Godspeed Gregg Williams. Don't %&*$# This Up.

by Saintsational on Jan 16, 2009 6:00 AM CST Comment 10 comments

(play song)

Good morning Who Dat Nation! Lovely day, isn't it? I figure no better song sums up the feelings of Saints fans everywhere and when I thought about the concept of this post it immediately came to mind. It truly is a beautiful day because once again the Saints have given us all hope that next years team may actually be a sucessful one. The man pictured above represents a big change for the pitiful Saints defense. One that it desperately needs. Get a good look at his sitcom-dad good looks and hair that would make Jimmy Johnson jealous because he represents our last chance at putting together a winning football team.

If I'm really being honest however, I will admit that I am not as excited as the next Who Dat. For I am of the cautiously optimistic persuasion and have learned my lessons. I know I've said this many times over but it really can't be emphasized enough. We've all been through this before and we all know how it almost always ends. After the last two off-seasons I refuse to let my hopes skyrocket as they are wont to do. Am I the only person who finds the two "g's" in Gregg to be a bit ominous? Sure, the hiring of Williams looks very promising. But so did the acquisition of Jason David. So did the addition of Randall Gay. So did the trade for Shockey. But when trying to improve a defense are all of these individual transactions incomparable to the inevitable, all-encompassing influence that a new defensive coordinator brings? More simply, does a change in defensive coordinator have an impact much greater than that of any free agent acquisition, top draft choice or big time trade? Let's hope so. Until then I remain cautiously optimistic. For better or worse though, it's a new era in New Orleans Saints history.

Feel free to stop the song above. Or just let it play over...and over...and over and....

I have put together some facts, figures and information to help us all get better acquainted with our new defensive guru.

First is Gregg's coaching history, taken from the New Orleans Saints official website.

Team	Years	Position
Excelsior High School (MO)	1980-83	Assistant Coach
Belton High School (MO)	1984-87	Head Coach
University of Houston	1988-89	Graduate Assistant
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans	1990-2000	Graduate Assistant, Special Teams Coach, Defensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills	2001-2003	Head Coach
Washington Redskins	2004-2007	Defensive Coordinator
Jacksonville Jaguars	2008	Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach, Defense

And this is what the 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars media guide had written about Mr. Williams.

Gregg Williams was named defensive coordinator/assistant head coach, defense for the Jaguars on January 31, 2008.Williams is a veteran of 18 years in the NFL including three as a head coach.

In five of the last eight years, Williams'defenses have ranked in the top 10 in the league - including three top three's in the past five years - with three different teams.

Williams spent four seasons (2004-07) asassistant head coach/defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins. From 2004-07, the Redskins ranked sixth in the NFL in defense (306.6), second in the NFC, and seventh in rushing defense (103.8). The Redskins allowed only 19.4 points per gameduring that span, the ninth-fewest in the NFL.

In 2005, the Redskins defense propelled the club to its first postseason appearance since 1999. The defense allowed only 11.7 points per game in the last six games. The defense finished ranked ninth in the NFL and sixth in the NFC. In his first season with the Redskins, Williams' unit ranked third in the NFL and first in the NFC. They also finished third against the rush and seventh against the pass in the NFL.

Before joining the Redskins, Williams spent three seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. During his tenure in Buffalo, his defenses improved each of the three seasons.In 2003, the defense finished second in the NFL, improving from 15th in 2002 and 21st in 2001. Overall, the Bills' 2003 defensive and special teams units finished among the NFL's top-five teams in nine categories.

Williams spent 11 seasons with theTennessee organization (1990-2000), includingfour seasons as the defensive coordinatorfrom 1997-2000. He was hired in 1990 asa defensive quality control coach and was promoted to special teams coach in 1993.Before taking over as defensive coordinator, Williams spent three seasons (1994-96) as linebackers coach.

In 2000, the Titans' defensive unit led theNFL in total defense for the first time sincejoining the NFL and the 191 points allowedwere the third-fewest in the NFL since theleague adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978.The team also established the franchise' single-season records for sacks(55), fewest passingyards allowed(2,424) and fewest touchdowns allowed (17).The Titans ranked first in the NFL from 1999-2000 with 109 sacks.

Prior to joining the NFL coaching ranks,Williams served as a graduate assistant atthe University of Houston from 1988-89under former Oilers and Redskins headcoach Jack Pardee. From 1984-87, Williamswas the head coach at Belton (MO) HighSchool after beginning his coaching careeras an assistant coach at Excelsior Springs(MO) High School.

At each stop along the way, Williams has been heavily involved inthe community. Williams created the Gregg Williams Foundation, Inc.in 2004 to benefit the children in his hometown of Excelsior Springs, Mo. The foundation's host website is www.greggwilliamsfoundation.org. For the past fouryears, he has hosted the Gregg WilliamsTiger Golf Classic as well as a coaching clinic and seven-on-seven tournament with a lineman challenge with funds raised goingtowards the installment of new scoreboards for the high school gym, college scholarship programs, recreation parks, a practice field irrigation system and a newly formed Robotics Team within the school's science department.

