Is Roy Williams the most overrated player in the NFL?
Pete Prisco is the opposite of Peter King, he seems to never like the Cowboys - whether on the field or their moves off of it. He puts the smack-down on Roy Williams, calling him the most overrated player in the league.
Williams played in his third consecutive Pro Bowl after the 2005 season, but he certainly hasn't performed to that level. Williams is a good hitter when in the box, but he struggles in coverage, which is why teams were able to exploit the Cowboys with some big plays last season.
Anyone who saw the Cowboys blow that Monday night game to the Redskins saw that Williams can be trouble in coverage. The Redskins twice threw over the top of him for fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Sure, he makes those highlight hits. But for every one of those, there's two misses in coverage. That's not good enough.
There is no way he's a better safety than Adrian Wilson of the Cardinals or Sean Taylor of the Redskins, two players who should have gone to the Pro Bowl ahead of Williams.
Personally, I think Prisco is being a little harsh. While I've always thought Roy could wrap-up better on tackles - sometimes he goes for the big hit when the occasion screams for making a sure tackle - he's not nearly as bad in coverage as Prisco would have you believe. Certainly he's never going to be a coverage safety - he is a SS after all - so his value lays in getting turnovers, sacks and making momentum changing hits. You can't underestimate that in terms of establishing your defense as intimidators and it does lead to guys hearing footsteps and causing some "alligator arms" when receivers go over the middle.
In my estimation, he's a tad overrated, but still an elite safety and one Dallas should absolutely keep for years to come.
But I do like his choice for underrated on the Cowboys team (not for the entire league).

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Pete Prisco!!!! Clearly you've watched Roy play.
Over on Dallascowboys.com, spags has a column about the comparison of Roy and Ed Reed stats, but I now read another excuse for Roy's play, spag's mentioned the linebacker play is the problem, not just the free safety play that has been mentioned for three years now, how many players on our defense have to take the blame for our second tier over rated mistake ridden Strong safety ROY WILLIAMS. For each One big Roy hit which ends up being a first down anyway, Roy has four either, missed tackles, poor angles on crossing routes, hense the horse collar rule known as the Roy Williams rule or no understanding of two deep zone coverage. Roy can only play moving forward and if the play is in front of him. Please Cowboys, draft a safety that can actually do more than one thing next year.
by Deke on Jul 6, 2006 9:23 PM CDT 0 recs
This proves my point
But Pete Prisco is a MORON, I've said it before and I'll continue to bash this idiot. He continuously states false facts and pulls his own opinions from where the sun don't shine.
This Prisco Williams bashing only goes to prove that Roy is the real deal, and SS do not have pass coverage responsibilities that override their playmaking abilities. If the FS would do his job, we wouldn't be having this discussion. And thats not blaming others for Roy's faults, thats putting the blame where it belongs!
by APerfectStar on
Jul 7, 2006 11:15 PM CDT
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who is the one
what???, strong safeties dont have pass coverage responsibilties, what league are you watching!!!
Making that statement is almost as bad as saying the free safty doesn't have run stoppping responsibilties.
How come on pure passing downs last year, did the cowboys take Roy off the field, hmn, was it because he's horrible and liability in pass coverage, but I guess thats the free safeties fault too..In todays NFL, you better have two safeties that can be interchangeable, this isn't the early eighties when it was a smash mouth running league when Lott played, saying Roy is a Ronny Lott player is like saying he's a dinasour, the league today is a far cry from what it once was, more dynamic spread offenses today, thats where Roy has trouble and teams are designing game plans for their offenses when they play the Cowboys to keep Roy out of the Box and in coverage, which makes him a very limited average player.
by Deke on
Jul 8, 2006 9:29 AM CDT
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I watch every Cowboys game
By the way, if the CB or LB had bumped Moss at the line, or the front seven had gotten pressure on Brunell, your point would be negated. A good coaching staff can mask the players insufficiencies to a point. But I would still rather see Roy laying out WRs, RBs, TE's and even QB's with a chance to cause a turn over than to see a mediocre SS make a tackle 15 or more yards downfield. And by the way we didn't even have a mediocre FS on the team last year! Wait until this upcoming season.
by APerfectStar on
Jul 8, 2006 9:29 PM CDT
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woulda, coulda, shoulda!!!!
by Deke on
Jul 8, 2006 11:15 PM CDT
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Not entirely true...
Tom makes a valid point, nobody was chucking Moss off the line of scrimmage and with his speed it's over. A two-deep zone is the perfect time to chuck a reciever because someone is behind you. That's when you should press on the line.
