It's official - Brandon Williams to start at CB

[Mitch]

Mitch, I disagree that our coaches need to be patient with him as a starting CB. The Cardinals are a team that's built to win now. The window is closing not only with BA, but also with CP. if we don't get home field advantage, getting to the SB will be almost impossible. Seattle, GB, and Carolina are extremely good home teams. Every game is critical this season. Simply no time to be patient with a rookie CB.

I think the coaches' and players' faith in Brandon Williams will pay off. At first, they may need to shade the FS to his side, just to give him some added support. But, by mid-season Williams could be playing so well that they can trust in him one on one with other team's #2 WR.

Williams has the biggest upside of all the CBs (other than Pat P.) on the roster, which is why staying committed to him through some early growing pains could make the team better, especially down the stretch. Most CBs in the NFL need to rely on safety help (particularly aggressive press CBs)---just as defenders in the NBA cannot be expected to get single stops in man-to-man coverage---all great defenses are predicated on help. The Cardinals have one of the rare CBs on the planet who typically does not need much safety support. But, that standard cannot be applied to the vast majority of CBs in the league.

What works in Brandon Williams' favor is how the Cardinals' defense is focused on matchups. The coaches will give Brandon Williams matchups that he has a very good chance of handling, even as a rookie. This week his matchup will likely be Chris Hogan (6-1, 205). Hogan is a possession type WR who has decent speed, but he's not a blazer. There's a good chance that Williams will hold his own on that assignment.

 

[kerouac9]

Yet again, he gave up 1 catch that game. You can keep shoveling the same manure though if you like.

Just because San Diego was working on other stuff (like their running game) in the offense doesn't mean than Brandon Williams didn't have a bad game covering people. 1 catch on 1 target is not a sustainable production.

 

[az jam]

I have little confidence in Bradon Williams at this time. He is going to get burnt for sure. I just hope he doesn't cost the Cards the game. I think the plan had been that Bethel would be the starter. However, his injury has been much more serious than the Cards thought it would be. Plan B was Jenkins who is now out for the season. Bottom line at this point is for the Cards to start Williams.

 

[az jam]

All the players and coaches have given positive reviews on Williams. They know what kind of team they have and know they are SB contenders. If they think he's good enough to start, I'm certainly okay with it. We'll see how it works out.

I'm more concerned with Shipley at C as he's shown through the years that he's not a legit starting NFL center. Williams, at least, is a rookie so it's hard to have any valid opinion on him to this point.

Agree, Shipley will have a tough time stoping the aggressive Pats DTs. He will need help from the guards. He is a major weakness in the Cards OL.

 

[BigRedRage]

Agree, Shipley will have a tough time stoping the aggressive Pats DTs. He will need help from the guards. He is a major weakness in the Cards OL.

Boehm looks great when on the field too, hopefully he keeps improving and getting closer to the job. He is easily better physically.

 

[Chopper0080]

My guess is that we will see Mathieu on Edleman a good portion of this game. This should be a good matchup for Williams as he shouldn't face anyone who can beat him over the top. My worry is the two TE set of Gronk and Bennett. We have short safeties which will cause size mismatches.

 

[az jam]

Boehm looks great when on the field too, hopefully he keeps improving and getting closer to the job. He is easily better physically.

I like Boehm. He started out slowly in training camp but got better every preseason game. It won't be long and he will be the starter. Big adjustment from college for him.

 

[JCSunsfan]

1981 40'niners NFL draft Bill Walsh selected Ronnie Lott - CB rnd 1 ---- Eric Wright - CB rnd. 2 ------ Carlton Williamson - S rnd. 3 . All three started and played the season and Niners won the Super Bowl . I'm not going to worry to much about Williams starting .

The difference is that Williams is so new to the position. I have no doubt that he has the potential that Keim and BA see in him, but there will be a lot of pain in the process of learning. I expect HB to demonstrate a lot of his versatility in helping Williams in this game.


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[PJ1]

Kid looks lost out there to me. But so did Bethel.

 

[Buckybird]

My guess is that we will see Mathieu on Edleman a good portion of this game. This should be a good matchup for Williams as he shouldn't face anyone who can beat him over the top. My worry is the two TE set of Gronk and Bennett. We have short safeties which will cause size mismatches.

