Major Williams

[bunker]

This guy is really impressing me. He had a couple of PIs yesterday, but one was quite soft. And he was often tasked with covering Lawler. He seems a bit more aggressive than the other DBs, and willing to play tighter coverage. Ran a 4.4 40 in college, so he can afford to play a bit of catch up in his coverage when necessary. And he has decent size (listed at 5'11 190 lbs) compared to some of our smaller DBs. Is he the real thing, another D. Alford. Or is this prematurely looking for silver linings in a somewhat disappointing season so far?

[Blueforlife]

He will be a stud after more seasoning.  Some have been hard on our ability to find new talent, this guy proving them wrong.

[BomberFan73]

This guy is really impressing me. He had a couple of PIs yesterday, but one was quite soft. And he was often tasked with covering Lawler. He seems a bit more aggressive than the other DBs, and willing to play tighter coverage. Ran a 4.4 40 in college, so he can afford to play a bit of catch up in his coverage when necessary. And he has decent size (listed at 5'11 190 lbs) compared to some of our smaller DBs. Is he the real thing, another D. Alford. Or is this prematurely looking for silver linings in a somewhat disappointing season so far?

He was listed as 6'1 in Camp, he's gotta be 6' seeing him on the field.
But ya, he's the most physical DB at the moment. I didn't like some of the wiffed tackles earlier in the year, but he looked good lastnight.

[theaardvark]

The bigger field and waggle takes some time for DB's to figure out, and it looks like he's getting it now.

Lawler is the highest paid REC in the league, highest paid ever in the $SMS era.  The fact that Williams got PI's on him means he was THERE.  In fact, he was there EARLY.  Not something CFL fans are used to seeing with Lawler. 

He is definitely going to be a keeper, hopefully almost as good as Alford, just not quite good enough to get NFL interest like Alford did. ;(

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Liked him from game one. They are throwing at him a lot but he's been up to the task. Was probably one of our better defenders in the Edmonton home loss and looked good from the TV yesterday.

[bunker]

From CFL.ca:

The Blue Bombers needed their defence to step up in Sunday's comeback win, and Major Williams answered the call.

According to PFF, quarterbacks completed just three of the 10 passes thrown into Williams' coverage. He also recorded an interception and three defensive tackles, helping Winnipeg rally from a halftime deficit to earn a 14-13 victory over Hamilton. Limiting opposing quarterbacks to a 30 per cent completion rate when targeting his coverage is the kind of efficiency that can swing a close game.

[Tecno]

He's not Alford.  But he is a lot like Houston and Nichols were as rookies: very good right off the bat.  I noticed him in game 1 and started commenting here in game 2 that he's one to watch and a keeper.  We pretty much struck gold again... Kudos to beleaguered Danny Mac.

By game 2 I said he was as good as Bonds.  Now he's much better.

I have no idea why HAM thought they wanted to keep picking on him all night, like he was Bonds or Bridges... or Roc.  He's not.  He's a stout no-nonsense DB who was in the hip pocket of every great REC HAM threw at him.

This is a big win for us, and solves the CB problem, at least on one side.  I want to hear more comments about him in pressers.  Is he smart?  What's his best attributes?  FIFO?  We need details.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

He's not Alford.  But he is a lot like Houston and Nichols were as rookies: very good right off the bat.  I noticed him in game 1 and started commenting here in game 2 that he's one to watch and a keeper.  We pretty much struck gold again... Kudos to beleaguered Danny Mac.

By game 2 I said he was as good as Bonds.  Now he's much better.

I have no idea why HAM thought they wanted to keep picking on him all night, like he was Bonds or Bridges... or Roc.  He's not.  He's a stout no-nonsense DB who was in the hip pocket of every great REC HAM threw at him.

This is a big win for us, and solves the CB problem, at least on one side.  I want to hear more comments about him in pressers.  Is he smart?  What's his best attributes?  FIFO?  We need details.

You're probably right again, Alford was/is incredibly talented he also played as a rookie on an all star defense with Willie and Jeffcoat in their prime. That makes a huge difference at corner.

[Tecno]

You're probably right again, Alford was/is incredibly talented he also played as a rookie on an all star defense with Willie and Jeffcoat in their prime.

Yes, Alford had more help up front.  But even then I don't think Major would be as good.  And that's actually just perfect for us because we can have Major for 3-6 seasons, instead of losing a way-too-good guy to NFL after 1.

[theaardvark]

Was HAM testing him, or were they throwing to their best targets, who he was covering?

I think it was the latter more than the former.

[blue_or_die]

Each and every year it's totally necessary that we find at least one future superstar who walks in the field and plays like a vet. We've got at least one in Williams.

Playing boundary, too (although in Younger's system).

[kkc60]

usually college/NFL safeties who play corner in the CFL struggle. Williams really has not at all, considering he's a rookie

[Tecno]

Was HAM testing him, or were they throwing to their best targets, who he was covering?

I think it was the latter more than the former.

Definitely the former. Almost always the O can pick who each receiver will get in coverage, whether in man or a zone stretch route.

And it stands to reason. Every other true db is a mega vet. if course you pick on the rookie! Problem for them was our rookie db is our best one since Alford.

[DM83]

A little short for ideal NFL standards. Similar to Benny Thompson perhaps.
.

[blue_or_die]

A little short for ideal NFL standards. Similar to Benny Thompson perhaps.
.

i.e. perfect for the CFL