Rams' Fisher counters perceptions on 'D'

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

-X-

Medium-sized Lebowski
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
35,576
Name
The Dude
Mike Sando
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post?id=58626

INDIANAPOLIS — Greg Williams' reputation as a high-risk, high-reward defensive coordinator came to mind when the St. Louis Rams hired him to fill the role under new coach Jeff Fisher.

williams.jpg


Would the Rams become less fundamentally sound? Williams' most recent team, New Orleans, sent five or more pass-rushers with league-leading frequency, sometimes giving up big plays.

"Gregg has a reputation of hitting the quarterback," Fisher said from Super Bowl headquarters, "but it's not at all costs. There is a method to the madness and it's a very sound scheme."

The chart breaks out the Tennessee Titans' defensive stats for parts of Fisher's tenure as head coach. The column labeled "No GW" shows stats for the three seasons before and three seasons after Williams was coordinator under Fisher. The column labeled "GW" shows stats for the 1997-2000 seasons, when Williams was coordinator.

Sacks and forced fumbles increased under Williams. Points allowed decreased. A lot of the other stats stayed about the same.

Other factors beyond Williams affected the numbers, but these stats give us a basis for discussion, at least.

"The flexibility on defense is extraordinary," Fisher said. "We are going to build this defense around the players we have, and as we get better, we'll continue to reshape it."

We should expect the Rams to force more turnovers and improve against the run. They forced 24 fumbles in 2011, about the average for Tennessee during those three-year windows before and after Williams.
 

-X-

Medium-sized Lebowski
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
35,576
Name
The Dude
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2
I just ran some numbers on Williams real quick, because I was interested to see how his "opportunistic" defenses fared under different head coaches. These are strictly his numbers relative to turnover ratio as a DC, and I didn't include when he was HC in Buffalo.

TITANS
1997: +6 (9th)
1998: EVEN (15th)
1999: +18 (2nd) = Superbowl
2000: EVEN (16th)

REDSKINS
2004: -1 (20th)
2005: +1 (14th)
2006: -5 (23rd)
2007: -5 (21st)

JAGUARS
2008: -7 (25th)

SAINTS
2009: +11 (3rd) = Superbowl
2010: -6 (23rd)
2011: -3 (19th)

Looks like a + double-digit turnover ratio = Superbowl. And, it doesn't hurt to have Brees and McNair as your QB on offense either. Probably gave him many more opportunities to get silly with his defense.
 

JdashSTL

Pro Bowler
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
1,178
But can we find a way to sign Darren Sharper so he can have a bunch of INTs and and pick-6's?? :bign: