Ive been hearing alot about Stephen Williams

[JeffGollin]

I'm not all that comfortable...

Unless people have been extremely overrating his performances I don't see how he won't make the roster.

You'd think he'd be a shoe-in for a roster spot, but two things bother me:

1. The stars aren't in alignment: By this I mean there are 7 or 8 guys who appear to be good enough to deserve a roster spot. The temptation here will be to do whatever is legally possible to hang onto as many of them as possible. If this means stashing Williams on the PS, the Cards might be tempted to do it.

2. Wiz has been very careful in his choice of words about the young man - agreeing that he's got a lot of skills and has been showing up at OTA's and training camp "but is still quite raw." (Possible translation - Don't get your hopes up).

Two reassuring things to consider: (1) if - in order to get on the PS - you have to clear waivers, the Cards may not want to risk losing Williams. (2) he may continue to demonstrate in actual games that he's really that good - a 6-5 playmaking beast with good speed and excellent ball skills (Guys like that don't grow on trees).

Regarding the observation - that he doesn't look like he's as fast as his 4.4ish published speed - quite often, tall guys tend to be long-striders who don't look as fast as they actually are. The downside, however, is that they may lack the short-area quicks and COD skills needed to run routes really well.

My hope is that the kid demonstrates on the field that he's simply too good to ignore and that he makes the final roster. (But I'm not counting my chickens just yet).

 

[Duckjake]

Here is a link to his combine numbers. Haven't seen them posted before.

Linky

He was also on Gambo and Ash today. He said the reason he went to Toledo instead of a major school is that he only played WR his Sr season of high school - he was a DB for most of his HS career.

The knock on him is that while he has really good size and speed, he was unpolished in route running. But he said he went to Larry Fitz's camp in MN this summer and he recognizes that is a weakness but he is improving.

I watched that video just the other day. He has some very serious potential. I know UDFAs coming in and blowing up the league is rare, but you only have to look as far as Miles Austin to see what can happen with small school receivers.

Didn't Randy Moss go to Marshall, a Conference USA School and at one time a MAC member like Toledo?

Of course then there's Jerry Rice from Mississippi Valley State and our own Roy Green from Henderson State.

Well, despite my earlier post there is hope for Williams. All we have to do is look at our current Center. An UDFA. But then Early Doucet and Steve Breaston aren't exactly Alex Stepanovich and Nick Leckey.

Good luck to him.

 

[Mitch]

You'd think he'd be a shoe-in for a roster spot, but two things bother me:

1. The stars aren't in alignment: By this I mean there are 7 or 8 guys who appear to be good enough to deserve a roster spot. The temptation here will be to do whatever is legally possible to hang onto as many of them as possible. If this means stashing Williams on the PS, the Cards might be tempted to do it.

2. Wiz has been very careful in his choice of words about the young man - agreeing that he's got a lot of skills and has been showing up at OTA's and training camp "but is still quite raw." (Possible translation - Don't get your hopes up).

Two reassuring things to consider: (1) if - in order to get on the PS - you have to clear waivers, the Cards may not want to risk losing Williams. (2) he may continue to demonstrate in actual games that he's really that good - a 6-5 playmaking beast with good speed and excellent ball skills (Guys like that don't grow on trees).

Regarding the observation - that he doesn't look like he's as fast as his 4.4ish published speed - quite often, tall guys tend to be long-striders who don't look as fast as they actually are. The downside, however, is that they may lack the short-area quicks and COD skills needed to run routes really well.

My hope is that the kid demonstrates on the field that he's simply too good to ignore and that he makes the final roster. (But I'm not counting my chickens just yet).

Jeff: As Bill Parcells, would say, "Let's not nominate him for Canton just yet!"

 

[Garthshort]

Like most everyone else, I'm impressed. Don't understand why he wasn't drafted. As Jeff said, WR's with his size, speed and skills don't grow on trees.

 

[Duckjake]

Jeff: As Bill Parcells, would say, "Let's not nominate him for Canton just yet!"

True. Who was that WR that was outstanding in NFL Europe, looked great in camp and then just disappeared a few years ago?

 

[MrYeahBut]

I heard he is Gambo and Ash's father

Really??? I heard Gambo and Ash both were his ******

 

[82CardsGrad]

I watched those youtube vids but don't see the 4.4 speed he supposed has. I rarely saw him outrun someone. Guess we'll see starting this weekend!!!

How many times does Fitz outrun someone?? Williams will do all that he needs to in order to refine his route running skills. And when he does, he will be a steady performer in the NFL. Hope it's with the Cards!

 

[Treefiddy]

Wow! The catches at about 0:51 and about 2:05 are reason alone to not let this guy go. That is NATURAL talent. Hang on to this one!!!

While it was an awesome adjustment and catch, the catch at 0:51 would leave him dead on the field in the NFL.

 

[jw7]

You can't teach 6-5 and a 38" vertical leap and sub 4.5 speed and good hands.

We'll see in pre-season, but I doubt he clears waivers if he is put on the PS.

To be honest, he did not stand out in days 2-4 of TC when I was there, but looks like he is constantly improving.

 

[Russ Smith]

Unless people have been extremely overrating his performances I don't see how he won't make the roster.

I've never seen him play but making the roster as an UDFA is often difficult if you don't play special teams well. Does anybody know will he be able to do
that?

 

[PoolBoy]

You can't teach 6-5 and a 38" vertical leap and sub 4.5 speed and good hands.

We'll see in pre-season, but I doubt he clears waivers if he is put on the PS.

To be honest, he did not stand out in days 2-4 of TC when I was there, but looks like he is constantly improving.

he looked second to Fitz as the best WR on the field when I was there.

