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Can a Combine snubbed nickel make change for the Jints DBs ?

YANKEE28 : 3/26/2020 9:57 pm
In 2018, perhaps the most talked about player for the NFL draft was DE Bradley Chubb of North Carolina State. Every team monitored Chubb, with the Giants taking great notice of the player that lined up next to Chubb, BJ Hill. On Draft Day, Hill was drafted by the Giants.

That same year, the most coveted inside linebacker in the draft was Georgia's Roquan Smith. But like Hill, the Giants were drawn to the play of the outside linebacker playing next to Smith, Lorenzo Carter. And it was Carter that was drafted by the G Men.

A portion of the success of great college players like Chubb (5th overall) and Smith (8th overall) are the other teammates that surround them on the field.

In the upcoming April draft, the most highly rated Free Safety is Minnesota's Antoine Winfield, Jr., the son of NFL great Antoine Winfield Sr.

Winfield is an outstanding player, and deserves the praise he has earned on the field. But his defensive backfield teammate, Chris Williamson, has done an outstanding job as the Gophers slot corner.

Williamson played his high school ball in Georgia, He was heavily recruited and offered scholarships by 14 major colleges for his play at both WR and DB. He eventually chose the University of Florida, where he played mostly specials in 2015, with more time at corner in 2016. Though he played in 14 games in 2 years with the Gators, he decided it was best to transfer to Minnesota and play for former Rutgers WR coach PJ Fleck, who promised defensive play more suited to his talent.

The decision to transfer, which meant sitting out the 2017 season, was not just made by Williamson and his parents. The decision also included the man Williamson calls his 2nd Dad, former NFL great Ray Buchanan.

Buchanan and Williamson family had met at a training facility many years earlier. Buchanan took an immediately liking to Williamson, and he has counseled him for over 10 years, trying his best to mold him into what it takes to be successful in the NFL.

Last year Williamson was outstanding for the Gophers. His size (6' 205 pounds) is larger than most nickels and he finished the season with 56 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception he turned into a Pick Six.

Three things to like about Williamson. In the Gophers defense, his position was often similar to a linebacker, showing the flexibility coach Judge seeks in his players. He is also a very willing and sure tackler. And finally, its important to talk about his speed.

Minnesota never had its Pro Day, but many felt that Williamson could run in the 4.3's had his Pro Day happened.

I expect Williamson to be a Day 3 draft pick. The Giants have a large number of Day 3 picks and clearly a need for a slot corner.


Good Report!  
BocaGene : 3/26/2020 10:00 pm : link
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Great post Yankee  
Eric on Li : 3/26/2020 10:09 pm : link
another day 3 nickel possibility is Trajan Bandy. He wasn't snubbed by the combine but he wished he was because he only measured in at 5'8 180. He likely made a bad decision to come out early, but he is a pure slot cover guy who was a day starter/playmaker there from day 1.
Here are  
YANKEE28 : 3/26/2020 10:11 pm : link
some highlights of Chris Williamson
Link - ( New Window )
Eric  
YANKEE28 : 3/26/2020 10:15 pm : link
its very surprising that Bandy was invited to the Combine and Williamson was not.

Bandy didn't help himself at the Combine. He proved shorter than 5' 8" and 4.50 forty was slower than expect.

I think it is extremely unlikely that Bandy is drafted, and instead will be an UDFA.
YANKEES28  
robbieballs2003 : 3/26/2020 10:23 pm : link
Killing it as usual. I feel like I am leading the charge for slot defenders. I feel like a handful of my posts per month are dedicated to stressing the importance to the position and how most teams foolishly put their third corner there regardless if he has even ever played there before. A slot defender is it's own position and not a corner, nor LB, nor S. It needs to start being treated as such. It is like when CBs used to be labeled as ex-Wife who cannot catch. It is a stupid mentality. It reminds me of Zoolander where Will Ferrell is brainwashing Derek Zoolander saying child labor laws are "silly and outdated". Haha.

It is also one of the best values you can have on your football team. If you draft an edge defender and he puts up sack numbers then you'll be paying for that when his contract is up. If you draft a CB to play the slot and he excels then you still won't even pay him that much. Teams will say, "Oh, he only plays in the inside that isn't as valuable" so his price will stay down. Look at Pogan Ryan. He is a pretty good slot defender and he is still available in FA unless I missed him signing somewhere. Playing the slot is looked down upon when it should be looked at as one of the most crucial positions on the defense.
ex-WR  
robbieballs2003 : 3/26/2020 10:24 pm : link
Not ex-wife.
RE: Eric  
Eric on Li : 3/26/2020 10:39 pm : link
In comment 14850976 YANKEE28 said:
Quote:
its very surprising that Bandy was invited to the Combine and Williamson was not.

Bandy didn't help himself at the Combine. He proved shorter than 5' 8" and 4.50 forty was slower than expect.

I think it is extremely unlikely that Bandy is drafted, and instead will be an UDFA.


I'd agree - this past year he had to play outside bc Miami didn't have enough depth to keep him inside, and he played ok but didn't make as many plays (0 ints). But he is a big time gamer, plays bigger than his size, and he's made for the slot so whatever pro team picks him up is going to get a guy who pushes for a roster spot.
great thread -  
Del Shofner : 3/26/2020 10:40 pm : link
who knows who the Giants will pick, but I enjoy reading about these guys.
Robbie  
YANKEE28 : 3/26/2020 10:59 pm : link
I agree. The stats prove easily that the number of defensive plays with 5 or more DBs on the field is increasing.

In the past few years we have seen kickoff returners become less important and slot corners become more important.
I  
AcidTest : 3/26/2020 11:02 pm : link
love these posts. Thanks. They are another great feature of BBI.
RE: Great post Yankee  
Jay on the Island : 3/27/2020 10:21 am : link
In comment 14850969 Eric on Li said:
Quote:
another day 3 nickel possibility is Trajan Bandy. He wasn't snubbed by the combine but he wished he was because he only measured in at 5'8 180. He likely made a bad decision to come out early, but he is a pure slot cover guy who was a day starter/playmaker there from day 1.

I really like Tandy and I was surprised by his combine numbers. I would love to land him with one of the 7th round picks as I feel he can contribute early on in the slot. He was also a team captain at the U.
great post, YANKEES28  
ColHowPepper : 3/27/2020 12:43 pm : link
and same goes for robbie's comment....when I read, 'ex-wife', I was going wtf did I miss LOL
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