Broncos Sign CB Jack Williams; Top 2 Picks Remain Unsigned

by John Bena on Jul 22, 2008 2:35 PM MDT in Denver Broncos Roster Moves

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed cornerback Jack Williams, whom they selected in the fourth round (119th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft from Kent State University. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) totaled 20 takeaways (13 interceptions, 7 fumble recoveries) in 44 career games (37 starts) at Kent State. He finished his collegiate career with 245 tackles (167 solo), 13 interceptions (209 yds.), 25 pass breakups, three sacks (26 yds.), seven forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

In 2007, Williams was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference after registering a career-high 93 tackles (70 solo) along with three interceptions while starting all 11 games played. A year earlier, he tied for first in the nation with five forced fumbles and added four interceptions in 12 games (10 starts) for the Golden Flashes.

Williams started all 11 games as a sophomore, posting four interceptions, and saw time in 10 games (5 starts) as a red-shirt freshman.

An all-state selection at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Va., Jack Williams was born on March 27, 1985.

With Williams' signing, the Broncos have signed seven of their nine selections from the 2008 NFL Draft.

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I like that we are picking up physical guys to play defense.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 22, 2008 3:14 PM MDT reply actions

So physical in fact

that they resemble cover-2 corners. I can’t imagine us going this way, but this draft seems to be leaving our options open…

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jul 22, 2008 3:58 PM MDT up reply actions

Perhaps we are just obsessed with bringing back

smash mouth Bronco football.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 22, 2008 5:24 PM MDT up reply actions

God I hope so!!

There is nothing you cannot be, there is nothing you cannot do. There is nothing you cannot have.

by sirsam on Jul 22, 2008 7:17 PM MDT up reply actions

I hope we don't.

I really hope we avoid the cover two types, and stick with the Bailey “coverage” types.

But you are dead on right. He does resemble a cover two corner. I hope he can adjust.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Jul 23, 2008 1:39 PM MDT up reply actions

This is good news. The Broncos seem to be right on their regular schedule in terms of signing their picks. Williams is one of those guys that frequently gets the ‘potential steal’ label attached to him so I’m excited to see what he can do.

Here’s a question for the guys that know the Broncos personnel well. Most journalists are assuming that Williams was brought in to take the place of either Foxworth or Paymah in 2009 since both are free agents at the end of the season. Which of those two do you see as more likely to stick? Foxworth has been a class act and is versatile on the field, but my impressions from their play last year was that Paymah may have surpassed him as a straight CB.

by jaffe28 on Jul 22, 2008 3:57 PM MDT reply actions

There are two answers to the question

The first is that the Broncos probably expect to lose them both.

If they end up fighting to keep one of them, I expect it to be Foxworth. Last year is a tough year to evaluate players straight up. Even Champ looked like his “football smarts” were in decline. Not true, of course. Good players got caught doing too much, and not trusting one another. I don’t think the safety experience is going to hurt Foxworth in the long run, and it is the main reason that Paymah looked better. Safety is a tough position to play and without experience, you could tell that Foxworth didn’t really understand how much room was too much. Bottom line is it is probably too early to tell who has the advantage. Definitely a storyline for 2008 though.

I suppose that their is a third option, and that is that somehow Denver will manage to keep both players. That, however, is a question for the capologists. I belive they are making essentially the same right now. Keep in mind that money will be freed up by departing veterans, so several combinations are possible….

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jul 22, 2008 4:07 PM MDT up reply actions

I am not ready to think of life without Champ...one down year, let's talk about

his decline after two straight down years. Everyone deserves a mulligan. I could see Jack Williams taking over for Dre Bly in the near future(2010). At which point, we’ll be ready to replace Champ by 2011 or 12. Man, I just said I am not ready to think of life without Champ and here I go and say it. :(

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 22, 2008 5:26 PM MDT up reply actions

I don’t want to think about it either. I think he might last awhile though. Also, though hopefully a long way in the future, I wouldn’t be averse to trying Champ out at FS when he loses a step at corner. His anticipation skills might make him one of the great ball-hawking safeties for several years, and we all know that he’s a fantastic tackler. He might not be a big hitting safety but he’ll pick balls off and get guys down. We might get another whole contract out of him that way!

