James Williams' projection for 2022 and beyond

[chris2183l]

I love the idea of him at LB so they can have Avantae, Kam, Jwill all on the field at the same time. Throw in Chase Smith and LT too...look out. Need some CBs tho

 

[k9cane]

Staying at safety hurts the team, IMO.

We want our best players on the field. Avante is a better safety than James, so there is one slot. To put Kitchens on the bench & trot out our current LB group is a net loss.

James has enough film now that he can have a serious conversation about where he projects best in the league. If that isn’t safety, then it would be in his own best interest to make the switch now.

the difference in speed and burst between JW and our other safeties is noticeable..

 

[I'm james Jackson brother]

ION KNOW I THINK THIS GIT WANTS TO PLAY SAFETY AND IF THAT ***** WANNA TO PLAY SAFETY LET HIM PLAY THAT ****......

I WATCHED HIM IN MOST GAMES HE IS OUR BEST PLAYER ON DEFENSE. GIVE HIM ONE YEAR AT LEAST THEN SWITCH HIM IF HE NOT PRODUCING BUT I THINK HE GUCCI WHERE HE AT.


THEY NEED TO PLAY CHASE SMITH THAT GIT A MAN SAME AS WILLIAMS.

 

[DiegoCane]

the difference in speed and burst between JW and our other safeties is noticeable..

Dude got burnt and was a step late constantly.

I feel like I’m leaving in an alternate universe with people who thinks he played great at S this year.

 

[DiegoCane]

ION KNOW I THINK THIS GIT WANTS TO PLAY SAFETY AND IF THAT ***** WANNA TO PLAY SAFETY LET HIM PLAY THAT ****......

I WATCHED HIM IN MOST GAMES HE IS OUR BEST PLAYER ON DEFENSE. GIVE HIM ONE YEAR AT LEAST THEN SWITCH HIM IF HE NOT PRODUCING BUT I THINK HE GUCCI WHERE HE AT.


THEY NEED TO PLAY CHASE SMITH THAT GIT A MAN SAME AS WILLIAMS.

LOL.

 

[k9cane]

Dude got burnt and was a step late constantly.

I feel like I’m leaving in an alternate universe with people who thinks he played great at S this year.

he flashed, but I seem to recall all his splashy plays came inside the box, coming forward, attacking QBs and ball carriers near the LOS. We just need to all come to the Allen Bailey realization with him -- he's outgrown this position

 

[Memnon]

I know we're not ever supposed to compare our guys to Noles, but that's his prototype right there.

6'4 220lbs, Hybrid S/LB.

And I don't compare him to Isaiah Simmoms because he has legit 4.4 speed, actually ran a 4.39 at the combine, JW is more in that high 4.5 range & he's not a polished tackler like Simmons is.

He's not going to strictly play one position that's the point.

There's not a single 6'5 230lbs Safety in the NFL & there's very few 6'4 Safeties in either college or the NFL, all the DB's that size share one thing in common, lots of snaps at multiple positions.

Whether it's Jayron Kearse, Justin Simmons, Hamsah Nasirildeen, you could even throw Derwin James in there, every single one of them had hundreds of snaps in college at multiple positions. Derwin is probably the truest Safety out of the bunch & even he had over 200 snaps lined up at LB & CB, the same for Simmons & Hamsah, literally hundreds of snaps at 3 different positions.

I can pretty much guarantee that JW will not play 3-4 years at Miami only at FS. He's a Hybrid whether he's knows it right now or not lol.

These are two comments I made back in July of 2020 on JW in this thread

https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/james-williams-may-well-stay-at-s-but.162028/

And yup, still believe that. He’s a multi-purpose freakish Defender, that can play SAM, WILL, Nickel/Striker, SS & Rover Safety. And sending him on Bltiz packages will work as well in a multiple scheme Defense, especially if you have him on the field with kids like Chase Smith, TAC, Bissainthe etc..

Playing JW at FS only is miss utilizing his abilities.

 

[dhead23]

We just need the coaching staff to develop these players properly and play them at the position that best helps the team win. Williams needs to play in the box.

 

[Cane4life18]

I think he will end up doing a little bit of everything.

He’s a smart player when he’s not suplexing people after the whistle.

I personally enjoy the suplexing. He's up there with Brock, Kurt and Benoit as some of the best suplexers in the game.

