AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 22
Friday, December 22, 2006
Starting Williams the smart move
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry, folks. My bad on the lack of a blog yesterday. I thought I sent it into the good folks on the AJC.com desk, but I typed in a wrong letter in the server address and the blog never made it.
I’m going to stick with the same blog I meant to send because I think it’s definitely worthy of discussion — especially since many of you have been blogging about this for months.
The anticipated insertion of rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams into the starting lineup has arrived. Williams will start against the Carolina Panthers Sunday and, most likely for the rest of the season, unless he completely flops.
The Falcons drafted Williams (6-2, 215) out of Virginia Tech to combat bigger receivers like Carolina’s Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 211) so they are going to see if their investment was worth it, even in a make-or-break time of the season. Allen Rossum (5-8, 178) had started at right cornerback for the past month, but teams have taken advantage of his lack of stature.
Williams has actually started three times this season, but against two-tight end packages or in nickel schemes. This is the first time he will open in the base defense. He will also remain on the field in nickel packages.
Though there might be some concerns starting Williams at this point, when the Falcons pretty much have to win their final two games to make the playoffs, but the coaching staff feels they don’t have anything to lose, especially since Williams has played well the past two games.
Williams is very physical at the point of attack and he is strong in run support. Williams is going to get beat at times — he does not have the burst out of his break like fellow corner and VaTechie DeAngelo Hall — but the Falcons are going to give him help over the top with a safety and in the slot at times with a linebacker.
This doesn’t seem like that much of a gamble to me, especially since Williams seems to have more potential to make a game-changing play, either with a fumble-causing hit or an interception, than Rossum or Jason Webster, the one-time starter who is recovering from a torn groin injury.