That said, he’s got another 3 or 4 seasons in him as a top level corner if he stays healthy.

As far as last year, he was trying to play corner and linebacker at the same time because of our atrocious play in the front seven. I still don’t think he would’ve been beaten on that deep ball against Green Bay if he thought he could trust the guys up front. I expect that our run defense will be improved enough that we will see something much closer to the Champ of ‘06 than ‘07 this year.

And styg, thanks for the quick reply. I’m really glad I discovered this site cause I get more insight and information by asking a couple questions than in months of reading the Post or the News.

by jaffe28 on Jul 22, 2008 5:42 PM MDT up reply actions

Well, it wasn't much of a reply

but glad if it helped at all. It was a good question in that it pointed out something to keep our eyes peeled for during 08.

P.S. Don’t let hoosierteacher catch you talking about converting Champ to safety!

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jul 22, 2008 5:56 PM MDT up reply actions

Safties in 2009's draft class

Considering how rich the next class is in safeties, I would be irate if the Broncos don’t pick one up next year. You can argue that the ‘best-player-available’ strategy dictates picking another player but most teams avoid this problem by positioning themselves to get both a need & the BPA. There are too, too many good ones for the Broncos to have a plausible excuse for not drafting one next year—and a good one, too.

by Colinski on Jul 23, 2008 1:37 PM MDT up reply actions

LOL

No no no no no! Champ will never do it! lol

FWIW, I entirely agree with your answer. I highly doubt that we keep Fox and Pay both. I also expect us to pick up a SAF in FA or the draft if we don’t show some quality at the position this year. I also expect Lynch to retire, and not to act wishy washy like Favre has since his “retirement”.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Jul 23, 2008 1:44 PM MDT up reply actions

there won't be any replacing Champ

You can’t replace a guy like that. Maybe they will discover the fountain of youth within a couple years and he won’t have to retire.

by unkown on Jul 22, 2008 5:42 PM MDT up reply actions

Or....

We could clone him like Ted Williams. Then we’d have an infinite supply of Champs!

Why do I live in Kansas City?

by papigrande on Jul 22, 2008 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions

You guys crack me up!!

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Emerson

by firstfan on Jul 22, 2008 5:59 PM MDT up reply actions

Champ isnt going anywhere

Last year the whole defense stunk. But I am willing to bet he gets a new deal after his 9th PB appearance this year. he still gets the fewest balls thrown his way. Now I have a feeling if anyone CB is gone next year it could be Bly. He is the oldest of the CB’s. Plus I think it all depends on how good Foxworth and Paymah play this year also

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jul 22, 2008 6:07 PM MDT reply actions

That's the way I see it . . .

It would seem to me at this point that Bly may be a more likely candidate to make an exit next year. From the reports I have seen (maybe reading between the lines some), Foxworth is pushing Bly a bit. If he is
that close, then youth becomes a major consideration. Moreover, again from what I hear, Paymah isn’t that far off Foxworth. And now comes Williams.

However, the Broncos did not draft Williams with the specific idea of losing one of the others. They need five CBs. Period. Last year’s predicament vividly demonstrated the deficiency of having only four.

Regarding Champ, any talk of decline is premature and silly, IMO. I believe he has another two or three Pro Bowls in him and another five or six solid years at the position. Deion Sanders and Darrell Green had no problems doing that, so I don’t see why Champ cannot, barring injury, of course.

by AZDynamics on Jul 22, 2008 8:53 PM MDT up reply actions

I'll get excited when...

the Bronco that was a Bronco, and is a Bronco again signs. We have a Royal E. signed and ready to play, and this so little news turns into training camp, pre-season, and then season. As stupid as I am I still get tired of small talk. I am ready for camp, pre-season, and the real thing.

Let’s pray that injuries do not befall us again. Let’s pray that we are not just a bunch of tallent—but we are a team. Lets pray that the pieces brought in make a great finish to a nearly finished puzzle.

I’m tired of the small talk—-I’m ready for some football !! Love this team!! Can’t wait!!

by Mike Clark on Jul 22, 2008 10:35 PM MDT reply actions