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Some people have wondered how the reputable Jeff Fisher could partner up with former outlaw Gregg Williams. But people who understand them and the St. Louis Rams wondered how Fisher could not hire Williams to be his defensive coordinator.
Fisher and Williams are a match because they come from the same place philosophically. One of Fisher's primary influences was Buddy Ryan. Fisher played for him in Chicago, and it was Ryan who convinced Fisher to coach. Ryan also was an influence on Williams, as they worked together for the Houston Oilers in 1993. So when Jack Pardee hired Fisher to replace Ryan as his Oilers defensive coordinator the following year, Fisher and Williams clicked.
When Fisher replaced Pardee as the Oilers' head coach, he retained Williams—and eventually promoted him to defensive coordinator. For a number of years, their defense was the last remaining to resemble Ryan's old defenses with the Bears and Eagles. In fact, in 2000 their league-leading defense helped the Titans to a 13-3 record.
It isn't remembered much outside of Tennessee because the Baltimore Ravens defense overshadowed it, but the Titans' performance that year helped Williams to his first head-coaching job in Buffalo.
After 14 years apart, they find themselves together again, trying to recreate the kind of defense the Titans played back in the day. But it won't be exactly the same. The defense, and both men, have evolved.
John Russell/Associated Press
"When Jim [Schwartz] took over the defense in Tennessee, it changed a little bit," Fisher told Bleacher Report. "Gregg went in a little different direction with the defense too. He's done an outstanding job wherever he has been. He's approached things differently year to year depending on where he has been based on the strengths of the football team. When they won the Super Bowl in New Orleans, they had a highly explosive offense, so the objective of the defense was: don't give up home runs, make people drive the football and get it back.
"And as we are seeing some changes in offensive philosophy with a splash of the read-option, I think we've done a good job the last two years here. He'll continue with that. But his version of the defense is still a defense I'm familiar with. And it's a defense players will really like to play in."
Williams' "new" Rams defense really isn't that much different from the defense the Rams have been using. Fisher recognized some of the old Williams trademarks when he was watching 2013 tape from the Titans, as Williams was a defensive assistant in Tennessee last season.
When Fisher came to the Rams in 2012, he hired Williams as his defensive coordinator. Prior to being suspended as a result of the Bountygate scandal, Williams installed his defense. The Rams used it that season with Williams' son Blake Williams mostly in charge, and they used it to a great degree last season with Tim Walton calling the signals.
Fisher and Williams grew apart after Williams' suspension. Fisher wasn't very happy about Williams' involvement in the scandal and what it did to his organization. And Williams wasn't very happy about Fisher firing his son after the 2012 season. But Fisher said they talked things out and are over it. Now they are back to being coaching brothers.
Fisher said he has no qualms about making his bed with Williams. "Gregg has come to terms with things," he said. "He did what he needed to do.
"He kept things in perspective. He is passionate about the game. I think he has a good relationship with the commissioner [Roger Goodell] and the commissioner has respect for him with how he handled everything. I think Gregg is eager and anxious to get back."
In Fisher's third season in St. Louis, he needs someone like Williams to help get the Rams over the top. Playing in football's toughest division, the Rams are searching for every edge they can find.
What really is significant is Williams and Fisher have some tools to work with, and there almost assuredly are more tools coming with the Rams having the second, 13th, 44th and 75th picks in the draft.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
Defensive end Robert Quinn led the NFC in sacks and was the PFWA defensive player of the year. Fisher said he thought defensive end Chris Long rushed the passer so well that he could have had 10 more sacks than the 8.5 he had. He expressed confidence that young defensive backs Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins and T.J. McDonald will continue to make more plays.
And he believes linebacker Alec Ogletree, who led the Rams in tackles and had six forced fumbles, could do big things in his second season. "He was still seeing things for the first time through the middle part of the season, but he is a playmaker," Fisher said. "He's going to be an outstanding player."
