Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWilliams returns to safety
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 9/10/08, 11:41 PM EST Section: Sports
Da'Mon Merkerson entered the weekly defensive back meeting Tuesday afternoon to a pleasant surprise. There was Bruce Williams, anxious to start dissecting Penn State's explosive offense, almost as if he had never left the Syracuse secondary.
The Orange coaching staff has decided to move Williams back from wide receiver to free safety, where he has played the last two seasons. SU head coach Greg Robinson converted Williams to a wideout midway through training camp this summer to help bolster an inexperienced and struggling receiving corps.
Two weeks into the season, though, it appears the defense is in need of his services even more.
Syracuse is coming off a dreadful defensive performance Sept. 6, in which it allowed 42 points to Akron. SU also lost free safety Randy McKinnon and cornerback Nico Scott, both starters, to injuries in last week's game.
Instead of filling the holes with young players within the defense, the Orange is turning to Williams, a team captain, to provide his experience and leadership to a unit in desperately searching for the Calvary.
Williams will have his first chance back in his old position Saturday, when Syracuse welcomes the No. 17 Nittany Lions to the Carrier Dome at 3:30 p.m.
"He's out there shouting, screaming, and we're like, 'Oh wow, Bruce is back!'" said Merkerson, a sophomore cornerback who moved from wideout during spring practice. "You just hear him telling you, talking to you, asking you what you're doing. He's really taken on the role of captain on our defense."
Williams and Robinson were not available for comment.
Syracuse offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said it was Robinson's decision to move Williams, and he and Robinson quickly discussed the issue, "but very little."
Browning also said he suspects Robinson ultimately chose to put Williams back on the defense primarily because of the lack of depth in the secondary. While the offense should be able to successfully plug in a combination of true freshmen Marcus Sales and Van Chew and redshirt freshman Chaz Cervino in the third wide receiver slot Williams now vacates.
The Orange coaching staff has decided to move Williams back from wide receiver to free safety, where he has played the last two seasons. SU head coach Greg Robinson converted Williams to a wideout midway through training camp this summer to help bolster an inexperienced and struggling receiving corps.
Two weeks into the season, though, it appears the defense is in need of his services even more.
Syracuse is coming off a dreadful defensive performance Sept. 6, in which it allowed 42 points to Akron. SU also lost free safety Randy McKinnon and cornerback Nico Scott, both starters, to injuries in last week's game.
Instead of filling the holes with young players within the defense, the Orange is turning to Williams, a team captain, to provide his experience and leadership to a unit in desperately searching for the Calvary.
Williams will have his first chance back in his old position Saturday, when Syracuse welcomes the No. 17 Nittany Lions to the Carrier Dome at 3:30 p.m.
"He's out there shouting, screaming, and we're like, 'Oh wow, Bruce is back!'" said Merkerson, a sophomore cornerback who moved from wideout during spring practice. "You just hear him telling you, talking to you, asking you what you're doing. He's really taken on the role of captain on our defense."
Williams and Robinson were not available for comment.
Syracuse offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said it was Robinson's decision to move Williams, and he and Robinson quickly discussed the issue, "but very little."
Browning also said he suspects Robinson ultimately chose to put Williams back on the defense primarily because of the lack of depth in the secondary. While the offense should be able to successfully plug in a combination of true freshmen Marcus Sales and Van Chew and redshirt freshman Chaz Cervino in the third wide receiver slot Williams now vacates.
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