Roy Williams: As I See It By LuckyLou Staff Writer, Commentator-Cowboyspride.net I found the following career notes on www.dallascowboys.com Since being selected 8th overall in the 2002 NFL draft, Williams has… ***been named to at least 4 Pro Bowls. He joins Cliff Harris, Mel Renfro and Darren Woodson as the only safeties in Cowboys history to do so. ***Has 82 straight starts (including playoffs) which is the longest active streak on the team. ***Earned All-Rookie recognition in 2002 while tying for the NFL INTERCEPTION lead among rookies with 5. ***He is one of just 5 defensive backs (Ronde Barber, Brian Dawkins, Rodney Harrison and Deshea Townsend) to have posted 2 or more sacks and INTERCEPTIONS in the same season three times in the 5 years, 2002-2006. He has lead the club in interceptions twice (2002 and 2006) ***Has returned 3 of his 17 career interceptions for touchdowns. (The record of 4 is held by Dennis Thurman and Dexter Coakley) I checked the stats of safeties on at least 18 teams in the NFL and found only a few players with comparable years in the NFL who possessed the stats of Roy Williams as safety. And Williams shows a decline in stats over the last couple of years while the other safeties didn’t. And yet, if Roy performs at the same level he has for his first 5 years over the career years of Rodney Harrison, his stats would be better than Rodney Harrisons. Now, what do the common fans think. Bloggers around the Internet… “…Roy Williams is NOT an all-around playmaker at Safety. He's a damn good SS when playing run-support (more like an additional linebacker), but his cover skills are suspect at best and at FS he's only pedestrian.” “Roy Williams for the Cowboys. Most safeties specialize in one area such as covering or giving hard hits, but Williams does it all. He is so good! He is the most valuable defender in the NFL. Period “ According to YouTube video postings There are at least 4 or 5 TOP NFL Safeties listings that have Roy Williams listed as the number 3 or 4 safety in the league. I could go on and on, but in short, few safeties, in fact, maybe only Ed Reed, and Rodney Harrison could even match what Roy Williams did his first few years as a Cowboy. The man was a beast. Even with his recent troubles on the field and changes in his personal life, he is still widely considered a good if not great safety. I think Roy is suffering from three things. First, changes in his personal life. I think when he played his first few years, he played with a certain degree of anger. No doubt he unleashed Demons on receivers and running backs of other teams when he zeroed in on their numbers. We all know that since, he’s become engaged and a born-again Christian. Now, it may be pointed out that many NFL players are born again Christian who manage to play just as well as not-so spirit-led players. I think we all saw Reggie White “christening” many unblessed running backs and misled qbs during his career. But I believe the vast majority of NFL players are devout Christians before their careers. Not as many make that change during their careers. Usually, a change on that level is preceded by a major event in someone’s life. Something “opened” Roy Williams eyes or something happened to him that caused him to make a change. Whatever it is, it may be affecting how he plays. Theories range from physical injury to the calling off of his wedding with Kelly Rowlands. Second, I think the standard and level of his play when he entered the NFL only set him up for an eventual fall. How many of us can maintain that level, year in and year out? And if a person becomes human, can he ever rise above that again? Third, is the Cowboys fans. Based on what I’m seeing on the internet at least, most people still respect Roy Williams, even if some offensive coordinators and quarterbacks don’t. Maybe the guy feeds off the high of his fans loving him and doesn’t respond well when the fans don’t. I’m not defending Roy Williams now. I don’t think he needs it. I think his pride is enough where he’d be offended if someone offered it. All of this reminds me of a debate I got into with a fellow employee who was ready to hang Roy Williams by his toes. It was two or three years ago and I ended the debate with “tell me how many safeties in the NFL have 5 interceptions? The guy was stumped of course because there weren’t very many. I think it was Roy Williams and maybe 1 or 2 other safeties at the time. The point I was trying to make was, even on a bad day, Roy Williams is better than most. And if the Cowboys were to offer him up in a trade or release him, there would be at least 12 teams who would push to snatch him up, including a couple of those teams with safeties considered better than Roy Williams. I think the Ravens could imagine a backfield with Ed Reed & Roy Williams. Of course, Roy Williams would still have to get back to his old playing form. No matter who you are, I think you’d agree with me that in this upcoming season, Roy has to give some serious and consistent indications that he will return to the level of play that the Cowboys fans hope for. Especially since he has admitted he doesn’t fit the defensive schemes here in Dallas well. Good players admit their shortcomings. Great players find a way to overcome them. We don’t know yet if he will or will not. Right now, I’d rather he did it for the Cowboys. And that's how I see it.
Great article, Omen. I agree 100%. I was one of the people ready to "hang RW by the toes", but after cooling off, I remembered why I have his jersey. I laugh my butt off everytime I read anybody saying Roy is the most overrated player in the NFL. The numbers prove that he isn't.
