Gregg Williams + NO Defense (1 Viewer)

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Hahaha....I just realized how that subject looks....

It's funny because it's kind of exactly why I'm starting the thread.

Over the last few years I've heard a lot of chatter about Williams, and reading that stuff about Harper just reminded me of all the pub he's gotten, but when I think of last year's Jax team, or those 'skins teams, terrorizing the opposing QB does not really come to the forefront of my mind.

I understand that you need the players, but do you think he's one of those guys that happened to have the players to make himself look good, like, 10 years ago in Tenn and has been coasting on that rep ever since --- was he trying to implement a good system in more recent years but didn't have the players to do it?

Is this another Marvin Lewis, or can we expect numbers from the NO defense this year?

Admittedly, a couple of those Washington teams played pretty good D in the NFL sense of limiting points, but it's not exactly the aggressive 'attack defense' that puts up fantasy numbers, and that he gets the credit for.

Has he changed his approach over the years?

edit:

Anybody think he bumps Vilma up at all, or is he already about as bumped up as he's going to get?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Williams has done a little bit of everything -- he's been a 46 guy, moved back to a less aggressive read-and-react 4-3, been a blitz-happy 4-3 guy, gone through a stage where he ran a lot of Tampa-2 and now he's working some 3-4 concepts in. His schemes have been successful, but he's got a personality that sometimes doesn't win his players over. That was the primary issue in Jacksonville, based on player and beat writer comments over the years.

He seems to be moving back toward the aggressive side of things. Vilma has never been an above-average big play guy, so he's not likely to be affected much one way or the other. I think his value should stay about the same -- LB1 with mid LB2 floor -- given the relatively average OLB and corners. Even if Jenkins and Harper play very well, the OLB group is weak enough that Vilma shouldn't have much trouble putting up 90+ solos.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

Williams has done a little bit of everything -- he's been a 46 guy, moved back to a less aggressive read-and-react 4-3, been a blitz-happy 4-3 guy, gone through a stage where he ran a lot of Tampa-2 and now he's working some 3-4 concepts in. His schemes have been successful, but he's got a personality that sometimes doesn't win his players over. That was the primary issue in Jacksonville, based on player and beat writer comments over the years.

He seems to be moving back toward the aggressive side of things. Vilma has never been an above-average big play guy, so he's not likely to be affected much one way or the other. I think his value should stay about the same -- LB1 with mid LB2 floor -- given the relatively average OLB and corners. Even if Jenkins and Harper play very well, the OLB group is weak enough that Vilma shouldn't have much trouble putting up 90+ solos.

That's interesting to hear --- I thought his schemes normally just brought pressure from the front 4.Do you think this Harper stuff is just early OTA noise, or could this herald a revisiting of the 46?

 

[Jene Bramel]

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Williams has done a little bit of everything -- he's been a 46 guy, moved back to a less aggressive read-and-react 4-3, been a blitz-happy 4-3 guy, gone through a stage where he ran a lot of Tampa-2 and now he's working some 3-4 concepts in. His schemes have been successful, but he's got a personality that sometimes doesn't win his players over. That was the primary issue in Jacksonville, based on player and beat writer comments over the years.

He seems to be moving back toward the aggressive side of things. Vilma has never been an above-average big play guy, so he's not likely to be affected much one way or the other. I think his value should stay about the same -- LB1 with mid LB2 floor -- given the relatively average OLB and corners. Even if Jenkins and Harper play very well, the OLB group is weak enough that Vilma shouldn't have much trouble putting up 90+ solos.

That's interesting to hear --- I thought his schemes normally just brought pressure from the front 4.Do you think this Harper stuff is just early OTA noise, or could this herald a revisiting of the 46?

Some part of it is definitely noise. This is the time of year where you see if what you drew up on the napkins at home works on the field. Some of it isn't. Harper has proven himself capable in pass rush in previous seasons. Despite the Tampa-2 leanings with Washington, it wouldn't be unusual for Williams to use Harper in the box and in a big play role. The Saints have too many question marks to run the 46 effectively -- missing defensive ends, no dominant edge rusher, weak OLB and questionable corner play. I think it's probably just a pressure 4-3 subpackage.

 

[Drop]

I think that the NO defense will improve somewhat, especially if Jason David doesn't have to play much. Jabari Greer was a nice signing and Tracy Porter has some potential. Jenkins will help them as well in the secondary, although I don't think he's the best CB in this draft class.

Jason David was just such a target for opposing teams, he really let down the defense because he got torched so easily. They will improve fundamentally as a unit because the weak link won't be so easy to spot.