 

[AlexCane]

I saw him on one occasion (right after the end of the regular season) and he’s still quite thin. He hasn’t filled out yet. IMO, his ultimate position depends on when he physically matures. Some folks mature quicker than others. Just based on his frame, I'm not sure he puts on so much size/weight in the next 2-3 years to outgrow safety or some hybrid position. However, it's entirely possible that continued maturation ultimately results in a full time move to LB in the pros but this is all quite speculative.

 

[RozayCane]

I say call him a safety, or what ever he would like.. but play him every where. Should be on the field 85% of the time.

 

[Milkcane]

Outside linebacker, and the sooner the better for this team and for his future draft prospects.

 

[Artist Formerly Known As]

He could be what Matthew Thomas was supposed to be at OLB

 

[stormsurge]

put him as a striker or something in the olb position - put him on the los to rush from the edge sometimes - give him the flexibility to rush, tackle a rb or drop into coverage

 

[cway313]

These are two comments I made back in July of 2020 on JW in this thread

https://www.canesinsight.com/threads/james-williams-may-well-stay-at-s-but.162028/

And yup, still believe that. He’s a multi-purpose freakish Defender, that can play SAM, WILL, Nickel/Striker, SS & Rover Safety. And sending him on Bltiz packages will work as well in a multiple scheme Defense, especially if you have him on the field with kids like Chase Smith, TAC, Bissainthe etc..

Playing JW at FS only is miss utilizing his abilities.

I was hoping he was our Kyle Hamilton. I dont think he should ever be in single high role Manny used him in because he is slew foot but even this year he lined up some of everywhere. JW has immense talent and heart which can't be coached. Hopefully he is coachable and willing to be flexible.

 

[Maskoff407]

JWill had a video where he clocked a 4.54. This kid needs to play in the backfield at safety. Do not put him outside the position he was recruited for. The kid has shown he has range, speed, instincts, and most of all…the intimidation factor. Players will be scared of him back there. 6’4 230s is a very nasty look for a safety. My goodness!!! Especially if Miami moves to a 3-4 defense… you gotta leave JWill back there. Nix this whole OLB talk.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

He excelled in his HS film being closer to the LOS. He needs to clean up his tackling technique but he profiles best as an off ball LB and used as a blitzer frequently. Get him to 240 and maneuver him like the chess piece he is with a varying role predicated on the offensive personnel we're facing on a weekly basis.

Bingo!!!! We have a winner!!!! Johnny, get that man a prize!

 

[streetja]

Want to see the step forward he'll make under anyone but Manny. Dude played undisciplined at times and was an inconsistent tackler. If he can get those two things corrected he'd be unstoppable. A perfect version of him in addition to being a skilled blitzer is someone who plays near the LOS, fills the hole quick in the run game and takes away opposing TEs in the passing game.

 

[Hegemon]

Would love to hear from some of you who are closer to the players what the feeling is around Williams' physical progress. Naturally, I ask because he's a giant kid with a big frame. I know he's been intent on remaining a Safety. I also realize defenses continue to be evolve as more "positionless."

Nonetheless, someone close to him mentioned he had been dieting or restricting natural growth to remain under a certain size. Is that true?

Next season, our deepest position might be Safety. We'll have JWilliams, AWilliams, KKinchens, Balom (if healthy), Washington, maybe Frierson, maybe Keontra as a hybrid, Harrell, and Markeith Williams (True Frosh). I may have missed someone.

When I re-watched some of our games, James looked best getting after the passer. Clearly, that's why he was used that way on 3rd down subpackages. A lot of how he's used will depend on the DC, we realize. But, Mario has already said "multiple" about 345 times. We can reasonably expect odd and even fronts, and varying subpackages. For those who understand the LB position behind odd fronts better than I, any thoughts on what a transition might look like?

Ray Ray Armstrong made the move too late, but still put together a ~10-year NFL career. JWilliams is bigger right now than Ray Ray was going into the NFL and *may* be stunting his growth (according to some).

Look forward to thoughts on how this situation unfolds.

I never thought he would stay at safety. I defer to guys like you for technical/X's and O's but of we go to a 3-4 James range in space and rushing the passer would shine IMHO....especially as he grows into his frame.

If he is dieting to avoid growth that is a problem.

Ray Ray is a perfect example.

 

[Maskoff407]

You all would have put Sean Taylor at DE too