Marcus Williams: How do you like the pick? (1 Viewer)

[LombardiGras]

Vacarro is probably gone after this year. Even if they re-sign Kenny, they have no FS on the roster. With the NFC South turning into the WAC circa 1990's, a true centerfield safety is a must. Never turn down a DB with a nose for the football. Plus, his combine performance was just just behind Melafonwu in terms of freakish ability.

This was arguably a bigger need than pass rusher.

If your point is that you really like Williams as player, I get that. But from purely a need basis, I don't see how you could argue safety being a bigger need than pass rusher. Unless you think Bell is a bust. Otherwise we had good starters and decent depth at safety.

 

[MLU]

If your point is that you really like Williams as player, I get that. But from purely a need basis, I don't see how you could argue safety being a bigger need than pass rusher. Unless you think Bell is a bust. Otherwise we had good starters and decent depth at safety.

As always, the draft isn't about "need". It's about value.

Also, Bell doesn't play the same position.

 

[Brees2Graham4Six!]

Vacarro is probably gone after this year. Even if they re-sign Kenny, they have no FS on the roster. With the NFC South turning into the WAC circa 1990's, a true centerfield safety is a must. Never turn down a DB with a nose for the football. Plus, his combine performance was just just behind Melafonwu in terms of freakish ability.

This was arguably a bigger need than pass rusher.

This. Vacarro is basically a LB he is at his worst as a deep safety in cover 2 or cover 1. For two safety high sets we needed a complement to Bell and Williams fits this bill perfectly.

 

[BlueChimay]

I did not know him. Just read very good things about this kid. A great pick.

 

[renegadewa]

Dumb pick. Not a glaring need. McMillian would've been a great pick there

Really?? 18 turnovers in 3 seasons and it's a dumb pick?? Really???

 

[zubaloo]

Though I started my academic career long ago at UNO, I ultimately ended up with a couple of degrees from the U of U, so have been watching this kid his entire career. He's got very good field, opponent, and ball awareness. Good concentration and is quick, like deceptively or game quick. I have high hopes for him in New Orleans and think he'll be a really good addition.

As a Ute I'm also glad to see some attention to my home town and away from Carolina (Jordan Gross, Star Lotulelei, Steve Smith, among others).

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

He's the fourth Ute to be drafted by the Saints, the first since 1996.

A native Californian, Williams said he has never been to New Orleans. When asked if there was anything about his new home he was looking forward to experiencing, he said meeting his new coaching staff.

Apparently for Williams, it's all business.

"I have a lot of confidence," he said. "That's the type of person you're going to be getting with me."

And some history:

Marcus Williams was a 3 star rated HS receiver that committed to Utah and had offers from Cal, Boise St, Nevada and SDSU.

He's made the most of the opportunities and challenges he's made for himself. I have high hopes for him at this level and with the Saints.

 

[MLU]

Though I started my academic career long ago at UNO, I ultimately ended up with a couple of degrees from the U of U, so have been watching this kid his entire career. He's got very good field, opponent, and ball awareness. Good concentration and is quick, like deceptively or game quick. I have high hopes for him in New Orleans and think he'll be a really good addition.

As a Ute I'm also glad to see some attention to my home town and away from Carolina (Jordan Gross, Star Lotulelei, Steve Smith, among others).

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

He's the fourth Ute to be drafted by the Saints, the first since 1996.

A native Californian, Williams said he has never been to New Orleans. When asked if there was anything about his new home he was looking forward to experiencing, he said meeting his new coaching staff.

Apparently for Williams, it's all business.

"I have a lot of confidence," he said. "That's the type of person you're going to be getting with me."

And some history:

Marcus Williams was a 3 star rated HS receiver that committed to Utah and had offers from Cal, Boise St, Nevada and SDSU.

He's made the most of the opportunities and challenges he's made for himself. I have high hopes for him at this level and with the Saints.

As someone with a full time job that doesn't involving football, I appreciate your feedback. Some notes that I have taken from scouting websites:

• The highest run-stop percentage among all Division-1 safeties.
• The No. 2 tackle efficiency rating among all Division-1 safeties.
• Can play CB if needed.
• Great ball skills facing the line of scrimmage
• Needs to work on his ball skills and tracking when his back is turned.
• Very skilled at reading the eyes of the QB and baiting into poor throws.
• Tremendous work ethic on the field and in the film room.
• Seems to enjoy talking to the offensive players.
• Only player in Power Five w/ 5+ interceptions the last two seasons.
• Had a 93rd-percentile SPARQ result at the NFL Combine.
• Scored a 34 on the Wonderlic
• Does not turn 21 until September 2017

Personally, I think he will be starting at FS this year.

 

[insidejob]

As someone with a full time job that doesn't involving football, I appreciate your feedback. Some notes that I have taken from scouting websites:

• The highest run-stop percentage among all Division-1 safeties.
  
• The No. 2 tackle efficiency rating among all Division-1 safeties.
  
• Can play CB if needed.
  
• Great ball skills facing the line of scrimmage
  
• Needs to work on his ball skills and tracking when his back is turned.
  
• Very skilled at reading the eyes of the QB and baiting into poor throws.
  
• Tremendous work ethic on the field and in the film room.
  
• Seems to enjoy talking to the offensive players.
  
• Only player in Power Five w/ 5+ interceptions the last two seasons.
  
• Had a 93rd-percentile SPARQ result at the NFL Combine.
  
• Scored a 34 on the Wonderlic
  
• Does not turn 21 until September 2017
  

Personally, I think he will be starting at FS this year.

