For Williams, the Field Is His Classroom - The Orange Mane

PatsWin2002 · 06-15-2005, 10:31 AM

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=4235

For Williams, the Field Is His Classroom

By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Darrent Williams showed up for his first series of Broncos practices on May 16, his college days at Oklahoma State were firmly in his rear-view mirror.

But the academic mentality remained.

"It’s like your first day of school," Williams said. "You first go to school and like going to a new grade. You get a book, you know some of the things but you really don’t know too much. It’s like reading a book and getting to know things and learning everything all over again."

If the recent practices were like school, then this juncture is summer vacation. Williams and the Broncos are off this week, and then he and the other rookies will go to the annual Rookie Symposium next weekend after another week back at the facility.

But just because Williams is off doesn't mean he isn't working.

"You have to look at (the playbook) at least once a day, -- especially me," he said. "I’m a young guy and don’t really doesn’t know a lot. I try to look at it at least once a day and also go over my notes."

When the team-camp practices were ongoing, Williams said that he got daily work on returns -- doing punt returns in the first week and kickoffs in the second. Even though he's listed as a cornerback, he knows that it's on returns where he can make a difference in 2005.

"I really don’t plan on playing a lot at corner but I plan on contributing on special teams and returning kicks," Williams said. "This year that will be my place to shine."

He's already proved he can be explosive on punt returns, averaging 21.9 yards per return on 22 opportunities during his last two seasons at Oklahoma State, while breaking three for touchdowns, so he's already proven successful at what is generally considered the more difficult of the two return disciplines.

"It is, because you've got to judge the ball and know when to fair catch and know where your blocks at, you got to catch the ball and try to make the first guy miss," Williams said. "Kickoff returns you get the ball and you try to read your blocks."

Williams hopes that if he can master punt returning in the NFL, success on the kickoffs will follow.

"It's kind of harder catching punts but I've been doing it so long it's pretty easy to me," Williams said. "(On kickoff returns) you've got to have great blocking. If I get good blocking I can take it the distance any time. Both are really about the same right now. I think both are fairly easy. I think I do both of them pretty well."

But that's only through 14 organized team activities in the offseason. The preseason will surely provide a better barometer of just how much Williams can contribute as a rookie.

Garcia Bronco · 06-15-2005, 10:32 AM

Somebody get him out of the 27 jersey

bronco militia · 06-15-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsWin2002

For Williams, the Field Is His Classroom

"I really don’t plan on playing a lot at corner but I plan on contributing on special teams and returning kicks," Williams said. "This year that will be my place to shine."

.

uhh... what?

Kaylore · 06-15-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

uhh... what?

Yeah that confused me too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Somebody get him out of the 27 jersey

I'm sore for Atwater too, but maybe it will be good luck. I'm sure he picked it because the numbers add up to his college number.

I will say this is the first year in YEARS that I'm excited to watch the special teams play.

Mile High Shack · 06-15-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

uhh... what?

truthfully he is the 4th CB at best, so he won't play as much on D as he will return kicks

it's pretty simple really

bronco militia · 06-15-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Shack

truthfully he is the 4th CB at best, so he won't play as much on D as he will return kicks

it's pretty simple really

I'm not impressed if this guy is already trying to limit himself only to special teams. Does this guy think he's a kicker?. Way to aim high .

This guy is in for a big surprise when the injury bug hits.

Mile High Shack · 06-15-2005, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

I'm not impressed if this guy is already trying to limit himself only to special teams. Does this guy think he's a kicker?. Way to aim high .

This guy is in for a big surprise when the injury bug hits.

I'm sure the coaches have told him that his main job is going to be special teams the first year

he is probably repeating almost word for word what the coaches have told him.

Paladin · 06-15-2005, 11:00 AM

Who cares how muh D he plays. particularly in his forst two or so years? He may put the excitement back into the K-return games that the Broncos have been missing for some time. With Sauerbrun to kick, the Broncos just may have improved the ST play a great deal. If so, that's a game or two a year.

Mediator12 · 06-15-2005, 11:27 AM

Saying it and believing it are two different things. This guy has already proven he is full of confidence. It is nice to know that some guys do not take that confidence and act like Clinton Portis talking to the media and Wearing fake Championship Belts!