Question is how healthy is #32 with zero game time? I'm concerned with him as well early on.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Just because San Diego was working on other stuff (like their running game) in the offense doesn't mean than Brandon Williams didn't have a bad game covering people. 1 catch on 1 target is not a sustainable production.

It wasn't one catch on one target. It was one catch on 3 targets

 

[BigRedRage]

Question is how healthy is #32 with zero game time? I'm concerned with him as well early on.

team reports claim he is 100%

 

[BigRedRage]

“When you think about it, it’s crazy,” Williams said. “I mean, I played offense all my life and then less than a year later, I’m in the NFL playing corner and starting? Yeah, that’s very wild.”

Williams said he’s learning to adjust his game-day mentality since changing positions, saying: “I’ve learned to relax. That’s one of the things I had to do, switch my running back mindset where it was more attack, attack, attack. As a DB, it’s more about being relaxed, where you let the game come to you and being tremendously focused.”

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-cb-brandon-williams-ecstatic-start/89981484/

 

[eastcoastSUN]

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of starting the season with BW at CB2. There is NO doubt he will get burned/scorched/toasted at times but it will be part of the learning curve.

In comparison - remember PP's first (and even second year).. he didn't necessarily light the world on fire with his coverage skills (seemed like PP was getting called for holding every other play). Take away his return TDs in his rookie year and he had, what I believe, a mediocre year at best at CB.

Also, let's take a look at potential match-ups for the first four weeks, assuming BW is assigned solely to the other team's WR2:

- Pats: Amendola/Hogan
- Bucs: V. Jackson
- Bills: Woods
- Rams: Britt

Not exactly world-beaters at the WR2 position. Amendola is recovering from injury, Jackson is still great but has lost a step, Woods/Britt could potentially be interesting since they have some speed. If BW lasts past week 4, then he will likely have picked up alot of nuances of the game to really get tested by the likes of Decker, Lockett... Should be fun either way.

 

[Buckybird]

team reports claim he is 100%

I just can't realistically believe he's gonna play at the same level or be in "football shape" with zero game action just 9 months later.

I'm praying he is, I just don't think that's reality but I've been wrong once before lol

 

[AZCrazy]

When the schedule was released last spring, my last thoughts would have been "This game really rests on the chess match between Jimmy Garropolo and Brandon Williams".

 

[NashDishesDimes]

I try to be an optimist but if we wasnt a stand out in college at corner, how is he going to stand out in the nfl his first year? Not possible. He is going to be bad, very bad. In 2 years, just maybe, he may be good

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

What a mess. One gaping hole that could derail a season

 

[Jasper]

If I were SK I would be stumped also. All the CBs we targeted wanted crazy money. Janoris Jenkins, Prince, etc. Even Chris Culliver signed a 1 year $5mil, Leon Hall chose the giants. Not much left but to draft a couple of CBs. Our sole vet CB signing has a torn acl. We have to make due with Brandon and Bethel.

 

[Jetstream Green]

If I were SK I would be stumped also. All the CBs we targeted wanted crazy money. Janoris Jenkins, Prince, etc. Even Chris Culliver signed a 1 year $5mil, Leon Hall chose the giants. Not much left but to draft a couple of CBs. Our sole vet CB signing has a torn acl. We have to make due with Brandon and Bethel.

I don't know, but this whole starting Brandon Williams and giving Bethel a good sized contract seems like Keim and Arians wanting to convince themselves they are talent gurus. Granted, to an extent they are but this current situation at CB is more like being stubborn and not practical for the situation. I will say there where and still are some affordable vet CBs which could be better still out there or could be traded for. Did I say good corners, no... but better than 'no instincts' Bethel and 'one year experience' Williams

 

[Garthshort]

No matter how BW does against the Pats, I would expect a tougher game vs. the Bucs. Winston is a MUCH better QB than Garrapolo, and Jackson and Evans are VG WR's. Hope it doesn't happen against us, but I'm expecting Winston to have a monster year.

 

[gamebird98]

It all starts upfront. If do not pressure Carapaloo, doesn't matter who is in coverage.

 

[BigRedRage]

If I were SK I would be stumped also. All the CBs we targeted wanted crazy money. Janoris Jenkins, Prince, etc. Even Chris Culliver signed a 1 year $5mil, Leon Hall chose the giants. Not much left but to draft a couple of CBs. Our sole vet CB signing has a torn acl. We have to make due with Brandon and Bethel.

5 mil for a good corner would be fine with me over what we are doing