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Alumni in the NFL
"I want to take control of the secondary, if not the whole defense." by Michael Eisen, Giants.com April 1, 2002 East Rutherford, N.J. - The Giants defense will enter a vastly changed landscape in 2002 and Shaun Williams intends to help guide the unit through the inevitable peaks and valleys. "I've prepared myself well for the opportunity to be a leader. I think I'll be ready to do it. They're paying me the kind of money that shows they expect me to be a leader." - S Shaun Williams In Williams' first four years with the team, such leadership was often provided by Jessie Armstead. But the five-time Pro Bowl linebacker now plays for the Washington Redskins. Defensive coordinator John Fox also had a huge role in providing the defense with much-needed direction. He is now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. Williams also received much assistance in navigating the pro football terrain from fellow safety and close friend San Garnes, who now patrols the secondary for the Jets. All of which means that Williams, who last week signed a new contract to remain with the Giants, will be counted on not only to provide outstanding play at a new position,
"I think I'm very ready for that challenge," Williams said after a rigorous workout in the team's offseason program. "I've prepared myself well for the opportunity to be a leader. I think I'll be ready to do it. They're paying me the kind of money that shows they expect me to be a leader. "I'm definitely going to be a more vocal person in the locker room and on the field. I want to be a leader out there. I want to take control of the secondary, if not the whole defense. My goal is to be one of the top players on that defense." The Giants still have plenty of talent on the defense, which in 2001 was ranked 14th overall in the NFL (allowing 310.9 yards a game), eighth against the run (96.6) and first in opposing third-down conversions (66-218, 30.3 percent). It begins with left end Michael Strahan, who set an NFL record with 22.5 sacks last season and continues with linemen Keith Hamilton and Kenny Holmes, linebacker Mike Barrow and cornerbacks Jason Sehorn, Will Allen and William Peterson. Although the departures of Fox, Armstead and Garnes could adversely affect the defense, at least initially, Williams believes the remaining players will rally in their absence. "I think we have a lot to prove," Williams said. "And the personality of this defense is one that we like to be challenged and we like to be the underdogs. It's like the personality of our whole team. When we went to the Super Bowl a lot of people doubted us, but we fought through it. I think with the adversity we're facing right now, it's going to bring our defense closer together and our team closer together." Williams strongly endorses the promotion of Johnnie Lynn to replace Fox as defensive coordinator. Lynn had been the team's secondary coach for five years. "I was very happy to see coach Lynn get the job," Williams said. "He's been here with me - and he's a UCLA alumnus (as is Williams). Coach Lynn is a good guy. He's prepared for this and I think he's going to do an outstanding job. I think our defense will improve from last year. I think coach Lynn is going to play an aggressive style of defense. He'll let us play free and have fun." Williams was the Giants' most important free agent this offseason. At 25, he should be entering the prime of his career. With the departure of Garnes, retaining Williams was important in maintaining continuity and providing experience at the back of the defense. "I'm obviously very exciting about having Shaun re-sign with us," coach Jim Fassel said. "Shaun is one of our outstanding young players. His development the last couple of years, not only his playing ability but his leadership qualities, has been impressive. He's the type of guy we need to keep if we're going to make progress. General manager Ernie Accorsi said, "Obviously, Shaun Williams was our first priority this offseason. He solidifies our defensive secondary. It's important that he's also going to get an opportunity to play the position he was drafted for." That would be strong safety, which has been Garnes' domain since 1997. With Garnes gone, Williams is expected to move from free safety to strong. Omar Stoutmire is the current leading candidate to play free safety. Will moving over a few feet prove to be significant for Williams? "It all depends how they play us," he said. "They can make it a minor difference or they can make it a major difference. Whatever the team wants me to do, I'll do and I'm going to do it well. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to get out there and play and hit and have fun. If they put me down in the box more, that's fine with me. I like to get down there and make tackles." The absence of Garnes, more than playing a new position, will be strange for Williams. The two young safeties had been virtually inseparable since Williams' arrival in 1998, partners on the field and best friends out of uniform. "It will be very weird not having Sam back there," Williams said. "We still talk almost every day. We miss each other. But he's still right down the road." Given the departure of his friend - as well as Armstead, whose locker was right next door to Williams' - and the fact that Williams is a California native who never traveled to the East Coast until he was drafted by the Giants, it would not have been an outrageous notion for Williams to seriously investigate the possibility of playing for another team. But he had little interest in pursuing other options. "I didn't want to go anywhere else, so everything worked out great," Williams said. "It's a good feeling when you get drafted by a team and you're contract's up and they show they're really interested in you as a player and they want to re-sign you. There's a mutual respect there. It makes you want to go out as a person and as a player and work harder for the organization. "There's no doubt in my mind this is where I wanted to be. When I first came here as a rookie I was homesick and I really missed my family. But now this fells like home. Now I'm accustomed to being here and I'm comfortable. I even adjusted to the climate." With the losses the Giants have incurred on defense, it's likely Williams' biggest adjustments are ahead of him. |