I gaurantee he will compete for time in the nickel slot this year and maybe get the nod by the end of the year. His answer was atypical for sure, but very refreshing for a brash young rookie who knows his place!

Beantown Bronco · 06-15-2005, 11:33 AM

Knowing Shanny, he probably has him penciled in as the #2 CB already and just told him to say these things so opponents won't be scouting him.

MT-Tdawg · 06-15-2005, 12:09 PM

As long as this kid can return kicks i could care less. If he even does 1/3 of what Dante did for the chiefs 2 years back it will be well worth the pick. Personally I'd like to see him compete for the dimeback spot this year. I'd sure hope he could beat out Roc by years end.

KillerBronco#76 · 06-15-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

He may put the excitement back into the K-return games that the Broncos have been missing for some time.

If i remember correctly O'neal was a pretty good kick returner in 03 i remember him having a few td's when he wasnt pissing off the coaches

Ballhawk · 06-15-2005, 01:20 PM

Rookie Corners get burned...just a fact of the NFL. Anyone remember Eddie Mac torching Shawn Springs over and over?

If Williams is an instant ST star and can work his way into the nickle by the 2nd half of the year then this is a great pick.

Rock Chalk · 06-15-2005, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

I'm not impressed if this guy is already trying to limit himself only to special teams. Does this guy think he's a kicker?. Way to aim high .

This guy is in for a big surprise when the injury bug hits.

Well, that is a way to look at it, but considering what you dont know I would say its mostly assumption.

Shanny may have already told him, expect to compete for the dime slot but most of your PT is going to come in ST. Its no different than Rice conceeding that he will have to "make the team".

TotallyScrewed · 06-15-2005, 02:56 PM

I think the guy is just showing some respect for Walls and Bailey and Middlebrooks, etc... What's wrong with that?? I'm actually pretty happy with his 'tude. He seemed to have a pretty good QB camp. Didn't he have something like 3 picks on one day?? I'm sure he's confident in his skills and will bring it on Sundays (and hopefully Mondays and Thursdays).

Jason in LA · 06-15-2005, 03:10 PM

Lets not add a different meaning to his quote. I wouldn't say he is saying that he doesn't want to play D. I'd say he knows his place at this point. That doesn't mean he won't be working hard to become a starting CB at some point. Why else would he be going through his playbook everyday? I agree with what TS said above. He's showing respect to the vets.

21 yards per punt return?!?! That's what I'm talking about. Last year the league leader was at 13.2, and only eight players were above 10 yards per return. Rod Smith was one of them, at 10.1, tied with the great Dante Hall. Williams won't be able to average 21 yards per return in the pros, but if he's as good as his numbers he will be amoung the league leaders.

Kaylore · 06-15-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

Lets not add a different meaning to his quote. I wouldn't say he is saying that he doesn't want to play D. I'd say he knows his place at this point. That doesn't mean he won't be working hard to become a starting CB at some point. Why else would he be going through his playbook everyday? I agree with what TS said above. He's showing respect to the vets.

Yeah, I think that he wants to show respect for the possition and for those in front of him playing it as well as his fellow rookies. The best attitude for a rookie is the "let me just help the team in my small way" kind. I'm betting that just because he doesn't say he plans on playing nickle doesn't mean he isn't going to try and push for that spot.

epicSocialism4tw · 06-15-2005, 06:56 PM

Darrent had a great week at the senior bowl as a corner. The media reported that he was easily the best corner that week and was the surprise of the week. I;m sure he has skills. This guy could turn out to be a solid pick.

