2016 3rd round pick is Brandon Williams CB

[THESMEL]

Weve turned into long shot drafting - our big board has loads of people nobody else will draft - ranked higher than loads of players anybody else would draft. part of it is fan base - slobbering love affair with undraftable Logan Thomas - really- I haven't been on much to many fans delight- I grade BASK 49 or 51 depending on the coin flip.

I mean come on man! all picks have risks but not all picks should be high risk Keim!

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...In-Third/d8400779-0a0d-47ae-90dc-6a878fb401ea

But Williams insisted his learning curve “will be shorter than what people think.” It is a risk, Keim acknowledged, but he reiterated there are risks with every pick. Williams sounded predictably confident he will be able to make a career in the NFL as a defensive back.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Weve turned into long shot drafting - our big board has loads of people nobody else will draft - ranked higher than loads of players anybody else would draft. part of it is fan base - slobbering love affair with undraftable Logan Thomas - really- I haven't been on much to many fans delight- I grade BASK 49 or 51 depending on the coin flip.


But Williams insisted his learning curve “will be shorter than what people think.” It is a risk, Keim acknowledged, but he reiterated there are risks with every pick. Williams sounded predictably confident he will be able to make a career in the NFL as a defensive back.

You must be registered for see images

 

[GuernseyCard]

Good overview:

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/04/2016-nfl-draft-player-profiles-texas-cb-brandon-williams/

 

[gamebird98]

get him in the weight room...move him to linebacker.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Feels like a reach, but without having a second round pick the Cardinals draft went from starting prospects to depth guys very quickly.

The 30th pick in the 3rd round is more or less, stating the obvious here, a high 4th rounder.

When a team gets to the 4th round, all bets are off. A guy like Tony Jefferson was slated in the 3rd or 4th and wasn't even drafted.

Once the draft gets to the 4th round, it is more or less getting the cream of the crop of UDFA's in my opinion.

As for the pick itself ? My extremely amateur, and inexperienced drafting opinion says, they could have gotten this kid in a later round. Feels like a reach for a need that was caused by cornerbacker flying off the boards in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

That being said, we need cornerback depth, and we got cornerback depth.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

You must be registered for see images

5/5

 

[Vermont Maverick]

Overall rank on ESPN/Scouts Inc has him as the 337 ranked player and 38 best at position.

CBS has him ranked 271.

Bleacher Report doesn't have him ranked in top 300.

I've never heard of these teams. What division are they in? The NFC North, AFC South? Is the NFL expanding again?

When I read that another team was going to take him in R4, and when he does something spectacular on the field to make me think he is good, I will reserve the right to criticize this and any pick the Cards make.

Of course. You get to call "heads" AND "tails" on the coin flip. That seems fair.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Good overview:

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/04/2016-nfl-draft-player-profiles-texas-cb-brandon-williams/

Hmmmmm.....

The Bad

– Extremely raw, one year at the position, and making jump to NFL level so quickly is daunting
– Playing time in 2015 was limited, rotated out quite a bit
– Will struggle at the top of the route against bigger receivers, slighter frame and can get bumped off, allowing separation
– Makes mistakes that show he’s new the position, loses track of the ball, quits on play before its over, mental blips but aren’t effort related
– Statistically, not productive
– Barely any return experience, two career kicks for 16 yards
– Explosion numbers at Combine were unusually poor (30.5 vert, 9’10” broad)

 

[cardncubfan]

Some posts here remind me of this thread, especially page 2.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...ound-208090-2.html?highlight=john+brown+round

How many under the radar guys does Keim have to take early and have them be solid before people stop questioning?

Some of those comments are pretty funny now.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Arians was pretty clear that he is an immediate contributor in special teams and that he will work into the corner position. Moving Bethel into the starting lineup means a big hole in special teams.

 

[WisconsinCard]

That is the opinion of the people I read and I'm sticking to it until I hear some other team's coach or front office say we stole this guy from them.

FTFY

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Hmmmmm.....

The Bad

– Extremely raw, one year at the position, and making jump to NFL level so quickly is daunting
– Playing time in 2015 was limited, rotated out quite a bit
– Will struggle at the top of the route against bigger receivers, slighter frame and can get bumped off, allowing separation
– Makes mistakes that show he’s new the position, loses track of the ball, quits on play before its over, mental blips but aren’t effort related
– Statistically, not productive
– Barely any return experience, two career kicks for 16 yards
– Explosion numbers at Combine were unusually poor (30.5 vert, 9’10” broad)

Some of the strengths from that same article cancel out some of those weaknesses.

The Good

– Decent enough frame for a corner with long arms, especially relative to height (32 1/2 inches)
– Straight line speed is excellent, timed very fast (4.37 at Combine)
– Physical, willing to mix things up in press man, like his attitude
– Shows quick feet and change of direction, able to stay on top of routes in man coverage, loose hips and turn
– Throws body around as a tackler, impactful hitter who explodes through contact
– Shuts catches down in a hurry, doesn’t allow much YAC
– Works hard to use his hands and get off blocks in the run game
– Progressed well for how little experience he has at the position
– Has received reps on both sides and some work in the slot

I don't believe he was brought in to return on special teams, but to play more of the Bethel type role as a gunner.