Williams played quarterback and alsoplayed baseball at Northeast Missouri State where he earned a bachelor of science degree. He later earned his master's degreein education from Central Missouri State. Williams and his wife, Leigh Ann, have a daughter, Amy, and two sons, Blake and Chase.

Let's also take a quick look at some stats pertaining to the defenses that Gregg Williams has been in charge of. The most important stat you want to look at is the "Yds/Game" rank. Williams has had a top ten defense in three out of five seasons.

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yds / Play	Pass Yds / Game	Pass Yds / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att.	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff./ Game	Yard Diff. / Game
2008-JAX	330.9	5.74	106.8	3.99	224.1	7.71	2.80%	6.24%	18.1	8.7	19.9	41.00%	45.45%	58.49%	67.65%	22.9	-4.1	-11.8
Rank	17	27	13t	13	24	30	15	16	11	12	3	22	11t	25	18	21	24	22

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yds / Play	Pass Yds / Game	Pass Yds / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att.	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff./ Game	Yard Diff. / Game
2007-WAS	305.3	4.76	91.3	3.73	214.0	5.69	2.33%	5.48%	18.2	6.3	19.5	35.78%	58.82%	48.98%	67.86%	19.4	1.5	28.1
Rank	8	4	4	3	16	5	27	27	13	6	3	6	25	9	16	11	12	9

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yds / Play	Pass Yds / Game	Pass Yds / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att.	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff./ Game	Yard Diff. / Game
2006-WAS	355.5	5.71	137.3	4.47	218.2	7.18	1.23%	3.91%	18.8	7.1	20.8	43.69%	66.67%	47.92%	72.00%	23.5	-4.3	-27.8
Rank	31	32	27	25	23	32	32	32	19	8	4	26	29	10	26t	27	24	23

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yds / Play	Pass Yds / Game	Pass Yds / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att.	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff./ Game	Yard Diff. / Game
2005-WAS	297.9	4.86	105.4	4.10	192.6	5.76	2.99%	6.54%	16.1	4.7	20.9	36.49%	38.46%	45.95%	68.42%	18.3	4.1	32.6
Rank	9	10	13	21	10	3	17	21	3	2	6	11	12t	7	15t	9	11	9

Team	Yds / Game	Yds / Play	Rush Yds / Game	Rush Yds / Play	Pass Yds / Game	Pass Yds / Play	Int. Rate	Sacks / Pass Att.	First Downs / Game	Punt Return Avg	Kickoff Return Avg	3rd Down Pct	4th Down Pct	Red Zone Pct	Goal to Go%	Points / Game	Point Diff./ Game	Yard Diff. / Game
2004-WAS	267.6	4.40	81.5	3.11	186.1	5.78	3.50%	7.77%	15.7	11.2	21.5	30.97%	41.18%	51.35%	66.67%	16.6	-1.6	7.3
Rank	3	2	2	1	7	2	13	13	3	26	13	2	12	15	11t	5	19	14

This was the only YouTube video I could find of Gregg Williams. It's an interview from a local news station following the death of Sean Taylor, whom Williams coached.

And finally, here is all the rest of the linkage from around the net about the hiring.

Saints Agree to Hire Williams as Defensive Coordinator

Hiring Williams is Saints' boldest move since picking up Brees

Saints hire Gregg Williams to be defensive coordinator

Saints land new defensive weapon: Williams

Poll

Will the hiring of Gregg Williams be the difference-maker for the Saints defense?

Absolutely!

52 votes

Unfortunately...no.

2 votes

Only if there is a God.

8 votes

62 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

As a Bills fan and a bit of an authority on Gregg Williams the coach, perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I think Williams is a highly overrated coordinator. Yeah, he’s put together some solid defenses and has himself a shiny ol’ reputation, but he gets a lot of credit where it isn’t deserved.

First of all, every time I hear “he was so well prepared and thorough in his interview”, I cringe. That’s the exact line we heard from Tom Donahoe when Donahoe hired Greggggg as his first head coach in Buffalo. Gregggers had a plan, and with the help of Donahoe – one of the worst drafters in NFL history – Gregg’s plan blew up in his face. It says something to me that Gregg’s superb interviewing skills couldn’t land him the head job in Washington, even when he interviewed four flipping times for the position. Instead, Jimmy Zorn, a quarterbacks coach, got the nod. Ouch.

Williams has benefited from having some supremely talented players during his run as coordinator in various locales, but what coordinator hasn’t? What I like about Williams’ defenses is that, for the most part, they’re aggressive and fundamentally sound. But don’t buy into the idea that he’s a “motivator”; he’s more of a drill sergeant, and he rubbed his players the wrong way in Buffalo.

I realize that the Saints don’t need a dominating defense. You guys have the chops to build what Indy built – a Super Bowl winner behind an explosive offense and a defense that can force the occasional big play and make big stops, but isn’t a world-beater. Gregg should be able to give you guys that, particularly since you have some solid talent on that side of the ball. But to expect anything more, I think is probably stepping into “oh, crap” territory.

