Drafting/Signing a Safety

[HarveyWallbangers]

Woodson to safety isn't far-fetched. Similar to Rod Woodson late in his career. His coverage skills are diminishing, but they are still good for a safety. He plays the role of a safety at time in our defense already. The question when you move a corner to safety is can they be physical enough. Woodson is.

[pbmax]

An elite suicide squad? That really would be a one way ticket.

[Upnorth]

Suicide Squad, ATTACK! That showed em, ugh.

[Tarlam!]

Woodson to safety isn't far-fetched. Similar to Rod Woodson late in his career. His coverage skills are diminishing, but they are still good for a safety. He plays the role of a safety at time in our defense already. The question when you move a corner to safety is can they be physical enough. Woodson is.

Agreed Harv, but not in the Collins role deep. He is so valuable up at the LOS, no? Teach a willing student here.

[Joemailman]

It seems to me that moving Woodson to Safety would just make it easier for opposing QB's to account for him. The way things are now, they don't know where the hell he'll line up, which is to his advantage.

[Brando19]

You think TT is gonna go out and sign a free agent?

I know where you're coming from...but how did we get this Woodson guy everyone is talking about?

[Joemailman]

I know where you're coming from...but how did we get this Woodson guy everyone is talking about?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Ahmad Carroll was one of the starting cornerbacks at the time. I just don't see there being a Safety available who would have the kind of coverage/ballhawking skills the Packers will be looking for. Better chance of finding that in the draft.

[Brandon494]

Woodson might not have Nick Collins speed but he has more than enough speed to play FS in the future. I think he'll make a great safety because he is physical and has great instincts. Hopefully Collins comes back and none of this matters.

[swede]

I vote to draft a S and keep Woodson where he is.

I agree. And where he is, he is a bone in the throat of the opposing offense. CB, DB, Safety...whatever you call it he is an assassin back there in a very specialized role.

We do need another mere mortal safety, though, and I agree that we will need to draft him to get him.

[swede]

I'm going to threadjack since, at the very least, we are on the subject of defensive backs.

A student brought up a trading card of Green Bay Packer defensive back #37 to share with me, and I thought it was Shields. Upon closer inspection the player's name was Tyrone Williams. He was actually a starter across from Doug Evans in 1997.

Why do I have almost no memory of the guy? I could have named every other starter on that team's defense and I would have gotten that position wrong because I would have forgotten that George Teague was already gone.

Was Tyrone unusually bad? good? quiet? It bugs me that I don't remember a four year player from that era.

[pbmax]

I'm going to threadjack since, at the very least, we are on the subject of defensive backs.

A student brought up a trading card of Green Bay Packer defensive back #37 to share with me, and I thought it was Shields. Upon closer inspection the player's name was Tyrone Williams. He was actually a starter across from Doug Evans in 1997.

Why do I have almost no memory of the guy? I could have named every other starter on that team's defense and I would have gotten that position wrong because I would have forgotten that George Teague was already gone.

Was Tyrone unusually bad? good? quiet? It bugs me that I don't remember a four year player from that era.

He was small and fast and was not a fierce tackler. He was the 3rd CB for a year or two before becoming the starter sometime after Newsome was injured (and never regained his previous form). He excelled in deep coverage and was essentially a press corner who did not bump and run much at all. He was probably a step below Pro Bowl, but he was solid. After Doug Evans took a performance free fall** and found himself in Carolina, Williams was the best the Packers had. His shortcoming in stature and physicality meant he was a poor match for a huge receiver like Moss. Hence the 3 CB draft by Wolf. He partnered with McKenzie for a few years.

If I am not mistaken, after he was no longer serviceable, Sherman traded for Al Harris.

Played 1996 to 2002. So partial year as backup until Newsome was hurt. Probably sat again when Newsome came back then might have made his way to starter after Evans left (97) a year before Newsome did (98). Was from Nebraska and was considered a character risk because of a charge of unloading a gun into a car I think.

** My memory wants me to believe that the Doug Evans performance free fall occurred the moment he discovered Randy Moss. But I could just be telling myself a tall tale.

[mraynrand]

Tyrone's first big play that I recall was an INT late in the first half of the NFCC game vs. Carolina in '96. The loss of Newsome early in 1997 put Twill in the starting lineup and forced Roderick Mullen into the nickel spot. I don't even remember if they had a real dime corner - I think they used rookie safety Darren Sharper for that role. Twill was Ok, it was the dropoff in the depth chart behind him that was killer. Having to depend on Seth Joyner and Eugene RObinson in '97 didn't help much either...

[pbmax]

Tyrone's first big play that I recall was an INT late in the first half of the NFCC game vs. Carolina in '96. The loss of Newsome early in 1997 put Twill in the starting lineup and forced Roderick Mullen into the nickel spot. I don't even remember if they had a real dime corner - I think they used rookie safety Darren Sharper for that role. Twill was Ok, it was the dropoff in the depth chart behind him that was killer. Having to depend on Seth Joyner and Eugene RObinson in '97 didn't help much either...

Mike Prior was in the mix for both nickel and dime. Made for a good run defense sub package.

[mraynrand]

Mike Prior was in the mix for both nickel and dime. Made for a good run defense sub package.

I seem to recall they worked Sharper in as the season went along. Plays I remember were an INT at home against Detroit (night game) and then arecovered a fumble and TD against Dallas. Prior was a reliable stiff in 'coverage,' if you could call it that.

[pbmax]

I seem to recall they worked Sharper in as the season went along. Plays I remember were an INT at home against Detroit (night game) and then arecovered a fumble and TD against Dallas. Prior was a reliable stiff in 'coverage,' if you could call it that.

Oh, yes. Prior was a stop gap nickel guy. Solid but did not provide coverage, he was a safety pure and simple. Prior to Sharper, he was pressed into service because of injuries (maybe Newsome?) and after that he was used like a big nickel package, when personnel said pass but tendency said run.