Karlos Williams didn’t play much as a true freshman for Florida State as he struggled to grasp defensive coordinator Mark Stoops’ schemes. But that has changed in 2012.
Williams has 15 tackles and has broken up two passes this season.
“The more I matured and the more I got comfortable with the defense, the more playing time I would see,” Williams said. “It definitely depended on me. If I wasn’t prepared to play, I wasn’t going to play. That’s the way Stoops runs things.”
There were high expectations from the start for a player considered the top defensive back in the nation in the class of 2011. But Williams has shown his improvement and is often lining up as a safety in FSU’s “six pack,” a defense that features six defensive backs and has been used often to counter passing attacks from teams like Boston College, Miami and Duke.
Williams had just eight tackles, mostly on special teams, a year ago. The experience this season on defense and special teams will only help Williams in the long term.
“Next year is going to be a big time for me,” Williams said. “Right now, this is game experience. Getting the speed of the game, not only on special teams but in the six pack.”
Injury update: Fisher said a few FSU players, including tailback James Wilder and right tackle Menelik Watson, would miss a few days of practice during the bye week while recovering from minor injuries. Both are expected to return this weekend, when FSU begins its preparations for the Virginia Tech game.
Practice schedule: FSU has a bye week leading into a Nov. 8 showdown at Virginia Tech and didn't take much time off. The Seminoles did not practice on Sunday and Monday but returned to the practice field today. Because FSU's next game is on a Thursday night, Fisher has adjusted the normal weekly practice routine. FSU will practice Wednesday and Thursday, take Friday off and then practice Saturday through Tuesday before flying up to Blacksburg, Va., on Nov. 7.