But then again, I live in the most cursed sports city in the world. Maybe Gregg can shake that curse off in New Orleans. :)

Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more

by Brian Galliford on Jan 16, 2009 8:00 AM CST reply actions 4 recs

Good insights

I for one am not concerned at all about his lack of head coaching success. He’s not our HC, I don’t need him to have a plan for the organization. Drill sergeant? Good. I’ve had enough of easy-going narcoleptic buddies at DC. Have a good scheme, hold players accountable, be in the top 10 defenses and that’s all we’ll need.

by SaintBevo on Jan 16, 2009 4:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Brian, thank you for the comments.

The key aspect to me in all the good analysis you provided is this:

What I like about Williams’ defenses is that, for the most part, they’re aggressive and fundamentally sound.

What I haven’t liked about Gary Gibbs’ defenses were that they were PASSIVE and FUNDAMENTALLY UNSOUND (missed tackles, no knocking of receivers off their routes, no real pressure on any QB – the only guys we sacked were unseasoned young guys or terrible QBs).

So, if our new Will-D can soundly tackle and be aggressive, I bet that could give us a few more wins right there (11-5). And with the D playing tougher and with more emotion, that will in turn feed the offense and maybe goose them to go harder and get some of those short 3rd and 1s in the third and fourth quarters, keep Drew from forcing throws when we get down early b/c the offense is struggling and we’re down 10 points in the 2nd…and that will push us to even more wins (13-3, 14-2?)….oh crap, I can feel it now – my 2009 Saints W-L prediction is already creeping towards a RIDICULOUS 15-1, and it’s not even past January yet.

Slow down there, pardner!

The Detroit Lions are on the clock!

by HansDat on Jan 17, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

good post

Thanks, Brian. Good luck to you and the Bills in ’09!

There’s a bailout coming, but it’s not for you.

by stujo4 on Jan 16, 2009 9:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Um, don't we have to play those lovable BILLS in '09?

Good luck to them except for in one ‘09 game (unless by the time we play them, we’ve clinched home-field advantage and rest our entire first string).

The Detroit Lions are on the clock!

by HansDat on Jan 17, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Drill sergeant"

I hear he rubbed players the wrong way in Washington, too…like Lavar Arrington. And I wonder how much the blowup of the Jags defense, and Mike Peterson getting benched, was New Guy Williams rubbing the players the wrong way.

Guess we’ll find out.

On the other hand, bear in mind that there have been a lot of defensive coordinators who had talented players and failed miserably with them (Ted Cottrell, for example). Williams may have had good talent to work with, but not All-Pro, Hall of Fame talent. And he’s had some excellent defenses.

Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...

by MtnExile on Jan 16, 2009 9:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

that's a good video, worth watching

If it tells you “No longer available”, come back in a minute and try again. He’s a hardass from Missouri, but he’s got a heart and knows his players are really people, even though he’s using them like pawns. I can identify with that. Can’t wait to see what he does for the Saints.

There’s a bailout coming, but it’s not for you.

by stujo4 on Jan 16, 2009 9:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cautiously optimistic

I’m trying to keep my hopes in check to some degree, but I still feel like this change at DC will create a better defense than what we had before. Some may fear change at this coaching position, but I certainly don’t. This will produce way more results than picking up a player at any position on defense because changing the DC means changing the overall defensive scheme, which we could all clearly see over the past two seasons wasn’t working.

Some players on defense didn’t seem to be buying into it or Gibbs’ instruction (i.e. the Henderson report that Gibbs told Harper and David to not let Hester behind them on that play in OT at Soldier Field, but they did anyway). That kind of confusion or lack of player attention seems to necessitate a change at the top. Williams is definitely no savior or the guy who’s always had all the right answers in the past, but I can’t help but feel like he will get more out of his players by expecting more accountability from them than Gibbs did.

I think our D players need a hardass like Williams breathing down their necks when they don’t follow instruction or when they consistently screw up. Gibbs didn’t seem like the type to do that enough and so we saw his players (especially in the secondary; I’m talking about you Jason David) consistently get beat by WR’s or not get any pressure on opposing QBs. I gladly say goodbye to “Gibbs’ Gumbo” and welcome what will hopefully become the Saints’ version of the “Williams Wall.” There’s no guarantee the defense will be better next season, but I really like the odds so far that it will be an improvement over keeping Gibbs in place and sticking with the status quo.

Thanks to Brian for his insight into Williams (Go Bills!). I agree with him that we don’t need Williams to come in and instantly create a top 5, Ravens-style defense in order to reach the playoffs and attain postseason success. If our Payton/Brees offense keeps rolling like it has been, we just need a top 15 defense at worst to kick some ass next year and contribute to winning 11+ games.

I eagerly await this offseason to see what other moves Loomis and Payton will make. I’ve had my frustrations with Payton in the past (see Deuce rants), but he seems intent on doing whatever is necessary to win a Super Bowl, including kicking a friend like Gary to the curb when the writing is clearly there on the wall. Cautiously optimistic? Yes I am, but without this change at DC, I don’t think I would be at all optimistic at this point about next season success.

Go Saints!!!!

by satchmo26 on Jan 16, 2009 11:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs