The Roy Williams Debate

by N41D on Dec 31, 2007 10:42 AM CST Comment 19 comments

I know this has become an on-going weekly argument here, but here we go again...

Roy's physical abilities have fallen off drastically. He's not taking guys heads off anymore, he's never around the ball anymore, he looks so damn sluggish on the field, he cannot wrap up and make a tackle, and always seems to be a step behind the play. I used to be one of Roy's biggest fans because dude dominated football games despite his deficiencies. He forced fumbles and picked off passes, causing turnovers in both the run and passing game. He used to lay some bone-crushing hits that would shift momentum and get the rest of the defense's adrenaline flowing. The guy was a PLAYMAKER his first handful of years in the L.

Doesn't seem like Roy has been in shape or peak physical condition for 2-3 years now. He looks heavy and plays sluggish. Maybe his body is just wearing down from blowing up RBs, WRs and TEs throughout his college career and his first handful of NFL seasons. Maybe it's the late night trips to the Fridge for a piece of cake. Maybe it's just because I don't notice Roy Williams AT ALL anymore on the football field unless he's missing tackles or getting blown by in coverage. Whatever the case, Roy Williams is falling off right before our eyes. He's not the type dude that can hang around the league despite declining physical talents, because he's not a guy that keeps himself in great shape and really takes care of his body, and he doesn't seem like a guy that seriously prepares himself for an opponent week in and week out. I think this almost has to be Roy's last season in Dallas unless he dominates the playoffs and shows he's still capable of being an elite player, which we haven't seen any signs of at all this season.

Just for reference's sake, because it absolutely does matter...

$595,000

$3.72 million

$4.4 million

$4.05 million

Roy at 600K is a pretty decent deal. Roy at 3.7-4.4 million for a team that has several key pieces ready for extensions is terrible. Newman, Ware, Canty, Witten, Barber, maybe a Top 10 pick if Jerry decides to move up in the draft?

Poll on the right.

Poll

What do you do with Roy Williams

Keep him.

8 votes

Re-negotiate.

10 votes

Cut him.

9 votes

Try to trade him.

33 votes

60 votes | Poll has closed

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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Comments

I'm not saying anything

I've stated my position on Roy and his playing ability a thousand times over the last three years, so to avoid the "ROY Hater" label response that will surely only follow, I'll pass on this topic....

by Deke on Dec 31, 2007 10:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good

by APerfectStar on Dec 31, 2007 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What can you say Deke?

I have been anti Roy this whole season and each game I hope he changes my mind but all that happens is more people come over to our side. If you watch highlights of Roy's first few seasons, the guy was a freaking animal and now looks like a punch drunk fighter just playing for a paycheck. I say cut him if we have no takers or do a serious renegotition for him to come off the bench on blitzing downs.

by Billito on Dec 31, 2007 10:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

that 2007 number doesnt seem right

The Beast of the East is back!!!!

by Cowboys81 on Dec 31, 2007 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nothing New...

Roy has worn the "Overrated" tag for several years. We, as Cowboys fans, just refused to read into it. The fact that Roy has inadequate cover skills has been magnified in recent years as more NFL minds have become aware of this fact and exposed Williams.

I think it's gotten into Roy's head. He now believes the hype (because it's mostly true) and he no longer plays instinctively and confidently.

I love Roy and I hate to see him struggle like this, but he's not getting it done. What upsets me more than anything is that Wade talked about how he would play Roy to his strengths, yet I see Roy locked up one-on-one with guys like Jeremy Shockey and Chris Cooley more this year than I have in the past. Roy is not a coverage guy and probably should have ate the biscuit that Parcells talked about at onetime and turned himself into a LB.

by Fargo Cowboys on Dec 31, 2007 11:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Where are you getting that salary info?

Last I checked, Roy's cap figure was amongst the biggest on this team.

by Or Moyal on Dec 31, 2007 11:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Signing Bonus ?

What was Roy's signing bonus ? The remaining pro-rated signing bonus will be "accelerated" into next years CAP if you cut or trade him.

That being said, I voted to try and trade him.

Remember that Roy was drafted for a different style of defense. His skill set doesn't fit the 3-4 well. The 3-4 uses the front 7 for pressure and relies on the DB's (all 4) for coverage. Roy's forte was the safety blitz and run support.

Roy needs to eat more biscuits, bulk up to 240 lbs, and play weakside linebacker for a 4-3 team.

by DeRat on Dec 31, 2007 11:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think Roy has lost confidence

in himself, probably because all of the bashing he's received over the past few years from the media and fans.

