Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

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Utah defensive back Marcus Williams runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) ORG XMIT: INMC10

Photos - Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com
By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
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on May 10, 2017 at 12:40 PM, updated May 10, 2017 at 12:48 PM

Marcus Williams, the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick this year, developed a nickname growing up that had nothing to do with football.

"If he sees something weird," Utah's defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley said, "he'll say, 'What the duck?'"

So, dating back to at least high school, Williams' friends called him "Duck Boy."

Full story:Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints | NOLA.com

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Like this kid. Like his tape too. As always, health is key, but this could be a stronger secondary than Greer, Porter, Harper and Sharper

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Man, how many tens of millions have we spent since the '09 season on the free safety position with no return on investment?! Please let this be the one!

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I'll be looking closely at his progress vs Obi. I like both but prefered Obi cause I believe his strengths are playing closer to the line and covering tight ends while Williams strength is playing off centerfield (Von Bell job)

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Back the Duck up! Imagine a season where we win the turnover war easily. When was the last time that happened?

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

it was superbowl 44

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I was looking for a wing man on this one. Thanks for stepping up!

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

But where is he now?

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Well, they can't call him a ball-hawk. Self proclaimed ball-duck?

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I think Bell proved to be a better fit at SS than FS. I believe that we just drafted our true deep field ball hawking play maker. I can't wait to see the reports from training camp.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Things that stick out to me on safety Marcus Williams:

(1) Played in a Pro style defense at Utah.
(2) Former WR (has really good hands).
(3) He takes football seriously.
(4) Ultra competitive.

Can't wait to see him on the field :airguitar:.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

It would have been fine just saying ball-hawking skills. When a player reaches the NFL he's a lamb surrounded by sheep. Anthony was a "leader" too when he was drafted. It's just lame to call a rookie a leader.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Now you're making sense.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

You cannot expect a late 20s and up player to want to listen to some 20-22 year old on the football field. Leaders are vets.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Completely ridiculous statement.

Leadership is not based on age, leadership is proving you're the one people can look to and people can depend on.

If you had a defense that consisted of ten 30+ year old players and an early 20's version of Patrick Willis as an example, I know who I'd be listening to for leadership.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Maybe after his first training camp is over at least...

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

The thing is leadership is earned. You may come in with high expectations and if you fulfill them then players/team mates will listen to what you have to say if it makes sense to them. As a coach I like the young guys to come in listening and getting adapted to the program. There is literally nothing worse than a rookie or player from another team trying to change the program before trying to fit into the established system.

These type of guys have haunted me in my coaching career. Which is why I like refereeing rugby.....no one except the captain can talk to you and they must refer to you as Sir.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Except Williams is likely to have a learning curve and not have it completely dialed in this season(as most rookies, even first rounders on defense, do). No way should someone like that be leading. And we already have a leader, his name is Ellerbe. and the leader of the secondary is clearly Vacarro.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

If anyone is the leader of the LB's, it isn't ellerbe, it's Robertson.

That's the whole point, Williams has to prove he is a leader, but if he plays well, there's no reason vets on Defense shouldn't view him as a leader. Respect and leadership is earned.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I thought they were supposed to call you bartender. That's what my former rugby playing buddy says... :)

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I just hope he can play at the next level.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Interesting little Marcus Williams tidbit here...

NFL position battles: Broncos quarterbacks lead the way | The MMQB with Peter King

"10. Plenty of NFL people thought that if the Falcons couldn’t trade up for a pass-rusher, they’d take Utah safety Marcus Williams at 31 and make him Dan Quinn’s new Earl Thomas. So the Saints did well to get their center-fielder at 42."

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

I like this kid, every time I read an article or watch a clip of him, he seems to be truly enthusiastic about learning everything he possibly can. It can't help but translate to the field when you have someone so obsessed with watching film and trying to find every edge possible.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Brace yourself ...

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

Substitute "Another NFL Franchise" and "Position and Players Name" and it's a blurb on any team in the league.

Re: Marcus Williams brings ball-hawking skills, leadership to Saints
 

We better get some improvement from the front 7 or Williams is gonna look like ol' broken down Jairus Byrd. Williams is way more athletic though so he should be able to make some plays just based on that, but we need every level of the defense to click for a center fielder to be effective.