There were times when Gregg Williams admits losing it on the sidelines over safety Sean Taylor freelancing on a play. The Washington Redskins defensive boss would melt down only to have Taylor tell him to get over it and move on to the next play.
Williams smiled when remembering his prized pupil Thursday. Williams and Taylor were close despite often clashing during their first three seasons together. Williams’ rigid manner chased LaVar Arrington after the three-time Pro Bowler couldn’t adapt to the former’s system. He didn’t use high-priced free agent Adam Archuleta last season. Taylor was worth the effort, though.
Taylor’s death on Tuesday has resonated through Redskins Park and the Washington area, but no one probably mourns the slain safety more than Williams. Teammates said Taylor was like a son to Williams. The coach doesn’t disagree. When hearing Taylor was dead early Tuesday from a gunshot wound, Williams said the moment was almost like the pair was on the sideline arguing again.
“I felt a presence and the presence I felt was ‘Coach, that play’s over, get onto the next. I’m watching you,’ ” Williams said. “I don’t think you ever get over it. He’s looking at me right now making sure I answer that question right. He’s going to measure me every single day and I think that strength I get from him.”
For four years, Williams has glowingly talked of Taylor during post-practice chats. Williams doesn’t say everyone is great, but Taylor was obviously special to him. Taylor even bonded with Williams’ two sons, a surprising closeness given Taylor would sometimes use his great ability rather than follow Williams’ scheme. Anyone else would have been gone, much less invited home for dinner.
“I have three kids that are very, very close to him and this has been devastating to them,” Williams said. “My two sons treated him like three brothers. They were the Three Amigos. One of the things they always ribbed and laughed with me about was Sean would say, ‘You know what. I get the [butt] chewings during the day and you must get them at night.’ . . . [My son Chase] wears 21 because dad said that Sean Taylor is the best player he ever coached.”
It didn’t matter there were many moments of “tough love,” sometimes on a daily basis. Taylor needed someone to challenge him.
“There were a couple times I drew lines in the sand [Taylor] appreciated that toughness and that discipline,” Williams said. “He needed that. To his credit, he made some tremendous life changes. I can lay my head down and know that a couple of those things I asked him to do he did.”
Indeed, Williams recently joked to Taylor that he would one day repeat those disciplinary talks with his 18-month-old daughter. Then Taylor would truly understand Williams.
“I had an opportunity to see him at Point A and had an opportunity to influence him to Point B,” Williams said. “It’s just a shame we’re not going to see Point C.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
