Demorrio Williams? (1 Viewer)

[yortstop]

Latest News Jan. 8, 2006 - 12:44 pm et

"Falcons LB Demorrio Williams could be moved from his outside linebacker position next season.

Williams had a monster year subbing for Keith Brooking when Brooking moved to the middle. But Williams may be used in a hybrid OLB/rover position next season with Ed Hartwell back in the Falcons starting lineup. "

With Hartwell being back I suppose Demorrio gets pushed back to SLB? What would be long term value for him?

I have Demorrio, Brackett and Odell at LB as well as B. Sanders and Collins at S but can only keep four. Figured that Collins would be the odd guy out but maybe Demorrio would be a better candidate to trade after a very good year?

 

[inbreeder]

Latest News Jan. 8, 2006 - 12:44 pm et

"Falcons LB Demorrio Williams could be moved from his outside linebacker position next season.

Williams had a monster year subbing for Keith Brooking when Brooking moved to the middle. But Williams may be used in a hybrid OLB/rover position next season with Ed Hartwell back in the Falcons starting lineup. "

With Hartwell being back I suppose Demorrio gets pushed back to SLB? What would be long term value for him?

I have Demorrio, Brackett and Odell at LB as well as B. Sanders and Collins at S but can only keep four. Figured that Collins would be the odd guy out but maybe Demorrio would be a better candidate to trade after a very good year?

Demorrio struggled on the strong side more than his numbers suggest in the first weeks of the season. And the Falcons were very impressed with Michael Boley's play on the strong side after Hartwell was injured and the LB shuffle happened.Williams is too small to handle the Falcons BLB position at 220-225. There was talk that he'd be moved to safety. That's obviously not going to happen now that the Falcons have traded for Chris Crocker and signed Lawyer Milloy. I've not seen anything from the coaching staff yet, but some insiders on the Falcon message board are suggesting that the starters should be (assuming Hartwell is fully healthy) Boley at BLB, Hartwell at MLB, and Brooking at WLB.

It's conceivable, although doubtful, that Brooking could be moved to BLB to make room for Williams at weak. But you'd think that would have been experimented with last season. Williams is too good to keep off the field altogether, but his numbers are going to suffer if he lands on the strong side or plays a situational rover role. Should have a better idea after minicamps.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

good post inbreeder...

i was as high as anybody on williams... though his stats were good last year, they aren't the whole story... the ATL run defense was awful after hartwell went down, & he caught some blame for not hitting right gaps & not being stout enough at POA...

i heard the same thing that IF hartwell is up to returning, he would be MLB, brooking would be expected to return to WLB... & boley may have supplanted williams for SLB... which could reduce him to a situational, nickle back role...

if he struggled at WLB, SLB would just be a bigger problem... he struggles to stay at even 220 during season...

i might trade while value is high... with risk that he does start... even there, it would likely be SLB... brooking is too valuable at WLB...

 

[Rozelle]

Jordan Beck could be a wildcard.

 

[Slinger]

Jordan Beck could be a wildcard.

Maybe in 2007.

 

[pretender]

good post inbreeder...

i was as high as anybody on williams... though his stats were good last year, they aren't the whole story... the ATL run defense was awful after hartwell went down, & he caught some blame for not hitting right gaps & not being stout enough at POA...

i heard the same thing that IF hartwell is up to returning, he would be MLB, brooking would be expected to return to WLB... & boley may have supplanted williams for SLB... which could reduce him to a situational, nickle back role...

if he struggled at WLB, SLB would just be a bigger problem... he struggles to stay at even 220 during season...

i might trade while value is high... with risk that he does start... even there, it would likely be SLB... brooking is too valuable at WLB...

If Hartwell is healthy and is playing MLB why was he always pulled on 3rd down? I thought MLB always stayed on the field?

 

[inbreeder]

good post inbreeder...

i was as high as anybody on williams... though his stats were good last year, they aren't the whole story... the ATL run defense was awful after hartwell went down, & he caught some blame for not hitting right gaps & not being stout enough at POA...

i heard the same thing that IF hartwell is up to returning, he would be MLB, brooking would be expected to return to WLB... & boley may have supplanted williams for SLB... which could reduce him to a situational, nickle back role...

if he struggled at WLB, SLB would just be a bigger problem... he struggles to stay at even 220 during season...

i might trade while value is high... with risk that he does start... even there, it would likely be SLB... brooking is too valuable at WLB...

If Hartwell is healthy and is playing MLB why was he always pulled on 3rd down? I thought MLB always stayed on the field?

Down and distance, offensive personnel, and a player's skill set determine who plays on a given down.Bigger LBs without great coverage skills (Hartwell/Trotter/etc) stay on the field if the offensive personnel or down and distance imply a running play. Quicker LBs with coverage/blitzing skills would stay on passing downs. The ideal LB for NFL (and fantasy) purposes is a guy that combines all those skills - Ray Lewis, Donnie Edwards. Odell Thurman and Lofa Tatupu will fit this bill as well. These guys can matchup with a RB or TE in coverage (man or zone), get to the quarterback, but still shed a bigger blocker if the offense throws a changeup at them.

In Atlanta, the nickel package put Brooking and Demorrio Williams on the field for the most part, although guys like Ike Reese and/or Michael Boley were used as well in some games.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

another problem with stiff, ponderous MLBs that are a liability in coverage (not saying is THAT bad) is the trending towards more wide open attacks...

claiborne ended up being completely marginalized last season because STL faced so many three WR base sets in first & second down that he was on the sideline most of the time...

this admittedly also had something to do with claiborne's eroding skills & inept defensive coaching by rams...

mike peterson, antonio pierce & witherspoon (if he stays at MLB) can be added to list of MLBs supposedly lacking prototypical size to be run stuffers but more than compensate with athleticism, coverage ability, range, sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability & the overall skills to be three down LBs & always stay on the field...