Atlanta Falcons: 4 Observations From Win Over Titans
By John Buhler
Nick Williams Seems Like an Answer in the Slot
Nick Williams had what I consider as the most impressive preseason of any player on the 2015 Atlanta Falcons. The former return specialist made the club because of it and strangely prevents 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy out of East Carolina from making the active roster.
I knew that the Atlanta Falcons would have to figure something out in the slot with longtime third option Harry Douglas now playing for the Tennessee Titans. Ironically, Douglas was unable to play in Sunday’s game.
Logic seemed that either newcomer Leonard Hankerson, kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester, or record-setting prized draft pick Justin Hardy would more than adequately fill Douglas’ dissatisfied departure.
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Hankerson has actually eclipsed veteran WR Roddy White as the team’s second option at wide receiver, when he’s healthy of course. Hester has not played since the preseason and the front office had to place him on IR a few weeks ago. Obviously Hardy hasn’t seen the field.
The reason for that is that Nick Williams is making the most of his opportunities with the Atlanta Falcons. His familiarity with OC Kyle Shanahan is allowing him to make plays in the slot for the Falcons.
I’m not saying he will become a Wes Welker, Julian Edelman type of slot receiver for Atlanta, but Shanahan and WRs Coach Terry Robiskie think that Williams could become a big piece in the Falcons’ offense in the coming weeks.
Should this happen, this could stand as a major catalyst for giving the clipped Atlanta Falcons’ aerial attack some flight again. Perhaps Nick Williams could have his breakout game against the antiquated Tampa 2 defense of Lovie Smith’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8 at the Georgia Dome.
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