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Safety Williams gets his chance
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/06/07
Flowery Branch — One of the most common sights at Falcons camp has been safety Jimmy Williams at the side of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. While observing the first unit, Zimmer has been talking to Williams; coaching him up, breaking him down, coaching him up again. Williams has had no choice but to listen.
However, over the last few days, there's been a separation. Williams has been on the field as the starting free safety.
Crocker has been sidelined with knee discomfort, a minor physical but potentially major professional setback, that could open the door for Williams to step into the No. 1 role.
"It's a beautiful thing because I can do it and I think they think I can do it," Williams said about starting at free safety. "I want the position. When the right time comes and we get in front of competition, I'll really show them what I can do."
The amount of time Zimmer spends with Williams is a sign to the second-year player that the Falcons want him on the field. Crocker rarely accompanies Zimmer on the field the way Williams does.
Coaches and personnel officials routinely talk about Williams being a possible difference maker at free safety, where his physical nature against the run and his improving pass coverage skills could fortify a potentially strong secondary.
Crocker, meanwhile, is fully aware of what's going on. He's not conceding a thing.
"I've had competition every year that I've played," said Crocker, a four-year veteran also working at nickel back. "There's always been somebody pushing me, kicking me in the butt. That's what the NFL is all about. Five years in now and they see you're getting a little older and they start trying to move young guys up. It's all about competition.
"You don't worry about who they put behind you or who they move up. You do your job to the best of your ability and, hopefully, the best man will win."
The battle between Crocker and Williams is one of the most intriguing competitions on the roster.
"Jimmy's showing the range that we thought he would as far as going to the ball," coach Bobby Petrino said. "It will really be fun to get into the preseason games and watch them tackle and see how Jimmy comes downhill. It's good competition and they're competing for it. We really have no timetable on making a decision on who would be the starter."
Crocker took tremendous heat for a number of long-ball touchdowns allowed last season, criticism he said he'd accept, even though he said he wasn't always responsible. Whatever the case, the Falcons made no bones about trying to upgrade the position.
They considered drafting LSU safety LaRon Landry, if he was available when they chose eighth overall last April. Washington selected Landry at No. 6 and Atlanta chose defensive end Jamaal Anderson.
That didn't change the team's decision about their situation at free safety. Williams, who'd been penciled in as the starting right cornerback, was the next best option.
The transition has been methodical. Williams had to learn a new position, a new scheme and change his perspective from maintaining a portion of the field to surveying the entire ground.
"I'm starting to understand routes and stuff," Williams said. "The more reps I get the more I see the routes. It's getting better. I'm getting slower in my back pedal because early on, I was going too fast, sometimes getting a little too deep when I didn't need to be."
Crocker's familiarity at free safety gave him the early edge, an edge he may no longer have.
"I'm having a good camp but I think that's because our whole secondary is gelling and buying into the system," Crocker said. "We didn't play up to our capability and talent last season so we're all looking at this as a fresh start."
