SmashMouth

P.J. Williams spent his entire rookie season hoping for delayed gratification.

Drafted in the third round last May by a Saints team intent on revamping the cornerback position, Williams instead became the position’s first casualty, placed on injured reserve before the final preseason game with a torn hamstring that torpedoed his training camp and sunk his entire rookie year along with it.

Instead of making an instant impact, Williams had to watch as the injuries spread, paring down the deep group by half its depth chart by the end of the season.

Williams responded by turning disappointment into preparation. He went to every meeting and every game, trying to soak up as much information as he could without being able to test himself on the field.




“I got to learn so much, pretty much how things work around here, a lot of stuff with my position, a lot of technical things,” Williams said. “I got to learn all the plays, so coming in here and knowing everything is definitely a plus for me, and just being able to know how things work.”

Bouncing back from his rookie setback was no small task.

A torn hamstring in training camp rarely costs a player an entire season. Williams’ hamstring injury, on the other hand, simply wouldn’t go away. Kept off the field for much of the early portion of the Saints’ sessions at The Greenbrier, he returned in time to practice and play against the New England Patriots in the second preseason game.

Then the hamstring flared again.

“Definitely frustrating,” Williams said. “No one wants to get injured, and no one wants to not be able to play for a whole year. That’s pretty much the longest time I’ve ever had without playing football.”

With so little time to prepare and the possibility that Williams might be battling the injury all year, New Orleans decided to place Williams on injured reserve.

“Ultimately, I felt like it was a good decision,” Williams said. “They didn’t want me to go into the season with an injury and it be lingering all year, especially with it being my rookie year. I got to learn a whole lot.”

Williams also found a mentor.

read more

The Dude

Good attitude. I like him more and more.

K Major

Swagger

hagan714

I was bumbed when he went on IR last year. Can not wait to see him play. I had a third roud steal reaction when we drafted him. expecting nickle and dime duties right out of the gate for him. still wish he was a bit taller lol

Rugby Saint II

I am quietly optimistic......Not!!!! I'm excited!!!!