Not saying he is better than Breaston or Doucet, just saying he was that impressive.

 

[Buckybird]

How many times does Fitz outrun someone?? Williams will do all that he needs to in order to refine his route running skills. And when he does, he will be a steady performer in the NFL. Hope it's with the Cards!

Comparing Fitz & Williams skills is laughable at this point. #11 has a proven track record of success, while the rook is a rook. Lets see him do something in an NFL game agaist at least 2nd stringers before giving him a place on the roster.

 

[Russ Smith]

Didn't Randy Moss go to Marshall, a Conference USA School and at one time a MAC member like Toledo?

Of course then there's Jerry Rice from Mississippi Valley State and our own Roy Green from Henderson State.

Well, despite my earlier post there is hope for Williams. All we have to do is look at our current Center. An UDFA. But then Early Doucet and Steve Breaston aren't exactly Alex Stepanovich and Nick Leckey.

Good luck to him.

Moss was going to Notre Dame until he beat up some kid in his HS and got charged with malicious wounding. He then signed with Florida State where he was going to redshirt to acclimate academically, he was so good in practice the QB's were begging Bowden to nix the redshirt year and play him. Then he got caught with marijuana and booted off the team(I've always assumed there was a LOT more to that story, you don't get booted off FSU if you're that good just for smoking pot do you?)

So Moss wound up at Marshall because of non football issues.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Comparing Fitz & Williams skills is laughable at this point. #11 has a proven track record of success, while the rook is a rook. Lets see him do something in an NFL game agaist at least 2nd stringers before giving him a place on the roster.

Bucky, my point was simply that 4.4 speed isn't required. He might actually have that speed for all I know. However, he is purely cut from the Fitz mold, both in body and mind.
Who knows what will come of the kid, however, one thing is certain - he will work as hard as anyone. He is a good kid with a good head on his shoulders, and his upside is enormous. He has great hands. Great speed and tremendous size. Those physical attributes combined with his character and commitment tells me that the chances are extremely good that he will be playing in the NFL one day. Again - I really hope it's with the Cards!

 

[Buckybird]

Bucky, my point was simply that 4.4 speed isn't required. He might actually have that speed for all I know. However, he is purely cut from the Fitz mold, both in body and mind.
Who knows what will come of the kid, however, one thing is certain - he will work as hard as anyone. He is a good kid with a good head on his shoulders, and his upside is enormous. He has great hands. Great speed and tremendous size. Those physical attributes combined with his character and commitment tells me that the chances are extremely good that he will be playing in the NFL one day. Again - I really hope it's with the Cards!

He's facing an uphill battle for a roster spot. They will probably keep 5 WR's with Fitz, Doucet, Breatson being locks. Roberts is probably also a lock because he was a 3rd rounder & potential PR, unless his just sucks ass in games. Williams & OJ will probably be fighting each other to get the last spot & will probably come down to who can contribute on ST's. Do either of these guys have that ability? May the best man win.

 

[jw7]

He's facing an uphill battle for a roster spot. They will probably keep 5 WR's with Fitz, Doucet, Breatson being locks. Roberts is probably also a lock because he was a 3rd rounder & potential PR, unless his just sucks ass in games. Williams & OJ will probably be fighting each other to get the last spot & will probably come down to who can contribute on ST's. Do either of these guys have that ability? May the best man win.

Agree with most, but disagree with some.

Fitz, Doucet, Breaston are locks, as I think Roberts is since he was a draft pick.

Neither Williams or OJ play special teams unless someone can correct me.

The twist in this is that Roberts was drafted as a PR, and he just looked horrible in day 2-4. He can't consistently catch Graham's punts. Granted, BG is the best punter in football, but that throws a wrench in the roster.

I do agree Cards keep 5 WRs and there is one slot open. But with Williams potential and size and speed, training camp performance, and graph of improvement, I don't see how you can say it is uphill. IMO, #5WR is his to lose.

Then again, I thought Tyler Palko clearly beat out BSP last year, so my opinion is just an opinion. Dunno what the coaches are thinking.

 

[Duckjake]

Comparing Fitz & Williams skills is laughable at this point. #11 has a proven track record of success, while the rook is a rook. Lets see him do something in an NFL game against at least 2nd stringers before giving him a place on the roster.

I don't know why but this reminds me of when it seemed lilke the Cards were trying to keep Boldin under wraps in 2003. In the 4 preseason games Boldin was 1-12, 0-0, 3-30, 0-0.

Then we all know what happened in the first regular season game. 10 catches for 217 yards and 2 TDs.

But Williams situation is still more like Andy McCullough who was, I think, the leading receiver in NFL Europe, was MVP of World Bowl '99, looked really good in camp, and played all of two games for Arizona.

 

[Buckybird]

I don't know why but this reminds me of when it seemed lilke the Cards were trying to keep Boldin under wraps in 2003. In the 4 preseason games Boldin was 1-12, 0-0, 3-30, 0-0.

Then we all know what happened in the first regular season game. 10 catches for 217 yards and 2 TDs.

But Williams situation is still more like Andy McCullough who was, I think, the leading receiver in NFL Europe, was MVP of World Bowl '99, looked really good in camp, and played all of two games for Arizona.

yes...and then a star in the Arena League.

I still have my doubts about Williams, but starting 2nite we will see.

 

[Duckjake]

yes...and then a star in the Arena League.

I still have my doubts about Williams, but starting 2nite we will see.

A bit of trivia. Kurt Warner was the second former Arena League QB to grace a Cardinals roster. The first was local arena league hero Shedrick Bonner who threw for 42,000 yards and 855 touchdowns in the Arena League.