New Orleans Saints: Marcus Williams must avoid sophomore slump
With the mistake at Minnesota behind the New Orleans Saints, Marcus Williams needs to stay on track and avoid the pains of being a second-year player.
Despite a stellar season, the New Orleans Saints season ended abruptly. Even though it was a combination of factors, one was definitely the missed tackle by Marcus Williams. With his mistake in Minnesota now behind him and a chance at a Super Bowl run, Williams needs to learn from his previous mistake and not let it dictate his game this season.
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Before talking about this upcoming season, let’s look at how Marcus Williams played in his rookie season. Williams was drafted in the second round and still managed to go toe-to-toe with their first-round pick, Marshon Lattimore.
Looking at his stats, Williams had a good rookie season. He appeared in 15 games, missing only one. As far as his stat line goes, Williams finished the season with 71 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defensed. Overall, it was a solid season for Williams and a major breakthrough for the Saints’ defense.
Heading into his second season, Williams must play confidently and become a leader on defense. Even though Williams has put the Minnesota Mistake behind him, it’s always going to be in the back of our minds. It’s hard to forget such horribly blown coverage but it’s a lesson for Williams.
The biggest lesson Williams has to carry into the 2018 season is always keeping your eye on the ball. He has to do that both, literally and figuratively. His missed tackle on Diggs was bad and he can’t make another rookie mistake like that. Basically, he needs to focus on the ball and stopping whoever has it.
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Another lesson for Williams is playing with confidence. Despite his snafu at the end of the season, Williams is a good player. Early reports from training camp (via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate) attest to that including picking off Drew Brees. Williams needs to bring the same air of confidence into the field and make opposing offenses scared.
The last key to success for Williams is letting the past go. Even though I’ve mentioned the Minnesota Mistake, the best idea for Williams is to let it go. The game ended months ago and the Vikings never even made it to the Super Bowl. He doesn’t need to carry that guilt or regret into the 2018 season. It will work out better for him if he doesn’t.
With the Saints drafting defense in the first round once again, it’s clear they’re banking on a strong defensive unit. Even though Williams is one part of it, he’s one of the most important pieces. A slight dip in production could spell disaster for the defense.
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As long as Williams follow the three rules above, he should improve. Even if he produces relatively similar numbers, he’s one of their best young players. If the reports from training camp hold true, then the Saints should have nothing to worry about.