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DEL.ICIO.USMinicamp key for White, Williams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons kick off a three-day minicamp Friday, which is not open to the public.
All 11 draft picks, college free agents and veterans are expected to attend, although it is still uncertain if nose tackle Grady Jackson will be present. Jackson, who is suing the team, has missed all offseason workouts, including a voluntary pre-draft minicamp.
This will be an important minicamp for a lot of players, most notably the rookies. Two players worth following, though, are wide receiver Roddy White and free safety Jimmy Williams.
After two years, it’s time for the gifted White to show if he’s going to emerge as a reliable NFL receiver. Because of dropped passes, he has been unable to hold on to a starting job. The addition of Joe Horn seemingly has moved him to the No. 3 spot, behind Horn and Michael Jenkins.
The Falcons also drafted Laurent Robinson out of Illinois State in the third round. The move could have been made as insurance in case veteran Brian Finneran isn’t fully healed from torn knee ligaments that kept him from playing all last season. Even so, Robinson could be a threat to move into the top-three rotation if White doesn’t overcome the inconsistency that has limited him from prospering.
As for Williams, he returns to the position he grew up playing. Williams was moved from safety to cornerback during spring drills during his sophomore year at Virginia Tech and remained there until the recent drafting of Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston, a move the Falcons said facilitated moving Williams to free safety.
Williams will be competing with incumbent Chris Crocker but if Williams can re-adapt, which he said should not be a problem, he likely will be the starter. He has the size and physical temperament to succeed at free safety but he has to learn to be the quarterback of the defense.
Williams said he might regain some of the 10 pounds he lost to get down to 205 to play corner but he doesn’t expect, at this point, to rapidly get back to 215.
Another player of interest is rookie outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas, who will be filling in for injured outside linebacker Demorrio Williams (torn pectoral muscles). Nicholas could be needed to start at weakside outside ‘backer during the early part of the regular season and his rapid adaptation to Atlanta’s scheme is very important.
Comments
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By vickisick
May 7, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
jimmy williams is a solid DB who is versatile enough to play man-to-man or zone at CB or FS. it will be interesting to see if roddy white is going to be a legitimate contributor to this team in the fall.
By jg
May 7, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Roddy will have the best season of all our wideouts.
Jimmy’s move to FS is the best thing for our defense. Despite the ‘holes’ we still have on our roster, we’ll go 9-7 and could squeeze into that last playoff spot.
By NASDAQ
May 7, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
I think that Roddey will be a bench warmer this year, but Jimmy will make an impact instantly at safety.
By uga_b
May 7, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
From what I remember Roddy is a decent special teamer, so he better concentrate on that aspect to beat out Jennings who can also return kicks.
By ScoobySnacks
May 7, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
I wonder what the impact of losing weight to become a better cb will have on Williams as a FS. I hope he can regain his power and size enough to be effective. From what I’ve seen, the kid has some talent. I just hope the time transitioning to an NFL corner won’t hurt him in his attempt to be an impact Safety.
By j-rock
May 7, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
Could Roddy White be the TJ Duckett of this season.A young player who could serve as a trading piece for the falcons to fill a position of need(Defensive tackle).Excited about Jimmy Williams in the starting line-up.He will provide much needed toughness and energy in the secondary.He must learn the playbook inside and out though.Don’t know much about Nicholas but let’s hope they don’t ask to much of him,maybe blitz him alot.Although he isn’t very popular,Grady Jackson will be the biggest lose from the falcons defense this year.I loved Patrick Kerney but I believe Jam 98 will be a good replacement.With the anticipated departure of webster and rossum(hopefully) that should take some of the more easy receptions away from recievers this season.As falcons fans we should all hope for speedy returns for Coleman and D.Williams.Until then,rookies and young players must step up to the challenge that coach petrino puts in front of them. GO Falcons!!!!!
By Poor McKay
May 7, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Finneran will get cut if he isn’t 100%. Let’s face it, we’re rebuilding. If this caoching staff can take the entire season to coach-up White and Jenkins, then it will be worth the sacrifice of Finneran in the long run. With Finneran, we may go 7-9, without him, 6-10… what’s the difference? I’d rather have the few extra dollars and give the youngeer receivers time with proven tutors (OC Jackson and Lil Petrino), than rely on older bodies like Horn and Finneran to deliver 1 extra meaningless win.
