Where do you start
when it comes to an athlete like Jimmy Williams? He
has all the physical tools when it comes to playing
football, but it’s his versatility that might be his
best attribute. He really can, and has, played just
about everywhere in the defensive backfield, with
the exception of linebacker, and I’m not so sure he
couldn’t fill in there if he had to. Jimmy is great
at reading routes and getting a jump on the ball.
An excellent tackler, he fills in very well on the
run. A rarity with cornerbacks who usually are
great at arm tackling, Jimmy drives right through
his tackles and makes sure they are finished. In
every aspect of his technique, it’s almost
flawless. He has very smooth hip movement, and is
great at frustrating and jamming receivers coming
off the line. Jimmy’s game time attitude is
unparalleled. He goes non-stop and you won’t find
anyone on the field that will out hustle him. Jimmy
possesses great speed, perhaps not burning, so he
should be able to keep up with most receivers.
Negatives:
Hmmm… Well I
suppose I’ll have to nitpick. The oft-stated cliché
of “nose for the ball” is not a given. Jimmy is
certainly always aware of where the ball is, and his
surroundings on the football field, but he might
give you the sense of being one of those “ball-hawk”
defenders. Although fantastic in man coverage, the
zone in the NFL and playing the deep ball may get
him into some tough spots, but nothing that can’t be
adjusted by a solid NFL coaching staff. He may be
just a little offbeat at first, simply because he
played safety for so long before switching to
corner. He’ll have some adjusting to do no doubt,
but he should be able to handle it with out too much
difficulty.
Overall:
Jimmy should fit right in with the last few classes
of corners, which has included the likes of Antrell
Rolle. He has pure playmaking ability, and will
likely be a day one pick starting in his rookie
season in the NFL. Jimmy’s size will be a big plus
in the NFL. With today’s receivers getting so much
bigger and stronger, he has the size and ability to
cover anyone from Moss to Moss. I also can’t wait
to see him in some corner/safety blitzing schemes.
With his tenacious attitude, and excellent tackling
abilities this could be an area where Jimmy can
truly shine. His versatility at playing safety or
cornerback will be a huge gold star on his NFL
resume. It’s highly important to be able to play
anywhere at anytime in today’s game, and Jimmy has
plenty of that experience already.
Final Word:
SKILLS
– It
would take a lot for Jimmy Williams to be considered
the next big bust at the next level, but at the same
time, he needs to keep that same intensity that has
placed him at the very top of the defensive back
charts. I don’t expect him to let up on bit, in
fact, I look for him to step it up even more. I
hate to use the term “shut down corner” for anybody,
I personally am not sure that such a beast exists,
but Jimmy’s many talents and abilities come close to
justifying that label. With determination, and the
right coaching, I think you’ll be hearing Jimmy
Williams’s name for quite a few years on most
highlight shows.
