FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons have made roster moves twice in less than a week to their defensive backfield, the area on the team that appeared in need of some improvement during the preseason.
With NFL teams having to meet Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline to pare their rosters down to 53 players, the Falcons pounced Sunday on veteran defensive back Brian Williams after Jacksonville cut him for, reportedly for salary cap reasons.
The 5-foot-11, 202-pound Williams, who started six games at safety last season, 10 at corner and who also can play nickel, appears to be prepared to make an immediate impact.
Williams played for the Jaguars when Head Coach Mike Smith was Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator. The 30-year-old also played under Falcons defensive backs coach Alvin Reynolds, who held the same title in Jacksonville from 2003 to 2007.
In contrast, the Falcons’ other acquisition, cornerback Tye Hill, will need more time to acclimate himself, Smith said.
“I think [Williams] is a different situation [from Hill] in terms of his familiarity with our scheme because it is basically the same scheme and the same verbiage that he’s used to hearing,” Smith said.
“There’s a few things that have changed over the last two years, but I think it’s a completely different situation... One, he has versatility and can play multiple positions and he will have an opportunity to compete in all three of those positions and, secondly, he has the ability to get integrated into our scheme because he knows it while Tye is going to be swimming uphill for a while.”
Smith said the Falcons would work him in first at corner and nickel. Smith pointed out that with teams’ having to de-activate eight players on Sunday to reach the league-mandated 45-man roster, Williams offers versatility.
The eight-year veteran said he played both the left and right side at corner and that he would be willing to do whatever was necessary to play.
“Right now I’m just here to embrace whatever role is here for me and doing whatever I can do to contribute,” he said.
The Falcons cut veteran safety Jamaal Fudge, a former teammate of Williams’ with the Jaguars, to make room for the defensive back. Nonetheless, Williams will recognize a couple of faces from his Jacksonville days, notably linebackers Tony Gilbert and Mike Peterson.
Peterson was excited about the acquisition, calling Williams a “hard-nosed football player.”
“Me and him went into wars, a lot of battles together,” Peterson said. “He’s one of the guys I’m not worried about at all. He knows what to expect of Smitty, what’s expected of this defense. He’s definitely one of the guys I’m not worried about. I’m sure he’ll come right in and jell great with the guys.”
Peterson didn’t seem to expect that transition to take too long.
“He’ll be fine, man,” he said. “Once you’re a football player, there’s only so many ways you can play Cover 2, Cover 3 and Cover 1 and so, like I say, I’m not worried about his game at all. He can play the run, he can play safety, corner, the nickel position.”
RYAN SENT HOME: Starting quarterback Matt Ryan did not practice on Monday, as he was sent home after he did not feel well, Smith said. Asked if Ryan had flu-like symptons, Smith refused to elaborate, but he did say that Ryan was expected back for Wednesday’s practice. Tuesday is an off day for the players.
OTHER INJURIES: Running back Jerious Norwood and safety William Moore, both of whom were injured in the team’s third preseason game on Aug. 29, also did not practice. Smith said the team would offer updates on the conditions of those players on Wednesday, as per league rules.
Neither player participated in the team’s final preseason game on Thursday. Norwood had issues with his head and leg after being on the receiving end of a hard hit against San Diego and Moore pulled his hamstring, his second injury of the preseason after missing three weeks with a knee injury.
