OWH: Kieron Williams Transforms from Backup to Playmaker

[Mavric]

Williams intercepted two passes Saturday as Nebraska beat Purdue 27-14 to stay unbeaten. He also had a tackle for loss and pass breakup.

That has continued his evolution from a special-teams contributor and backup the last two seasons to being a pleasant surprise on an improved defense.

“I always took notice of him, because of the fact that he was always around the office, always looking at film,” defensive coordinator Mark Banker said. “In fact, there were some times I’d be trying to shoo him away because I’m trying to get my work done and he was moving on yet to another edit, and I’d have to make him another edit.”

At the same time, Banker said, Williams’ effort wasn’t always translating to production in practice or games last season.

“It was frustrating from that standpoint to see that happen for the young man,” Banker said. “He stayed with it. He improved some things mentally that just needed to transfer from the classroom to the field.”

OWH

 

[Mavric]

A little surprised he didn't get on the field more last year, especially with how much the DBs struggled. He was a huge play-maker as a freshman and is showing that again now. Kind of seems to be one of those guys who just has a nose for the ball.

 

[BIG ERN]

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

 

[ColoradoHusk]

The title of this thread when you see it on the front page makes it look like Kieron is going to transfer. Just an observation.

 

[krc1995]

The title of this thread when you see it on the front page makes it look like Kieron is going to transfer. Just an observation.

that's what I thought too. It cuts off at the wrong word.

 

[krc1995]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

 

[jsneb83]

The title of this thread when you see it on the front page makes it look like Kieron is going to transfer. Just an observation.

Was just coming in to post this also.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

I am sure this happens every year with every team across the country. For some reason, a more veteran player(s) or returning starter(s) are playing over a younger, but more talented player.

 

[Count 'Bility]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

 

[Nebfanatic]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

agreed. Playing well on special teams is a far cry from making reads and reacting to offenses correctly. It's one thing to be more athletic and another to watch and know the film but puthing them together can prove difficult and take some time. You can seem to have all of the tools but just don't do the right things but eventually the more reps you see a new muscle memory takes over

 

[BIG ERN]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

If someone has the time please go find my posts last year - I was calling for him to play over Cockrell who was not a good player IMO

 

[Count 'Bility]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

If someone has the time please go find my posts last year - I was calling for him to play over Cockrell who was not a good player IMO

That's fine. but id doesnt change a thing. Cockrell not being good doesnt necessarily mean Williams was better. We fans do not know.

 

[BIG ERN]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

If someone has the time please go find my posts last year - I was calling for him to play over Cockrell who was not a good player IMO

That's fine. but id doesnt change a thing. Cockrell not being good doesnt necessarily mean Williams was better. We fans do not know.

I'm not saying he would play last year like he is right now, but people really didn't think he should have gotten more looks? Was obvious from my view of watching the games

 

[STL Husker]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

If someone has the time please go find my posts last year - I was calling for him to play over Cockrell who was not a good player IMO

That's fine. but id doesnt change a thing. Cockrell not being good doesnt necessarily mean Williams was better. We fans do not know.

I'm not saying he would play last year like he is right now, but people really didn't think he should have gotten more looks? Was obvious from my view of watching the games

Maybe he was making a lot of mistakes in practice and in games that fans can't see when we don't know what his responsibility is. The coaching staff is not going to put their jobs on the line to play favorites with players. There was obviously something the coaches liked better about Cockrell. The job is way too cut-throat to not play what they believe to be the best player.

 

[Mavric]

Makes me wonder if there's a freshman or a few that are being overlooked right now. Particularly on the o-line. I know, I know, the coaches know best.

He def should have played more last year. He was better than Cockrell - he even played very well on ST all season

But you guys have to realize that just cuz he's better NOW than Cockrell was THEN, doesnt translate into he was better then than Cockrell was then. I know it's hard but fans should get past the whole knowing personell better than the coaches thing when we spend a tiny fraction of the time with the players and evaluating them as the coaches do.

If someone has the time please go find my posts last year - I was calling for him to play over Cockrell who was not a good player IMO

That's fine. but id doesnt change a thing. Cockrell not being good doesnt necessarily mean Williams was better. We fans do not know.

I'm not saying he would play last year like he is right now, but people really didn't think he should have gotten more looks? Was obvious from my view of watching the games

I'm left to believe that Cockrell had some dirt on both this staff and the previous one. I don't know why either staff played him as much as they did.

Generall speaking, I agree with Count. However it's also naive to think that coaches don't have a bit of a "favorite" here and there for any number of reasons - seniority, better attitude, etc. Not saying you sit Nate Gerry and play Charles Jackson just because you like Jackson's haircut but if two guys are close you may like one thing a little better and live with not being quite as good at something else.

And I don't think that's too far out of the realm of possibilities with Kieron. He didn't get a Blackshirt to start the season despite being a starter in the first game. And he didn't get a Blackshirt after that game despite having a great game and still being a starter. There was something odd about that. Not saying malicious, just odd. Doesn't add up.

And some guys just play better then you expect them to when they get in a game. Maybe they don't look quite as good in practice for whatever reason but can translate to the game field better.