Saintswrath

In a week that requires in-depth analysis and constant breakdown of the upcoming Vikings-Saints matchup in the NFC title game, one of the story lines is going to be quarterback Brett Favre going against a New Orleans defense led by coordinator Gregg Williams.
Williams has been around the NFL for a long time, but this is his first season in New Orleans after a failed one-year stop in Jacksonville. Williams has been praised for some of the work he has done with various teams through the years and is known as a disciple of Buddy Ryan. Favre said Wednesday during his news conference that he was sure he had faced Williams a "fair amount" but wasn't sure of the exact number.
Well, here it is. Favre has gone against Williams' defenses four times during his career. All came when Favre was with Green Bay -- no surprise considering he spent 16 years with the Packers -- and all resulted in victories for Favre's team. A perfect 4-0.
This included victories in 1998 when Williams was the defensive coordinator for Tennessee, in 2002 when Williams was the Buffalo Bills' head coach and in 2004 and 2007 when Williams was the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins. (Williams, you might recall, was one of the hot names thrown around early in the Vikings coaching search back in 2006.)
But while Favre's record is spotless, his statistics against Williams' defenses aren't going to exactly wow you. In the four games, he has completed 68 of 124 passes (a 54.8 completion percentage) for 844 yards with five touchdowns, seven interceptions and seven sacks.
In the 2004 victory over the Redskins, Favre threw three interceptions and only one touchdown and in the 2007 game he had two picks and no touchdowns and passed for only 188 yards.
"I think with his defenses, he gives you a lot of looks," Favre said of Williams. "For him and for those guys in that scheme, it probably is simpler than it may seem to us [or] whoever it is going against him. For example, Cover-2 is Cover-2 but how they get to it may be different each week. As he's telling his guys, 'It's still Cover-2, but this week [Darren Sharper] you may be the corner. Next week, you're obviously the safety.'
"They get pressure on you with, most of the time, five guys and sometimes four. But it's who comes. So you go in with a lot of protections. ... They try to attack you that way. Overload one way, come back the next time and overload the other. They use those types of blitzes and pressures to help in the run game as well.
"It's one of those when you look at the defense at the line of scrimmage or as you look at it on film, you go, 'That's [Cover] 2, [with a] 4-3 front.' But at the snap, it's totally different. You just can't say, 'That's what it is,' and then go on. The tendency part of it doesn't always hold up because this league is big on tendencies. He kind of breaks those. It's kind of a risk-reward type of defense and you see that it's made a huge difference for those guys."






Favre is perfect -- record wise -- vs. Williams | StarTribune.com

foreverfan

FireVenturi

If Farve has those kind of numbers as he has in the past against Williams. I think we win. Those other 4 times ha faced Farve, it wasnt with the Saints.

D_it_up

You took the words right out of my mouth. Averages out to roughly 1 TD, 2 INT's, and 2 sacks. That's a recipe for defeat against the Saints.

UK_WhoDat

Yep as soon as I saw I thought "that will do, thx"

Vike4Life

And Favre wasn't with the Vikings having the best year of his long career only throwing only 7 INT's all season and 33 TDs. It's the team not the QB.

Also, against better D's than the Saints.

B_Dub_Saint

There is only so much a scheme can do, its up to the players to play. I dont care what any stat or record says. Who ever shows up and wants it the most will win this contest. I just cant see our boys laying an egg on the biggest game of their lives.

Frankie Boog

vike4life,
Plus how are you rating the saints D. Don't forget when half the starters were out thats when the Saints D ranking went down. Look at the first 10 or 11 games, then bring your noise

homerj07

Ok if you disect this furthur you find...

98 Ag Ten - Favre & GB were perfect 30-22. They got up early & Tenn had to play catchup.

02 Against Buff - Favre was horrid with 2 ints & only 114 yards. GB had 4 Tos BUT Buff had SIX TOs (2 ints by Bledsoe) final score 10-0

04 Ag Wash Favre v Brunell (hmm - weird) Weird game 28-14 Favre threw for 3 Ints. Brunell threw 2 Ints. Rushing yards were similar BUT GB had 2 rushing TDs

Then in 07 Ag Wash Favre ag Campbell final score 14-17 BUT GB ranback a fumble for a TD.

Campbell put played Favre (2 Ints no TDs) Campbell had a passing & rushing TD & 1 Int BUT Wash had 3 total TOs

So - Favre has never faced a Greg Williams coached team this good.

With a QB like Drew (sorry I love Steve McNair - but he was no where in Drew's league)

I think this bodes amazingly well for us!!

(Oh YEAH!!)

I'll see you in Hell Candy Boys!!!

FireVenturi

Yea, you are right......he(Farve) torched the Cards.
To be honest with you....none of this matters as this is going to be a unique game like every other game played.