover.... when in fact he can't do either. He was a huge hitter when he first came into the league... but he can't tackle anymore.

From what i saw last year, there are no strengths to his game. He was so bad, special teamer Keith Davies got to start over him, even when williams was healthy. Thats the equivalent of Harrison being benched for Ventrone/slater.

I'd take a flyer on him but I think you need another drafted safety. We already have one safety that can't cover anyone now but I think Williams is a better hitter. Look at his body of work. He still had 3 INT's and 11 BPU last year in a partial season. It's like saying Moss lost a step. It is perception, not reality. It will cost us too much anyway so there is no point.
DW Toys

 

[Dagg]

He used to be able to tackle but then they outlawed the horse collar and now he just leads the nfl in that category.

 

[KY Pats Fan]

I would love to have Roy Williams and Meriweather as the Safeties.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Roy Williams is not going to New England! He doesn't like playing in a 3-4 and he can't cover anybody. I agree with most people on this board that say that he can't hit anymore. All he does is horse tackle people because he takes terrible angles. This is pretty much the only way he tackles. The Pats already have a safety that takes terrible angles (Sanders), I hope they don't want another.

 

[JMarr]

Is Harrison even guaranteed to make the roster? After watching his play go down last year, yes it went down before the injury, I think he might not even make the team. He's not a step slower but two or three steps slower... It was very visible last year.. ANd now with an added injury and a year older, I think this position needs some major upgrades..


Years ago Harrison was cut because he couldn't cover.. People remember one or two games with this guy and think he can't cover.. Check out Williams stats before that lame duck coach took over.. Not to bad.. And He's very talented in many ways.. But maybe the cowboys were not using his strengths..

With all due respect, you cannot be serious. What does Wade Phillips have to do with Williams' being probably the worst cover safety in the NFL, as well as being a non-force in the running game now? (Maybe he was buddies with all those guys in the Texas Rangers clubhouse during the A-ROD years???

This thread is hilarious. Even given BB's penchant for unpredictability, Williams has no role on this team and i'd be shocked if he's even playing in the NFL next year. Sell your Camry, take out a second mortgage on your house, raid your 401K and find someone who will bet you that Williams ever comes to NE, and you'll never have to work another day in your life.

 

[mcsully]

With all due respect, you cannot be serious. What does Wade Phillips have to do with Williams' being probably the worst cover safety in the NFL, as well as being a non-force in the running game now? (Maybe he was buddies with all those guys in the Texas Rangers clubhouse during the A-ROD years???

This thread is hilarious. Even given BB's penchant for unpredictability, Williams has no role on this team and i'd be shocked if he's even playing in the NFL next year. Sell your Camry, take out a second mortgage on your house, raid your 401K and find someone who will bet you that Williams ever comes to NE, and you'll never have to work another day in your life.

I'm dead serous.. Wade plays an attacking 3-4 1 gap specialty. Pats play a lot more zone especially in the secondary..

Williams was asked to many times to play deep in space.. Something he would not do with the Patriots.. He would play med to Short like Harrison has done for years.. Taking away the middle from the Wr's and TE..



Frankly I'm not a big fan of James Sanders.. I like to see what Williams can do..

He's a better player than Lynch and Tank Williams at this stage..

Of course those guys came in low pay..

 

[Deus Irae]

Bring him in for a look.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

First comparison that came to mu mind was John Lynch. Lynch was a better tackler and better against the run than Williams. But BB released him due to his coverage issues even though he was a player he had tried to bring in previously and highly respected. I'm thinking that if BB couldn't find a roster spot for Lynch, then the chances of Roy Williams becoming a Pat are slim and none.

Pats fan here but I live in Dallas and see a lot of Cowboys games. Roy Williams can't do a lot of things and his struggles in coverage are well documented. One thing he can do, however, is stop the run. Roy Williams is a BEAST against the run. Sorry but Lynch or Harrison aren't even in his league against the run. If BB has brought in Lynch and Tank Williams to try to find that run stopping, play near the LOS type LB/S, he couldn't get a much better match than Roy Willaims. If the price is right I'd do this in a heartbeat.

Situational football boys. Situational football.

 

[supafly]

I was hoping for a clutter free thread on the topic.
I get the sense he's the sort of guy everyone will gripe about unless he signs and then it will suddenly qualify as a brilliant.

I can respect your views and you make some good points. What do we really have to lose? I'd like to see him at the very least--brought in for a nice long look. You are very correct in saying (quoting) BB plays to a players strengths, and obviously, he does have some strengths. If he dosen't look good, or isn't working out--then I am sure we don't use him too close to our playing depth. If the contract is somewhat ok, then it's not that high risk of a situation.