Its too bad because he's tremendously talanted and gifted player who has gotten down on himself and as a result isn't playing with the same reckless style that made him great. It seems like he is thinking too much instead of playing with his natural instincts, a part of which has to be the fallout from the horse collar rule.

Its really a shame because the old Roy could have taken this defense to the next level.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2007 11:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

wow

if Roy is a mental midget as you say he is, then he definitely is in the wrong business.

by Longhorn on Dec 31, 2007 3:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

having a lack of confidence doesn't make you

a mental midget, it happens to a lot of players pysches.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2007 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you 100% Terry

It's not hard to see it in some of his media quotes this year. I've never seen a great defensive player get so beat up by his own team's fans and media outlets. It's a damn shame. Anytime someone on the team blows a coverage it's automatically Roy's fault.

by APerfectStar on Dec 31, 2007 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, its a shame Roy is the scapegoat

for our secondary problems, when I've seen other DBs get burnt a lot more in coverage than Roy.

There isn't a game that goes by that Henry doesn't get toasted on several occasions.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 31, 2007 3:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think you have the cause and effect

relationship screwed up Terry

Burt-D

by Burt D on Dec 31, 2007 4:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As someone proclaimed :Baby Seal"

Baby Seal Williams no longer has the fight, the burst, the power, the skills, the pop... I think we have to get rid of him...No..It's not always his fault back there..many times he's the closest guy to the receiver only cuz the CB got burnt...but, If he is shadowing, or playing a roll coverage, as I suspect he does in part of a double team...He doesn't hold up his end either...In fact, I never see him in the right position...

.He is not untradable..Just because we don't like him, and feel his better days are far behind him, there are plenty of teams that have no safety play at all..secondaries so lame that Roy would be a welcomed addition...say Detroit for instance....How bout we trade our Roy Williams and a 4th round pick for their WR Roy Williams...I think it's a fair deal...

move Hamlin to SS, move Henry to FS, Newman at one corner,

and our top CB selection in the draft.Or go out and sign a mid level CB like Randal Gay-CB Patriots, or go all out and sign Asante Samuels.

This scenario would work , could work, and hopefully will go down, cuz seeing wide open WR'TE'RB'...running around all day kinda gets old.

Thoughts?

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Dec 31, 2007 5:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I too have lost faith

I used to be a big RW fan, but this year's been the turning point for me. He seems unable to solve his two biggest problems and may actually be getting worse:

He too often makes the wrong call in zone coverage, either coming up on a middle or crossing route that was already covered when he clearly should have taken the deep route, or taking the sideline that was already covered when the other was coming open. Worse yet, he sometimes seems to make no decision at all and just stands in place leaving both options open to the opponent's QB.

He takes terrible angles to the play or the ball too often. A safety with his number of years in the pros shouldn't be so off so often in the line he takes.

If he hasn't made strides in these two critical areas by now, he never will. As much as I like him, I think I'll vote "cut". As someone else said, everyone in the league knows his weaknesses. Why would anyone trade for him when they'll be able to pick him up off waivers?

Same goes for JJ. In a weird way, his initial splash with the team and subsequent crash echo Roy's. I remember watching him play his first two seasons and being genuinely excited about the possibilities. He seemed to have a knack for finding the crease and making those first few tacklers miss in a way reminiscent of Emmitt. I don't know what happened to him, but he just doesn't seem to have anything to offer any more. Can't hit the hole in time, can't find the hole sometimes and can't make anyone miss. Sad.

by chamr on Dec 31, 2007 6:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

excellent post

Great post; I agree 100%. The best way to describe both Roy and JuJo is....sad.

There was/is so much potential there, and in Roy's case, he really did perform at an elite level. I can still remember three years ago defending Roy to my Packer friends (I live in Milwaukee) and then somewhere along the line in 2005 he became indefensible. And it has been nothing but downhill ever since. It really is remarkable considering he should be in the prime of his career right now. Personally, I subscribe to the ‘Roy doesn't care’ theory. Roy doesn't care enough to keep in great football shape, either in-season or during the off-season. Roy doesn't care enough to put in the time in the film room to be prepared. I think being an elite NFL player just isn’t important to him. And shame on the Cowboys for not realizing this when his contract was up. They had 2+ years of Declining Roy as evidence that he would not be worth the investment. Oh well. I don’t think he is tradable unless he is willing to renegotiate his contract – and he would be a fool to do so, since Dallas will be forced to cut him and someone (are you awake yet Danny Snider?) will pay him a big signing bonus based on ESPN hype. Heck, if Archuleta got big money, you can bet Roy will too.

by Cowboy Louie on Jan 1, 2008 8:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs