Scott Shanle on Gregg Williams’ ill-advised blitz: ‘Can’t tell you how many times we ran that’

The Jets fired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams after a game-losing blitz, which didn’t surprise former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle.

[jwplayer bkTLtv5e-ThvAeFxT]

New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams shocked the football world on Sunday when he called a cover zero all-out blitz in the final seconds against the Las Vegas Raiders, having put an undrafted rookie cornerback on first-round Olympic-quality athlete Henry Ruggs III with the game on the line. Ruggs predictably smoked his opponent on a vertical route, and the lack of safety help over the top set him up for the game-winning touchdown catch.

It was enough to cost Williams his job, as well as the ire of nearly everyone in the NFL’s orbit. But New Orleans Saints fans weren’t surprised at the poor decision by Williams, who served as their team’s D.C. from 2009 to 2011. Neither was former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle, who played under Williams.

What’s a little odd is that Shanle defended his old coach, saying on Twitter: “Can’t tell you how many times we ran that pressure but had cornerbacks smart enough not to bite on a double move.”

Shanle also pointed to the obvious — noting that the Jets are probably firing everyone are what’s shaping up to be an 0-16 season, meaning Williams chose to go down fighting with an on-brand reckless blitz rather than a safer, more conventional approach.

But Williams has lost so many games with bad decisions like this that you’d think he had learned his lesson; the Saints’ 2011 divisional round classic ended with a similar play call in which San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis cut between the zones to catch a game-winning touchdown pass with Saints safety Roman Harper trailing in coverage.

So, yeah, Shanle is recalling correctly that the Saints ran a lot of these all-out blitzes, betting that the pressure would get home before the quarterback could finish his drop and get a pass off. But too often Williams’ aggression worked against him, and in one case it cost the Saints a Super Bowl bid. Maybe he just remembers it differently.

[listicle id=41164]