Nice compilation of awesomeness. Thanks. Really looking forward to seeing this kid play. I read he was targeted 44 times in coverage and picked the ball off 10 times over his past two seasons. That's almost 25% of the passes thrown his way.

 

[Sumdude34]

As someone with a full time job that doesn't involving football, I appreciate your feedback. Some notes that I have taken from scouting websites:

• The highest run-stop percentage among all Division-1 safeties.
• The No. 2 tackle efficiency rating among all Division-1 safeties.
• Can play CB if needed.
• Great ball skills facing the line of scrimmage
• Needs to work on his ball skills and tracking when his back is turned.
• Very skilled at reading the eyes of the QB and baiting into poor throws.
• Tremendous work ethic on the field and in the film room.
• Seems to enjoy talking to the offensive players.
• Only player in Power Five w/ 5+ interceptions the last two seasons.
• Had a 93rd-percentile SPARQ result at the NFL Combine.
• Scored a 34 on the Wonderlic
• Does not turn 21 until September 2017

Personally, I think he will be starting at FS this year.

I found these run D stats surprising because ESPN absolutely TRASHED his ability as a run stopper. They said he was soft and didn't like to force the issue. Glad to hear that they might be wrong on that.

I agree with you that there is a good chance he could be our starter come week one. When I look at him play, he's honestly just like Byrd (which I am saying as a good thing). I was really worried about this year because Byrd did some serious work completely shutting down the middle of the field in coverage for us last year when we played man with our corners on the outside, and I didn't think we were going to be able to replace him with Bell or Bush. Williams is very instinctual, just like Byrd, which helps not only with getting picks, but with taking away receivers and shutting down the middle of the field. Getting beat by WRs on the outside is one thing but if you are constantly getting torched by TEs up the seam and WRs on post routes then your defense has no chance. Of course no one ever sees those plays if they aren't INTs, but they are big for a defense. Byrd took a lot of that away last year (although I know no one wants to admit it) and I think Williams plays like that as well. I'm really excited about the pick and I think he has the potential and ability to be the Byrd that played in BUF, not NOLA. We got a good one!

 

[JvilleJoe]

He was a great pick and fills the deep safety role that we really did not have in recent years. Byrd was supposed to fill that but injuries and other factors did not result in an effective back end of our defense. Every pre-draft publication I have read rated Williams very high as a safety and by all accounts he may be a plug and play type of guy. In short, IMO great choice at a critical position on our defense with the passing games we will confront this year in the NFC South.

 

[MLU]

I found these run D stats surprising because ESPN absolutely TRASHED his ability as a run stopper. They said he was soft and didn't like to force the issue. Glad to hear that they might be wrong on that.

I agree with you that there is a good chance he could be our starter come week one. When I look at him play, he's honestly just like Byrd (which I am saying as a good thing). I was really worried about this year because Byrd did some serious work completely shutting down the middle of the field in coverage for us last year when we played man with our corners on the outside, and I didn't think we were going to be able to replace him with Bell or Bush. Williams is very instinctual, just like Byrd, which helps not only with getting picks, but with taking away receivers and shutting down the middle of the field. Getting beat by WRs on the outside is one thing but if you are constantly getting torched by TEs up the seam and WRs on post routes then your defense has no chance. Of course no one ever sees those plays if they aren't INTs, but they are big for a defense. Byrd took a lot of that away last year (although I know no one wants to admit it) and I think Williams plays like that as well. I'm really excited about the pick and I think he has the potential and ability to be the Byrd that played in BUF, not NOLA. We got a good one!

Another thing I am reminded of, now that you mention Byrd. Williams really excelled at FS in a single high Safety scheme. I don't recall the Saints really spending a lot of time doing that the past few years. Now maybe that's a chicken/egg scenario with Byrd being hurt so much. We have to remember that how these guys are played is just as important as their potential and previous performance.

 

[NOVASaint]

Another thing I am reminded of, now that you mention Byrd. Williams really excelled at FS in a single high Safety scheme. I don't recall the Saints really spending a lot of time doing that the past few years. Now maybe that's a chicken/egg scenario with Byrd being hurt so much. We have to remember that how these guys are played is just as important as their potential and previous performance.

Plus when Byrd came back it didn't appear he had the wheels to do single high. Possibly he never did, as I've understood that he was in a two high in Buffalo. But Williams can do it.

 

[superchuck500]

Watching some of his highlights tonight. He really has great anticipation and a knack for the ball.

Hopefully he'll be like Darren Sharper . . . but without all the rape

 

[HogsNSaints]

As much as I think we stole Lattimore and Hendrickson, Williams might be the most exciting pick in hindsight. We're all clamoring for improved pass rush, but I think equally as important is getting guys in that have the ability to force turnovers. That's exactly what Williams is.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

Plus when Byrd came back it didn't appear he had the wheels to do single high. Possibly he never did, as I've understood that he was in a two high in Buffalo. But Williams can do it.

Byrd was never a single high guy in Buffalo. He played a lot of Robber coverage but never really played a true centerfield. He never had the range but putting him in robber coverage allowed him to jump a lot of routes. That and the secondary he left in Buffalo was better than the secondary he came to in 2014.

When he did play single high he would play nearly an extra 7-8 yards back to allow him to make up ground via angles and the distance the ball had to travel. Yet again that style was easier to play with a better secondary in buffalo. Worse secondary + injury = no Byrd plays until last year when the secondary/defense saw a stretch of improvement.