HELLUVA Interview - Gregg Williams
 

You came in here and had a lot of success against the Saints in 2006. Did you feel like you could punch them around and heard accusations of them being a finesse team?
I chose to be a Saint. I had many opportunities to go elsewhere. I wanted to be a New Orleans Saint. This kind of football team has been here all the time. They just had to say let the dogs out and it's been fun to see that approach being taken in our run game. Our offensive line's had to defend themselves out in practice. All of a sudden our offensive line's pretty nasty. They're finishing and it is what it is. It's a habit that you teach every single day. It's an attitude you teach every single day. I get way too much credit for X's and O's. It's a culture, it's a philosophy, it's a foundation. It's an effort level, those types of things. When you have the right type of people you can trust. We've got a quarterback you can trust. We want the ball in his hands and we've got some guys on defense that I want them to call the game. I don't call as much of the game as they think I do on Sunday. Jonathan (Vilma) and Darren (Sharper) and some of those guys in the back end and some of the guys up front, have some latitude up front in what we do. The fans are real important to that too. In order to get a home field advantage you have to have a raucous crowd. In order to win your division you have to win your home games. That's comes a part of playing defense, a part of playing defense is to have an intense defense that the fans love coming to see watch play because they're going to jump on hand grenades, knock as many people down along the way is they can, play hard-nosed, full-effort football. The fans appreciate that and they've become a part of our third down attack. They've become a part of our first down attack, a part of our goal line, red zone, attack, because that adds another 12th, 13th, 14th defender out there when you're making them have a tough time communicating.



FULL INTERVIEW

Re: HELLUVA Interview - Gregg Williams
 

LOVED what he had to say about Sharper

How do you explain Darren Sharper's start?
I'm real proud of that. When I tell you that, I can check the films the last three years. There are a lot of people, and I'm not accusing anybody here, but there are a lot of people in the media and a lot of personnel people in the National Football League that thought he was washed up. They didn't think we made a very good decision bringing him here. Look how young he looks and I think as you look and see the plays he's made, the game changing plays he's made, I'm more proud of his tackling. I'm more proud of his contact. I'm more proud of his leadership behind the scenes. It's very important for young Roman Harper to get a chance to play beside Darren Sharper for as long as he can play. I don't know how much longer he can play. It's looks like he can play for quite a while right now. He's out there racing corners. That's why I was late coming over here. He was over there racing our corners in the 40 yard dash. I was hoping he wasn't going to pull up here. Let's not get too young out there racing some of our young boys. That's the fun part of it. Attitude is everything. Pick a good one. He picks a good one every single time he comes in. The more I'm around him, the more I'm going to give him. He's earned it. When I say the more I'm going to give him, the more latitude I'm going to give him. Also, you can ask behind the scenes, I'm probably more brutal on him and Jonathan Vilma than anybody. The guys that are standing up in front and are the behind the scene leaders on our team, everybody needs to see how I treat them and leadership comes with a high price. Decision-making comes with a high price, so I've been very, very, very hard on him and he's responded. I'm very proud of his contact and the way he's tackling. He's done a great job.

Greg Williams Presser
 

Saints fans, Greg Williams knows how to answer questions, and he knows how to handle players!

I think gg is the most quotable coach since Bum Phillips. Unlike Payton, he gives you the type of answer that educated fans are looking for. I think Payton has a low regard for fan knowledge (or maybe reporters), but not gg.

Check out this quote:



It shows you how the attitude of a hard-nosed defense can filter up through the team. I credit gg for the Saints starting to lose their "finesse team" identity.

I think gg makes any reporter's questions sound intelligent. If I'm Payton, I tell gg to not give away any secrets. I wouldn't want the Dirty Bird's coaches reading that press conference!

Read the lengthy and detailed presser here. I promise it's worth your time.

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' Oct. 15 press conference transcript | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

Kewl!!!

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

[IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...TheDogsOut.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

Almost sounds like Williams is taking credit for our improved running game.

Bet that doesn't set well with Payton's ego!

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

Why not? It was Payton that ponied up some of his own money to get Greg here in the first place. Maybe Payton finally learned from some of the mistakes he made the first 3 years and is trying to fix them because this team is geared up to win now and Payton knows that

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

For some reason, I don't think Payton is worried, and I really don't think his ego is bruised any. Payton knows he is damn lucky to have Williams on his staff. Yes, a defense that actually stops opponents is great for the running game. That means you can stick with the running game for the entire game, and the longer you stick with the running game the more likely it will work. Look at the stats from say the past 5 years. Usually the team that has the most rushes in a game, is more likely to win the game.

Re: Greg Williams Presser
 

I'm just happy the Saints are playing great !!! I can't wait for this game.

Re: HELLUVA Interview - Gregg Williams
 

What is it about the Giants' defense as a defense lover that allows them to be so effective with the four-man rush?
Mike Waufle does a tremendous job there. I know him well. I've tried to hire him a time or two on a coaching job, and the contracts just didn't match up very well. They have very good talent. Anywhere you go, a Tom Coughlin team is going to be a real physical, not-beat-themselves type of football team. It starts up front with this offensive and defensive line, and they're kind of built that way. Antonio Pierce played for me. He earned a spot. He's one of the favorite guys I've ever coached. He's a guy that goes from being an undrafted free agent to making a pretty good living, a pretty good contract in the free agency market and he's done a very good job too of helping set that front and kind of allowing them to understand the tips and alerts that needs to be done with an offense. I can see that when I watch their defense.


This was a great interview.