How Drew Brees is helping Marcus Williams become an even better safety

jeanpierre · 08-12-2018, 08:57 AM

...The difference isn't the skills. It's how often Williams is making plays. He seems to be everywhere on the field...

“...I think we’re seeing him get to throws that you normally may not expect a free safety to get to,” coach Sean Payton said. “So, it becomes a little bit more challenging for the quarterback to hold him, know where he’s at on each play, understand when he drops into the coverage as opposed on top of the coverage or outside. You can’t just fall asleep with a player like that because he catches the ball so well...”

Williams isn’t one to talk about himself much. Ask him about which free safeties he likes to study, he’ll tell you that he has his favorites but would rather keep them to himself. Ask him about his place on the defense, and he’ll let you know that he’s just trying to do his 1/11th and not be Superman...

...So, outside of the tips from Brees, he was reluctant to go into great detail about how he improved this offseason. The one thing he did say, though, is that it isn’t just one thing. His understanding of the defense and how offenses operate has improved, which has allowed other things to kick into higher gear...

Two great insights from this story that impressed me about this young player:

First, he has that common trait of Payton-era Saints players where he can disguise what he's doing, giving him an advantage regardless of physical talent...

Second, I like that he keeps his cards close to the vest and knows that the competition is likely gathering intel - as he probably already is in his young career...

Hagan, if you're reading, Brother, you nailed it on your scouting of this safety...

08-12-2018, 08:57 AM	#3
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: How Drew Brees is helping Marcus Williams become an even better safety ...The difference isn't the skills. It's how often Williams is making plays. He seems to be everywhere on the field... “...I think we’re seeing him get to throws that you normally may not expect a free safety to get to,” coach Sean Payton said. “So, it becomes a little bit more challenging for the quarterback to hold him, know where he’s at on each play, understand when he drops into the coverage as opposed on top of the coverage or outside. You can’t just fall asleep with a player like that because he catches the ball so well...” Williams isn’t one to talk about himself much. Ask him about which free safeties he likes to study, he’ll tell you that he has his favorites but would rather keep them to himself. Ask him about his place on the defense, and he’ll let you know that he’s just trying to do his 1/11th and not be Superman... ...So, outside of the tips from Brees, he was reluctant to go into great detail about how he improved this offseason. The one thing he did say, though, is that it isn’t just one thing. His understanding of the defense and how offenses operate has improved, which has allowed other things to kick into higher gear... Two great insights from this story that impressed me about this young player: First, he has that common trait of Payton-era Saints players where he can disguise what he's doing, giving him an advantage regardless of physical talent... Second, I like that he keeps his cards close to the vest and knows that the competition is likely gathering intel - as he probably already is in his young career... Hagan, if you're reading, Brother, you nailed it on your scouting of this safety...
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

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