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Rex Ryan doesn't wish Mario Williams well with the Dolphins

Andrew Innerarity-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Former Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams was vocal about his distaste for dropping into coverage in Rex Ryan's defensive schemes in 2015, and now that he's on the Miami Dolphins, his former head coach is responding.

Ryan attempted to downplay his top defensive players' frustration while in-season, but with Williams out the door, he felt comfortable to take some shots, according to Jenny Vrentas of the MMQB.

"Now look, with some of the comments (Williams made), do I wish him well? Not really," Ryan said. "But, he's on Miami. If he would have gone somewhere else, maybe. He's a good kid, but I am used to some mean motherf---ers that play out there. The Terrell Suggs, Jarrett Johnsons of the world. I screwed them, too; I had them drop (into coverage), too. Not one of them bitched."

It's clear Williams never fit the mold of what Ryan believes is a defensive player. Though he totaled 38 sacks with the Bills in three seasons prior to Ryan's hiring, he was only able to notch five in 2015. Strictly getting after the quarterback is what Williams is best at, but Ryan argues some of the league's best pass rushers possess versatility.

"Von Miller (dropped into coverage) in the Super Bowl. Why? Because that's what's asked of him; that's what his job is. Your job is to play. Coaches spend a hell of a lot more time studying tape and everything else. They are trying to put the team in the best position to be successful, not an individual."

Ryan goes on to cite Suggs and Ray Lewis as examples of players that thrived statistically in his scheme, again making the point that Williams' failures were due to attitude and not skillset.

"Terrell Suggs, he has been the defensive Player of the Year in this league. Ed Reed has been. Ray Lewis has been. You can go right down the line. Trevor Pryce had 14 sacks as a defensive tackle. One of the most unselfish guys you've ever seen. That's what it is about. I'll never forget, I used to have Ray sell out for maybe the 11th guy on defense. Ray Lewis is going to be one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game, if not the greatest. That's when you've got something special, and that's what we are trying to build here."

Williams will get two opportunities per season to make Ryan eat his words.

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