By gdg73
May 7, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Jimmy Williams is one of my least concerns. This guy has talent and can play ball, plain and simple. We now look pretty good at the safety position. I believe Joe Horn and Hue Jackson will have a huge impact on the the overall play of our wide receivers. For the first time in their careers, Roddy and Jenkins will be finally COACHED on and off the field by too people who know the position. George Stewart didn’t know the first thing about coaching wide receivers. T.O. probably learned more from Jerry Rice than he did from Stewart when all three were in S.F. No wonder J.J. Stokes never amounted to anything.
By Jay Black
May 7, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
Roddy should have been cut after that New Orleans game last year!
By terrell barron
May 7, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
I HEARD IAN SCOTT WAS SIGNED. I KNEW THE FALCONS SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED A DEFENSIVE TACKLE. HAD A 3RD AND 2 4THS TO GET A GOOD DT. IM NOT SOLD ON TREY LEWIS.
By Jay Black
May 7, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
Trade Roddy and Jenkins for some defensive talent and depth maybe at DT. Then we will be a force to be reckoned with.
By honest_abe
May 7, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this
based on what jg? i’m just like any other falcons fan and hope this is roddy’s break out year. but, i’ve yet to see why he won’t be the same bust he’s been years before. what’s changed for roddy? is a new coach and system enough? i hope so.
jimmy williams will bring the wood. i hope the transition from corner to safey is as easy as most people are believing. i hope so.
anybody seen any tape of laurent?
By Greedy
May 7, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this
Rodddy white does not need to be traded. he is very talented . he just needs to hold on to the ball. He will have a break out year. I have looked at all the film on him last year and he had some big plays. He just needs to hold onto the football. He has blazeing speed though! He will have alot of freedom this year.
By singletary
May 7, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
If Roddy doesn’t catch everything that is thrown within his diving arm lengths this pre-season, he should be cut. I don’t think anyone in the league would give us a warm beer for him now.
I like the sound of the S and CB, but I’m still concerned about depth and LB. As Brooking gets older, I think we need to move him back to his favorite position and attempt to obtain a brainy & bruising. MLB.
By JeffD
May 7, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
This is Roddy White’s third year. Most WR’s struggle during their second year and “break-out” during their third year. Let’s hope Roddy White follows form.
Steve,
This weekend, John Clayton reported that despite reports to the contrary, Rod Coleman is likely to miss the entire season. Do you know whether there is any validity to that?
By Ken Strickland
May 7, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
Don’t worry about RWhite. He caught everything thrown his way after the dropped TD pass against the Saints. He just increased his concentration. Our passing OFF will no longer lead the NFL in least amount of passing attempts. The majority of the dropped passes last yr were on 3rd down, which were drive killers.
We simply need to cut down on the dropped passes, errant throws, and increase our yds after the catch. We’ll be a much more balanced OFF team, and a much better DEF team. And most importantly, we will be a better coached team, on both sides of the ball.
By Jay Black
May 7, 2007 5:32 PM | Link to this
Roddy aint proven nothin but his 40 speed. How can a receiver be talented and not be able to hold on to the ball, which is his primary job? How is that talent?
By Tia
May 7, 2007 5:35 PM | Link to this
Strangely enough I think this year Roddy is going to prove to be more valuable than Michael Jenkins…..
I think Roddy will justify being a first round pick. I think Michael Jenkins is 2nd string at best. Either way, both are expendable after this year if they don’t step up. I think of the two Roddy is the only one who has the capacity to do so.
By Singletary
May 7, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
One more thought: Did we not learn our lesson on the importance of KICKING last year? The vent comment about renewing the Feely years is optimistic, I think. Surely there is another MONEY kicker out there, even if he’s not perfect like Adam Vinatieri.
By Falcon
May 7, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Roddy made some of the best catches of the season for a Falcon wideout and is the only true deep threat on the roster. He has a far more legitimate chance to be an above average receiver than Jenkins.
By Maxxwell
May 7, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
Roddy White has to be more consistent. If Brian Finneran is healthy, I think he should be heavier in the rotation than Roddy White unless White really steps up his game and starts to play like he potentially can. Hopefully Stephen Nicholas will be a playmaker, but my question is what is the deal with Jordan Beck? This guy looked great in preseason his rookie year before he got hurt, he was great on special teams last year, and I was wondering why we would start a rookie outside instead of putting Keith Brooking and Boley outside and giving Jordan Beck a shot at the Mike. Why Steve, Why?
By long time falcon
May 7, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this
I will wait and see on roddy before passing judgement. The third year for wide receivers is usally the charm. I can rememeber when everyone thought that eric moulds was going to be a bust and he exploded in his third season. Maybe roddy will do the same this year.
By E.Hill
May 7, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
Roddie White should have been cut at the end of the season last year. The many camp this weakend is nothing more than a publicity stunt.