Zero2Cool
16 years ago

[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081021&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=81021157&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=150&Border=0[/img_r]Going into training camp, defensive backs coach Kurt Schottenheimer endorsed Tramon Williams as a starting-caliber cornerback for the Green Bay Packers.

Given Williams sound play in the last four games while starter Al Harris has recovered from a torn spleen, the Packers have more reason to think Williams can be a worthy successor to Harris or Charles Woodson in the next couple of years in their demanding bump-and-run coverage scheme.

Definitely, Schottenheimer said Tuesday. Hes a very, very talented kid that has tremendous work ethic, and its like any young player, they have to have an opportunity to perform. What you hope is they get better with each experience. Hes done that. Hes certainly got a bright future.

Williams probably will lose his starting role over this weekends bye because Harris is expected back from his injury for the next game, Nov. 2 at Tennessee.

However, seeing Williams' development in game settings is important to the Packers both for the present, because he still will be on the field for about half the defensive snaps as the No. 3 cornerback, and for the future.

Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders scheme is predicated on having cornerbacks who excel in press coverage. The Packers' accomplished starters are approaching the end of their careers. Harris is 33, Woodson 32. So, General Manager Ted Thompson will have to keep the position well stocked for their departures.

Thompson has two young draftees in Will Blackmon (fourth round, 2006) and Pat Lee (second round, 2008) as developmental prospects, and he probably will add a cornerback or two every offseason because the position is among the most valuable in the game. Blackmon and Lee are relatively untested Blackmon has been the nickel back while Harris has been out, Lee the No. 4 cornerback whereas Williams has produced as a starter for one-quarter of the season.

Williams hardly has been error-free hes given up his share of receptions and blew a coverage last week against Indianapolis that allowed Anthony Gonzalez a 37-yard reception.

But overall, with Williams in Harris place the past four games, the Packers pass defense didnt decline noticeably. It played its best game of the season last week against Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, one of the NFLs premier players.

Manning finished with an abysmal 46.6 passer rating for several reasons, but as important as any was Williams and Blackmons physical press coverage on outside receivers Gonzalez and Marvin Harrison. Woodson usually matched up with the Colts best receiver, Reggie Wayne, in the slot.

Clearly, there was a great deal of stress on our outside corners in this ballgame because of Peytons ability to throw the ball on the mark down the field, Schottenheimer said. If you looked at the Baltimore game (against Indianapolis the previous week), that tape, good gracious, it was scary. Our ability to stay in good leverage and good position on those guys was critical. I thought the play of the corners was the key.

Williams barely surpasses the Packers minimum height standards for a cornerback they require cornerbacks to be at least 5-foot-10, and hes 5-11 and he has a relatively slight build at 191 pounds. But he also probably is their fastest player at that position, has quickness and good leaping ability, and plays the ball well in the air. He showed all those skills in his two interceptions while in the starting lineup.

The first came against Atlanta, when he ranged off his man on what momentarily looked like an easy 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock. Safety Nick Collins bit too hard on a run fake on the play, which left Hartsock uncovered, but Williams saw him in his peripheral vision and darted for the corner of the end zone. Williams closed quickly and snagged quarterback Matt Ryans soft pass with one hand.

I was trying to make a play or force the quarterback to make a harder throw than a wide-open throw, Williams said. As I watched him, I thought maybe they had more field, but they didnt. (Ryan) didnt under throw him, but he didnt throw it fast enough.

On the second interception, at Seattle, he blanketed former Packers receiver Koren Robinson on a go route and after locating the ball, used his inside position as a shield for the easy interception.

It was basically textbook bump-and-running down the field, Williams said.

That Williams has developed into a possible starter is a surprise, because the Packers pro scouting staff plucked him off the street in late November 2006. Hed gone undrafted that year coming out of Louisiana Tech, signed with Houston as a free agent and was cut at the end of training camp.

He finished the season on the Packers practice squad, then made big gains in offseason workouts and practices and won a roster spot in 2007, when he started one game in a nickel package.

Though Williams isnt as big or strong as Harris (6-1, 190) and Woodson (6-1, 202), hes been physical enough to disrupt receivers routes at the line of scrimmage, then use his athletic ability to stay with them on their routes. He also has the temperament NFL teams look for in a cornerback, the ability to immediately shake off getting burned and stay aggressive the next play.