Deke, I respect your football knowledge, but you're way over reacting to this. Roy does make a lot of big hits (and no, it's not always after a first down), he is outstanding in run support, and he causes turnovers. But his coverage ability is suspect so the Cowboys should never have him in a position where Moss gets a running sprint on him, and Aaron Glenn is 7 yards off the play. That was terrible coverage by Glenn.
by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on
Jul 8, 2006 11:48 PM CDT
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The fact is Deke...
What are going to say when he shatters the rest of Roethlisberegrs jaw to help us win SB XLI?
by Terry on
Jul 9, 2006 1:50 PM CDT
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Well, I wouldn't go that far...
by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on
Jul 9, 2006 4:18 PM CDT
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Well...
by Terry on
Jul 9, 2006 8:49 PM CDT
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I'd say...
by Tuna Helper on
Jul 10, 2006 11:00 AM CDT
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Ed Reed
But I agree that Wilson and Roy have equal coverage skills.
by Terry on
Jul 10, 2006 12:55 PM CDT
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I guess Ronnie Lott was overrated too
Roy isn't getting paid millions or going to the pro bowl every year because of his coverage skills, he's the best strong safety in the league because he's a big time play maker, capable of taking over a game defensively with his dynamic skills in the box. Once we get a ball hawking FS to help out Roy, he'll be making all kinds of game changing plays over the field. Pete and Deke can have Wilson and Taylor, there isn't a SS in the league who can more big plays than Roy, its not even close.
by Terry on Jul 6, 2006 9:24 PM CDT 0 recs
man..
seriously, deke has been saying this for a minute, so hat tip to him...even tho i disagree...
anyways, i'm looking at this thing realistically...we can't get anybody better than roy.....as much as he struggles in coverage there are honestly, like, only 3 or 4 better in the league...so i say, keep him.....deal with his weakness...his strengths are worth it....
it's like the hot girlfriend with a nice rack and no butt....
dude you can't have everything!
awwww! (as my girlfriend smacks me behind the head)......
by Tuna Helper on Jul 6, 2006 9:58 PM CDT 0 recs
Philadelphia Boy
Here is what is interesting - CBS Sportsline has also come out with an all-decade college football team that lists Roy Williams and Ed Reed as the two safeties. Perhaps Prisco should sit with Dennis Dodd and find out more. In the same article Stephen Peterman is listed all-decade at OL from LSU. Pretty interesting article here: http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9543150
by lee3022 on Jul 6, 2006 10:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Sort Of
And he's definitely not the most overrated player in the NFL. To me that's Larry Johnson.
And if you do think Roy isn't the best safety in the NFL, don't give me Sean Taylor as your argument. Good grief, how many times have we burned him? He's got potential and a lot of speed, but he's no Roy right now.
by monkeymcgee on Jul 7, 2006 5:19 AM CDT 0 recs
toast....
by Tuna Helper on
Jul 7, 2006 12:34 PM CDT
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I felt
by Skin Patrol on
Jul 7, 2006 2:24 PM CDT
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Hello to the Monkey Man...
Good to hear from you Monkey, it's like hearing from an old friend again.
by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on
Jul 7, 2006 1:40 PM CDT
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Howdy
I always read your posts on my feedreader, but I've gotten lazy about commenting :)
by monkeymcgee on
Jul 7, 2006 2:56 PM CDT
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Good to hear
Roy Williams is a top 5 safety in the NFL; how much is a top 5 safety worth is another question.
by LRogue on Jul 7, 2006 6:55 AM CDT 0 recs
Are you worried about the Cowboys...
by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on
Jul 7, 2006 1:35 PM CDT
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Maybe it works out for the bets
by WCG on Jul 7, 2006 8:12 AM CDT 0 recs
Sweet.
by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on
Jul 7, 2006 1:34 PM CDT
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good point
by Terry on
Jul 7, 2006 2:30 PM CDT
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if we solve this FS dilemmia...
i could see him getting like 7 or 8 sacks...or 7 or 8 forced fumbles..
he can do it....he has that kind of nose for the ball....
by Tuna Helper on
Jul 7, 2006 3:09 PM CDT
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yeah,
by Deke on
Jul 7, 2006 3:11 PM CDT
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Hey Deke...
However you always ignore Roy's strong areas, which greatly outweigh his lack of coverage skills, why is that? The guy is our best defender, at least acknowledge that much.
by Terry on
Jul 7, 2006 4:57 PM CDT
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winning is a solvent for many things...
by Tuna Helper on Jul 7, 2006 3:15 PM CDT 0 recs