Fisher believes Williams can help develop the young talent on the Rams and make the defense a more cohesive unit. "We're chasing the other three teams in our division right now," Fisher said. "But I think we're closing the gap."
Fisher and Williams are a match because they come from the same place philosophically. One of Fisher's primary influences was Buddy Ryan. Fisher played for him in Chicago, and it was Ryan who convinced Fisher to coach. Ryan also was an influence on Williams, as they worked together for the Houston Oilers in 1993. So when Jack Pardee hired Fisher to replace Ryan as his Oilers defensive coordinator the following year, Fisher and Williams clicked.
When Fisher replaced Pardee as the Oilers' head coach, he retained Williams—and eventually promoted him to defensive coordinator. For a number of years, their defense was the last remaining to resemble Ryan's old defenses with the Bears and Eagles. In fact, in 2000 their league-leading defense helped the Titans to a 13-3 record.
It isn't remembered much outside of Tennessee because the Baltimore Ravens defense overshadowed it, but the Titans' performance that year helped Williams to his first head-coaching job in Buffalo.
After 14 years apart, they find themselves together again, trying to recreate the kind of defense the Titans played back in the day. But it won't be exactly the same. The defense, and both men, have evolved.
John Russell/Associated Press
"When Jim [Schwartz] took over the defense in Tennessee, it changed a little bit," Fisher told Bleacher Report. "Gregg went in a little different direction with the defense too. He's done an outstanding job wherever he has been. He's approached things differently year to year depending on where he has been based on the strengths of the football team. When they won the Super Bowl in New Orleans, they had a highly explosive offense, so the objective of the defense was: don't give up home runs, make people drive the football and get it back.
"And as we are seeing some changes in offensive philosophy with a splash of the read-option, I think we've done a good job the last two years here. He'll continue with that. But his version of the defense is still a defense I'm familiar with. And it's a defense players will really like to play in."
Williams' "new" Rams defense really isn't that much different from the defense the Rams have been using. Fisher recognized some of the old Williams trademarks when he was watching 2013 tape from the Titans, as Williams was a defensive assistant in Tennessee last season.
When Fisher came to the Rams in 2012, he hired Williams as his defensive coordinator. Prior to being suspended as a result of the Bountygate scandal, Williams installed his defense. The Rams used it that season with Williams' son Blake Williams mostly in charge, and they used it to a great degree last season with Tim Walton calling the signals.
Fisher and Williams grew apart after Williams' suspension. Fisher wasn't very happy about Williams' involvement in the scandal and what it did to his organization. And Williams wasn't very happy about Fisher firing his son after the 2012 season. But Fisher said they talked things out and are over it. Now they are back to being coaching brothers.
Fisher said he has no qualms about making his bed with Williams. "Gregg has come to terms with things," he said. "He did what he needed to do.
"He kept things in perspective. He is passionate about the game. I think he has a good relationship with the commissioner [Roger Goodell] and the commissioner has respect for him with how he handled everything. I think Gregg is eager and anxious to get back."
In Fisher's third season in St. Louis, he needs someone like Williams to help get the Rams over the top. Playing in football's toughest division, the Rams are searching for every edge they can find.
What really is significant is Williams and Fisher have some tools to work with, and there almost assuredly are more tools coming with the Rams having the second, 13th, 44th and 75th picks in the draft.
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
Defensive end Robert Quinn led the NFC in sacks and was the PFWA defensive player of the year. Fisher said he thought defensive end Chris Long rushed the passer so well that he could have had 10 more sacks than the 8.5 he had. He expressed confidence that young defensive backs Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins and T.J. McDonald will continue to make more plays.
And he believes linebacker Alec Ogletree, who led the Rams in tackles and had six forced fumbles, could do big things in his second season. "He was still seeing things for the first time through the middle part of the season, but he is a playmaker," Fisher said. "He's going to be an outstanding player."
Fisher believes Williams can help develop the young talent on the Rams and make the defense a more cohesive unit. "We're chasing the other three teams in our division right now," Fisher said. "But I think we're closing the gap."