When he first showed up here, I didnt know a thing about him, Schottenheimer said, and I didnt see anything that had me all excited about him. But Speedy (cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington) said to me, This guys got something Schotts. I said, I havent seen it yet.

"He was on the practice squad that year. Then in the offseason, you watch him work, Speedy, youre right, this guys got some athletic ability. With that great work ethic, whatever skills this guys got, hes going to develop them.


UserPostedImage
Zero2Cool
16 years ago
I've wanted Lionel as our secondary coach for awhile and this quote here adds some fuel to that for me.

When he first showed up here, I didnt know a thing about him, Schottenheimer said, and I didnt see anything that had me all excited about him. But Speedy (cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington) said to me, This guys got something Schotts. I said, I havent seen it yet.


UserPostedImage
bozz_2006
16 years ago
I'm thrilled about Tramon's performance the last four weeks. makes me feel awesome about the present and the future of the Packers.
UserPostedImage
porky88
16 years ago

I've wanted Lionel as our secondary coach for awhile and this quote here adds some fuel to that for me.

When he first showed up here, I didnt know a thing about him, Schottenheimer said, and I didnt see anything that had me all excited about him. But Speedy (cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington) said to me, This guys got something Schotts. I said, I havent seen it yet.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



The secondary has played well though.

Maybe Marty will get hired this off season and he'll take his brother with him as the D coordinator.

I believe that's why San Diego let him go in the first place actually.
Pack93z
16 years ago

I've wanted Lionel as our secondary coach for awhile and this quote here adds some fuel to that for me.

When he first showed up here, I didnt know a thing about him, Schottenheimer said, and I didnt see anything that had me all excited about him. But Speedy (cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington) said to me, This guys got something Schotts. I said, I havent seen it yet.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



I have said that for a few years.. [strike]105[/strike] 100% agreed.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
IronMan
16 years ago
I agree 185%!
gbpfan
16 years ago
glad to see that tramon is going to be a good corner :icon_smile:
zombieslayer
16 years ago

I've wanted Lionel as our secondary coach for awhile and this quote here adds some fuel to that for me.

When he first showed up here, I didnt know a thing about him, Schottenheimer said, and I didnt see anything that had me all excited about him. But Speedy (cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington) said to me, This guys got something Schotts. I said, I havent seen it yet.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



Agreed.
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (10h) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (11h) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (11h) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (11h) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (12h) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (13h) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (13h) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (13h) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (14h) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (15h) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (17h) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (17h) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (17h) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Zero2Cool (17h) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
dfosterf (17h) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
Zero2Cool (18h) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
Zero2Cool (18h) : Other times, it's turtle ass
Zero2Cool (18h) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
beast (19h) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
beast (19h) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
beast (19h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
beast (19h) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
Zero2Cool (19h) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
wpr (20h) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
Zero2Cool (20h) : SSL might be settled now.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : I had to manually move three posts.
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : But when I go it, Martha's is the last reply
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Still a little screwy; it shows on the main forum that you were the last person to reply to the Jenkins trade thread
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Host issues, been crazy day
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Connect 4?
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Connecting to new database
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : What the hell
beast (22-Jul) : Packershome going to the Whiteout unis again
Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Oh wait, they got Cam Ward. 1st overall right? haha oops
Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : They could send Packers a 1st for a QB they are familiar with
Zero2Cool (21-Jul) : Titans QB Will Levis to have season-ending shoulder surgery
Zero2Cool (19-Jul) : Their season did kind of start there, so 🤷
dfosterf (19-Jul) : Eagles put an engraved Brazil flag on their super bowl rings
Zero2Cool (18-Jul) : Benton unsigned no more
Zero2Cool (17-Jul) : That's good analysis, yes you are getting old. It'd a blessing!
dfosterf (14-Jul) : *analysis* gettin' old
dfosterf (14-Jul) : One of the best analyisis I"ve ever watched at this time of an offseason
dfosterf (14-Jul) : Andy Herman interviewed Warren Sharp on his Pack a day podcast
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
2h / Around The NFL / beast

3h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

5h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

8h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

18-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

15-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.