Omen, can you translate it to English? I can't read Omenese. :laughy32: That is a very good article, rep on the way. :icon_thumright: It still can't solve any of the Cowboy's problems with him though.
Yepp, I agree. I ain't never wanted to hang him by his toes, Most of the people don't realize the guys who he has to manually cover at times, sure they're tight ends.... but they are some of the best tight ends, in the game. LJ Smith when he is healthy, Jeremy Shockey, and Chris Cooley. 6 times a year he has to play just them a lone. And I know he's not matched on them every play, but there is no one in the league who is going to shut those players down every time you line up against them, Roy is gonna get his tackles, the tight ends are gonna get their catches. That's just how it goes when you're facing players of those levels. I could see making a big deal if he was getting beat by Anthony Becht, Kyle Brady, and Robert Royal... but he's not.
The Other Ten Games, tight ends from those games had a combined total of: 24 Catches 283 Yards 1 Touchdown. Those Numbers represent players as Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, Ben Watson, Kyle Brady (1 catch, 1yard, 1touchdown) Donald Lee, Randy McMichael. The Other 6, The ones that I speak so highly of [LJ Smith, Cooley, and Shockey] Combined for a total of: (add celek into this mix too) Shockey (gmen gm1) 5-41yds Shockey (gmen gm2) 12-129yds 1td LJ Smith (eagles gm1) 2-34 Celek (eagles gm1) 1-6 Celek (eagles gm2) 3-50 Cooley (skins gm1) 8-89 1td Cooley (skins gm2) 5-42 36 catches 391 Yards 2 Touchdowns. So... the 6 games against the division, with the 10x better tight ends... equals to more catches, more yards, and more touchdowns... then the other 10 games combined, any other questions? The numbers against the other 10 teams, are ALOT better.
might wanna re-read my first post then, because i clearly stated that. Just when he's in man to man, it's more then likely on a TE.
i read what you posted and was agreeing with the point. i still think williams is overrated, not the most like some may want to say, that title was vick's hands down.
id like to take vredit for the article but it was not me who wrote it it LuckyLou over at cowboysspride.net the spellin gis too good
why are no other safeties from the NFC east ridiculed as much as roy williams? and just because i'm bored at work, i decided to check on your numbers you stated for the other ten games and tight ends production: 1- *shockey 5-41 2- d. martin 2-15 2-15 3- d. clark 2-58, g. olsen- 2-28 6-101 4- r. mcmichael 3-24 9-125 5- robert royal 4-34, michael gaines 2-6 15-165 6- watson 1-28, brady 1-1-1 17-194 7- none 8- bye 9- *lj smith 2-34, celek 1-6 18-200 10- *shockey 12-129, boss 1-18 19-218 11- *cooley 8-89 12- c. baker 3-36 22-254 13- d.lee 3-30 25-284 14- s. mchugh 3-60 28-344 15- celek 3-50 31-394 16- d. rosario 1-13 32-407 17- *cooley 5-42 so that comes to 32 for 407 yds and a touchdown.. -- and you have to remember, a big excuse for roy for several years before the hammer (hamlin) came in was 'oh, roy doesnt have a real FS to help him, that's why he's struggling..' guess what? hamlin goes in, has a pro-bowl and career year, and roy still struggles.
stop hating on roy.... TJ I agree with you and after I too cooled down I remember why I have 3 of his jerseys lol
I missed Rosario and Mcghugh, I dont see anyone else that I did miss, cept maybe Gaines... not sure if I added him or not. But I guess you're right, missed one game, had 92 tackles.. in 15 games played. Which he has never averaged more tackles, per game.. in his NFL Career. he had 94 tackles, in 16 games in 2004, but took him that extra game to get 2 more tackles, he had 2 int's that year, had 2 int's this past year. Hamlin had 62 tackles, and 5 int's. Is 3 int's, that MUCH better.. then 30 more tackles? All in all.. I'm not complaining, Idc what you or anyone else says, Just like Kassie and TJ, I know why I got my Roy Williams jersey.. and that's cause he's a monster when he unleashes a hit on someone, Other then that.. he may be a little weak in pass coverage, but he makes up for it in run support. Dallas gave up 100+ yards to 1 RB all season long, and that was Portis in week 17. You take Roy Out of the defense, i'd put money on it.. Ryan Grant, Derrick Ward, Westbrook, Portis, Kevin Jones, Brandon Jacobs, Adrian Peterson, almost all.. get 100+ on us last season. You say Roy Williams is over-rated, I Say i'd take 30+ more tackles a year over 3 int's.
Very good read. Williams has been a bit of an enigma in Dallas the last couple of seasons. But I have to believe he's the real deal. I would take him in Atlanta. Send him our way. :icon_cheesygrin:
Yeah, you're right. TJ Laughs every time someone says he's over-rated, You laugh every time he gets beat deep, We laugh every time San Fransisco loses [Which, if you haven't noticed.. is a lot more, then Roy getting beat deep :icon_cheesygrin:].