The front office,scouting,and coaching jobs certainly include trying to improve our team. I really don't see us downgrading at the position at this point. And FWIW--I'm sure we, at the very least draft a S with one of the 3rd rounders at the latest. If he didn't work out in a few uniforms, then I think you really know what he's about--without a doubt. However, I feel there may still be some doubt as to what he can improve on. Just because he didn't work out in the Wade Phillips era, dosen't necessarily mean he's done.

And there's no doubt I totally agree with your assessment of Seymour. He is one of the major strengths on our D, and I don't want to mess with that success.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Is Harrison even guaranteed to make the roster? After watching his play go down last year, yes it went down before the injury, I think he might not even make the team. He's not a step slower but two or three steps slower... It was very visible last year.. ANd now with an added injury and a year older, I think this position needs some major upgrades..


Years ago Harrison was cut because he couldn't cover.. People remember one or two games with this guy and think he can't cover.. Check out Williams stats before that lame duck coach took over.. Not to bad.. And He's very talented in many ways.. But maybe the cowboys were not using his strengths..

How can you expect anyone to take you seriously when you make statements like that? You did watch Rodney's first 3-4 years here, right?

I usually don't get into these things but that statement was so far removed from the reality that we all saw, I couldn't let it go.:idontgetit:

 

[mgcolby]

Any one who thinks Roy Williams can cover can email me about the bridge I have for sale.

The guy can stay as far away from Foxboro as possible.

 

[patman12]

How can you expect anyone to take you seriously when you make statements like that? You did watch Rodney's first 3-4 years here, right?

I usually don't get into these things but that statement was so far removed from the reality that we all saw, I couldn't let it go.:idontgetit:

I think that's the point he was getting at. Rodney was let go in SD because there were questions out there about his ability to cover. He signed with NE and quickly put that idea to rest.

 

[mgcolby]

1. Roy Williams' coverage ability (or lack thereof) is always a hot topic in Dallas. What do your numbers indicate about Williams' performance in coverage over the last few years?

Our numbers, in this case, back up what the naked eye sees; Roy Williams has a target on his back, and it's there for a reason. Williams was targeted with 59 passes last year, the second-most of any safety in the league. Those passes "succeeded" (our measure for tracking whether the pass did enough to contribute towards earning a first down) 63% of the time; therefore, Williams had a 37% success rate, which was 72nd amongst all safeties. Remember that there's only 64 starting safeties in the league and, well, it wasn't a pretty year for Roy.

He sucks in coverage and this is not merely perception.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I think that's the point he was getting at. Rodney was let go in SD because there were questions out there about his ability to cover. He signed with NE and quickly put that idea to rest.

After the first paragraph, you are better than me at reading his meaning. But if that is his meaning, he might have made it clearer.

BTW, Rodney was playing with an injury and the folks a SD knew that.

Anyway, if Williams was just a victum of the system, he would have been snatched up by another team by now. There are several big hitters who can't cover very well in teh draft that we can get in the 3rd of 4th round for less $ againts the cap.

 

[Deus Irae]

After the first paragraph, you are better than me at reading his meaning. But if that is his meaning, he might have made it clearer.

BTW, Rodney was playing with an injury and the folks a SD knew that.

Anyway, if Williams was just a victum of the system, he would have been snatched up by another team by now. There are several big hitters who can't cover very well in teh draft that we can get in the 3rd of 4th round for less $ againts the cap.

Williams was a Pro Bowler under Parcells.

 

[mgcolby]

Williams was a Pro Bowler under Parcells.

A combination of perception and picks. He had Asante syndrome.

 

[WelshPat]

^Based on his rep

And to the guy who lives in Dallas, 5 years ago roy williams was a beast against the run. It all went downhill for him after the last redskins game in 07. Portis made him look stupid 3+ times in the game and he lost all his confidence.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

^Based on his rep

And to the guy who lives in Dallas, 5 years ago roy williams was a beast against the run. It all went downhill for him after the last redskins game in 07. Portis made him look stupid 3+ times in the game and he lost all his confidence.

I would disagree with you about it being five years since he's been good against the run. He also wasn't totally healthy last year. As to the confidence issue, don't you think BB putting him in position to make plays and play to his strengths could help him regain his confidence?

Ask Tuna Fan and he'll tell you what many down here who actually watch the games believe, that is, had Roy Williams been on the field vs. the Ravens last December those back-to-back 65+ yard TD runs never would have happened. Make those defensive stops and perhaps the Ravens don't win that game. Most likely that would have propelled Dallas (and the Pats for that matter) into the playoffs.

 

[patsox23]

Despite the highlight reel hits and the pro bowls, Roy Williams could never carry Rodney's jock. He is a terrible football player. If the Patriots briought him in, I'd be susprised, and then I'd be praying for Belichick to work some magic. The most overrated all-pro in the history of sports.