 

[Ohcrap75]

He wasn't the highest rated player left in my opinion but I'm cool with the pick. Fans need to understand that GMs are picking players based on what they will/can be in two or three years and not what they did in college. And please do NOT use Kiper or McShays rankings or opinions as justification that we drafted the wrong player. These two have not been hired by NFL teams for a reason. Can someone please tell me where they ranked Gunter last year? That's all I got, Go Cards!!

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Despite his position change, Williams was a team captain, something that always grabs Keim’s attention. His body type and upside as a cover corner “fits our scheme perfectly,” coach Bruce Arians said. There will be a learning curve but “we play a lot of ‘cat’ coverage – you got that cat,” Arians said.

From the Cards link. Sounds like BA really likes him.

 

[BW52]

So far BASK have done nothing so far but take a 1st round gamble on a guy who has character issues,lousy work habits and like pot.Round 3 guy is physically talented who is going to try and play CB in the nfl.IMHO this draft has plain out sucked.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Mel and Mcshay both loved the pick and they believe he can be a good punt returner. I think that's what he'll do next year and we'll see. I am not in love with the pick but as you stated BASK has earned our respect so I'll trust they know what their doing, or have in mind. This could be purely building for the future as well.

Agree. Starting to warm up to this pick

 

[TheCardFan]

Agree. Starting to warm up to this pick

Meh.

Sounds like a gunner on ST but he played RB as well...would love it if he can return kickoffs.

 

[football karma]

I give Keim the benefit of the doubt-- I have the same feeling now that I did about Gunter last year -- Kinda like "sure the physical attributes are there, but where is the production?"

My worry is they might be so confident in their formula because it has worked so well, they are now pressing the bounds

Again like last year, it just feels like this is a guy you take with the 5th round comp pick and are thrilled.

 

[crisper57]

So far BASK have done nothing so far but take a 1st round gamble on a guy who has character issues,lousy work habits and like pot.Round 3 guy is physically talented who is going to try and play CB in the nfl.IMHO this draft has plain out sucked.

Plus Chandler Jones in the 2nd.

 

[Cardiac]

Some posts here remind me of this thread, especially page 2.

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...ound-208090-2.html?highlight=john+brown+round

How many under the radar guys does Keim have to take early and have them be solid before people stop questioning?

Maybe it's a way to relieve Bethel of some ST duties, so he can have more development time at CB.

As usual, this board is filled with people who know more than Steve Kiem. Boo hoo. Have you guys paid ANY attention to what this team and their management has done the last 3 years?

FTFY

I agree with all the above. BASK should have earned our trust by now. I get the questions and concerns based on the scouting reports and rankings etc. but keep in mind they didn't have Bethel or Smokey or Ellington or.....ranked where BASK took them.

 

[FrustratedFan04]

This is just a demonstration of how far this team has come. We are drafting to win. Just think of this guy and Bethel as the gunners. How important is it to stick the other team on kicks? Think of the second Seattle game from last year. These guys have won more games since they got here than anyone else. Have some trust that they know what they're doing.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Plus Chandler Jones in the 2nd.

I don't like using this unless one also states the truth... drafted Chandler Jones in the second but traded a top ten pick (the one used on Jonathan Copper) to get him

 

[WalterT]

First time poster but have been a lurker for years. I'm not a college football fan but I had an opportunity to attend the A&M Pro Day through the son of a good friend who's an area scout for the Saints. Ifedi and Wiliams were the most impressive players by far as both are exceptional athletes for their positions. He really liked Williams and was very impressed with how he adapted to CB and thought that he'd go somewhere around 4-5. The Cards 3rd rounder was essentially a 4th so it's not too much of a reach.

From my perspective, he's very aggressive and would be one of the best tacklers on our team from day 1 - which says a lot to me. He did okay with kickoffs but does have potential as a returner. He needs to get stronger and with more reps he can be a solid CB. He has all of the tools - just needs experience. I can see why we drafted him where we did.

 

[crisper57]

Keim's 3rd Round Picks:

Honey Badger
John Brown
David Johnson
Brandon Williams

You have a legacy to uphold, young man.

 

[overseascardfan]

I am a big proponent of production. I am not a fan of taking a player based on measurables or potential. Normal working stiffs like me don't move up in the corporate world based on my potential alone, some sort of production is needed to prove that I'm worthy.

I understand that Williams has size and straight line speed but he has a small body of unproductive work. I didn't realize he wasn't the full time starter at CB for TAMU his only year at the position. I would have preferred someone that has vast experience playing CB and playing the position well (production), I would have loved to have Ryan Smith who is around the same size as Williams and just a tad slower (4.4 40). Smith not only was a decorated CB, but also a standout return man (28 yds per KO return).

ARZ needs a starting NFL CB opposite PP, they don't have one and Keim has indicated he is not looking to sign a FA CB at this point (sorry Powers). Unless they are going to make TM a CB full time then they need a starter and depth at the position.