06-15-2005, 10:31 AM	#1
PatsWin2002 Giggity Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: South of Boston Posts: 6,270	For Williams, the Field Is His Classroom http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.ph...4&storyID=4235 For Williams, the Field Is His Classroom By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Darrent Williams showed up for his first series of Broncos practices on May 16, his college days at Oklahoma State were firmly in his rear-view mirror. But the academic mentality remained. "It’s like your first day of school," Williams said. "You first go to school and like going to a new grade. You get a book, you know some of the things but you really don’t know too much. It’s like reading a book and getting to know things and learning everything all over again." If the recent practices were like school, then this juncture is summer vacation. Williams and the Broncos are off this week, and then he and the other rookies will go to the annual Rookie Symposium next weekend after another week back at the facility. But just because Williams is off doesn't mean he isn't working. "You have to look at (the playbook) at least once a day, -- especially me," he said. "I’m a young guy and don’t really doesn’t know a lot. I try to look at it at least once a day and also go over my notes." When the team-camp practices were ongoing, Williams said that he got daily work on returns -- doing punt returns in the first week and kickoffs in the second. Even though he's listed as a cornerback, he knows that it's on returns where he can make a difference in 2005. "I really don’t plan on playing a lot at corner but I plan on contributing on special teams and returning kicks," Williams said. "This year that will be my place to shine." He's already proved he can be explosive on punt returns, averaging 21.9 yards per return on 22 opportunities during his last two seasons at Oklahoma State, while breaking three for touchdowns, so he's already proven successful at what is generally considered the more difficult of the two return disciplines. "It is, because you've got to judge the ball and know when to fair catch and know where your blocks at, you got to catch the ball and try to make the first guy miss," Williams said. "Kickoff returns you get the ball and you try to read your blocks." Williams hopes that if he can master punt returning in the NFL, success on the kickoffs will follow. "It's kind of harder catching punts but I've been doing it so long it's pretty easy to me," Williams said. "(On kickoff returns) you've got to have great blocking. If I get good blocking I can take it the distance any time. Both are really about the same right now. I think both are fairly easy. I think I do both of them pretty well." But that's only through 14 organized team activities in the offseason. The preseason will surely provide a better barometer of just how much Williams can contribute as a rookie. Last edited by PatsWin2002; 06-15-2005 at 10:34 AM..

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Beantown Bronco Athletic Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mass Posts: 19,119 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	Knowing Shanny, he probably has him penciled in as the #2 CB already and just told him to say these things so opponents won't be scouting him.

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MT-Tdawg TIMAY!!! Adopt a Bronco: BIG AL #56 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 348	As long as this kid can return kicks i could care less. If he even does 1/3 of what Dante did for the chiefs 2 years back it will be well worth the pick. Personally I'd like to see him compete for the dimeback spot this year. I'd sure hope he could beat out Roc by years end.

06-15-2005, 01:20 PM	#13
Ballhawk Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,132	Rookie Corners get burned...just a fact of the NFL. Anyone remember Eddie Mac torching Shawn Springs over and over? If Williams is an instant ST star and can work his way into the nickle by the 2nd half of the year then this is a great pick.

06-15-2005, 02:56 PM	#15
TotallyScrewed Ring of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,597	I think the guy is just showing some respect for Walls and Bailey and Middlebrooks, etc... What's wrong with that?? I'm actually pretty happy with his 'tude. He seemed to have a pretty good QB camp. Didn't he have something like 3 picks on one day?? I'm sure he's confident in his skills and will bring it on Sundays (and hopefully Mondays and Thursdays).

06-15-2005, 03:10 PM	#16
Jason in LA Gimmie that rep fool! Speaking of Butts & Boob Mojo Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: LA Posts: 12,254	Lets not add a different meaning to his quote. I wouldn't say he is saying that he doesn't want to play D. I'd say he knows his place at this point. That doesn't mean he won't be working hard to become a starting CB at some point. Why else would he be going through his playbook everyday? I agree with what TS said above. He's showing respect to the vets. 21 yards per punt return?!?! That's what I'm talking about. Last year the league leader was at 13.2, and only eight players were above 10 yards per return. Rod Smith was one of them, at 10.1, tied with the great Dante Hall. Williams won't be able to average 21 yards per return in the pros, but if he's as good as his numbers he will be amoung the league leaders.

06-15-2005, 06:56 PM	#18
epicSocialism4tw Tebowing the long haul all the way to the title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: TX, USA Posts: 37,072 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	Darrent had a great week at the senior bowl as a corner. The media reported that he was easily the best corner that week and was the surprise of the week. I;m sure he has skills. This guy could turn out to be a solid pick.