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"Rookie, Williams idle, and ready to play"
Topic Started: Nov 8 2006, 02:55 PM (151 Views)
SoCalFalconFan
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By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/08/06

Flowery Branch — Heading into the season, rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams added two tattoos. One said "patience" and the other "faith."

Mired on the bench, he's needed those virtues to cope with the first half of his rookie season.

"It's been real tough," Williams admitted. "In my mind I kind of thought it was going to be a slow process as far as me getting out on the field and when I was going to be able to play. I've been just trying to keep myself geared in, not get upset or get down on my myself."

With trusted veterans in front of him, Williams has had a tough time snatching playing time.

"He has veterans in front of him," safety Chris Crocker said. "[Jason] Webster and [Kevin] Mathis, who had been playing so well at the nickel spot that we really didn't need Jimmy. We really haven't had to use him until the injuries came along."

With Mathis out for the season with a neck injury, the Falcons may call on Williams to help more in the team's nickel packages.

"We have to decide as a staff which way we'll go there," Falcons coach Jim Mora said. "We could put Jimmy Williams in, [Omare] Lowe, and [Allen] Rossum is an option."

After Mathis went down Sunday in the loss against Detroit, Rossum played the nickel back.

"I want to show them what I can do," Williams said. "I'm just ready to play. I don't know where they are going to put me at, into the package and things of that sort. I'm just waiting. I'm ready to go."

On draft day, the Falcons moved up 10 spots in the draft to select Williams, an All-American from Virginia Tech.

In the days following the draft, there was talk about Williams unseating Webster at right cornerback and perhaps starting the season as the nickel back.

At midseason, Williams has yet to crack the lineup and is contributing on special teams. He has five tackles and one pass defense.

Williams' shining moment came on an onside kick against Pittsburgh, when he put a nice hit on a Steelers player to jar the ball loose. Jerious Norwood recovered the kick.

Williams is perplexed about why he hasn't been used more.

"The thing about that is my dad [Jimmy Williams Sr.] and a lot of other people have been asking me, 'Why have you not been playing?'?" Williams said. "I don't really have an answer. I can't really tell you and don't understand why, I just know that I'm a rookie, and I'm going to keep my mouth shut."

Williams has mostly watched as the Falcons' secondary has given up 1,200 passing yards over the past four games and has been hit for big plays.

"I know they brought me in to play," Williams said. "I know eventually I am going to play. So it's all about timing — the right time for when they want me to be out there."

At 6 feet 2, 216 pounds, some teams projected Williams as a safety. When he expressed a desire to play cornerback, his draft value dropped.

The breakdowns in the Falcons' secondary haven't been confined to just one area. The safeties and cornerbacks have had miscues. Williams is confident that he can help out.

"When I was in college I played every position back there," Williams said. "My last year in college I started as the No. 1 defensive back in the country, whether it was corner or safety or whatever. I can play back there.

"I've got confidence. That's not a problem. Whether if they want me to guard somebody in the slot, playing free safety or coming down in the box. I've done it all back there."

Some of the veterans are ready to see if Williams is ready for prime time.

"This is the time to find out," Crocker said. "The secondary is looking for a spark."

Williams can't wait.

"When I do get out there I will make plays," Williams said. "I will make a difference in the game."
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