Williams a victim of a dirty play, not an accident

Ricky Williams found out the price for trying to recover a fumble against the Steelers Monday night was the end of his season. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

MAILBAG Dr. Z will answer select user questions each week in his NFL mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Rick Cranford of Seattle is my E-mailer of the Week for sending me back to my tape for something I'd originally overlooked. Rick points out that on the play that Ricky Williams was injured Monday night, OLB Lawrence Timmons, subbing for Clark Haggans, came down on Williams' back with his cleated shoe. He said it looked deliberate. He was surprised that neither the announcing crew nor Sports Illustrated's game notes made any mention of the play.

I remember seeing it at the time, but the idea of something like that is just so alien to what I'm used to that I glossed right over it. After I read his e-mail I ran the play back, both at regular speed and slow motion. It looked as if Timmons, in hurdling No. 70, Dolphin tackle L.J. Shelton, inadvertently came down on Williams' back. But then the replay, close up, showed Timmons deliberately veering off and coming down hard with his left foot to pin Williams to the ground and keep him from recovering his fumble. An absolutely filthy play, and I'm glad Rick pointed it out to me and annoyed that it didn't strike home right away. Wonder how the league is going to handle this one -- if at all.

At least two loyal readers have anointed me defensive coordinator for the purpose of stopping some of the game's more dynamic forces. Art of Trumansburg, N.Y. (Do you know who the town was named for? It was John Burg), would like to see a corner play T.O. or Randy Moss tough, and steer them inside, where a linebacker or safety would level them. In the old days, that was a go. Now a guy can get a jam within five yards, but the second guy can't touch him unless he's also within that five-yard zone, and that would be unlikely. You're right, though, that an early jam is essential on both these dudes.

Craig of Spartanburg (you know, I think I answered one from you already because I remember that you left out the S.C. designation that time, too) wants my defensive game plan for slowing down the Patriots, particularly Moss and Welker. Jam Moss hard at the line. I still remember when he was a senior at Marshall and they played in the Motor City Bowl, two little cornerbacks from Ole Miss took turns jamming him at the line and took him right out of his game. I wrote at the time that the NFL corners would jam him right out of the league. Didn't exactly happen. Anyway, don't give him a clean release, but make sure the corner has help in back, just in case of a whiff.

Stallworth and Gaffney? Well, they're dangerous because they get single coverage, since the bulk of it goes to Moss. I'd just play them straight up ... they weren't exactly superstars before they came to New England. Welker, though, is a huge problem because of his quickness. I'm thinking of how the Giants defensed the Bills' K-Gun in the '91 Super Bowl. Left their linebackers on the field and just bludgeoned the receivers after the catch. By the second half they were dropping the ball. I hate to suggest such treatment for Welker because I like him so much, but ... you know. Let him catch the ball in front of you and then pummel him.

The overall game plan would have to show a rush scheme you'd never used before, so the Patriots can't do a film study. Sell out with DBs coming off the corners, or maybe through the interior gaps in tandem, the second one on a delayed basis. Periodically drop your interior rushers into the short zones, and concede the running inside, because that's not what's going to beat you. If it gets to be a problem, hit the gaps with a run-blitzing safetyman, or maybe two of them. The trick is to guess the proper gap. The whole key is relentless pressure on Brady, from unexpected angles. Without it, you'll be eaten up.

How important is winning the first game of the season? So asks Mike of Philadelphia. Not very. I can't even remember the first games.

Good theory from Chris of Bethlehem, where they really do Christmas the right way ... wait a minute, this is Bethlehem, Pa. If you've got a back who comes up as a talented runner, but also shows real skill as a receiver, then make a decision with him. One or the other, and work on that skill. Ergo, Reggie Bush should concentrate on his pass-catching talents. Sometimes they change during their careers, as Calvin Hill and Preston Pearson did. Marshall Faulk always was a dangerous runner, but he became even more dangerous as a slot receiver. Regarding Bush, I would tend to agree with you. I think he's more dangerous catching the ball. And thank you for your kind p.s.

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