Ex-Florida Safety May Be Instant Help for Dolphins

MIAMI — Safety Jarvis Williams sounds like an expert on aggressiveness, and the Miami Dolphins hope that translates into their second-round draft choice being a terror on the field.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder appears like the draft choice most likely to have an immediate impact on the team. Speaking before his first practice as a Dolphin, who began a mini-camp at St. Thomas University, Williams discussed the correlation between aggressive defense and turnovers.

“It (aggression) is something that comes naturally and something you have to work on,” Williams said. “You work on getting to the ball in practice and you work on hitting and stripping the ball, and then it starts to comes naturally.

“We’re going to try to cause a lot of turnovers, get to the ball as much as possible, hit people as much as we can.”

Miami Coach Don Shula has tirelessly repeated the need for more turnovers from his defense the past three years. Despite his prodding, the Dolphins had only nine interceptions in the 12 non-strike games in 1987, and Miami ranked 21st against the pass.

With veteran Glenn Blackwood recovering from a severe knee injury and the other incumbent safety, Bud Brown, a tough player who lacks speed, Williams has the opportunity to compete for a starting job. A four-year starter at Florida and a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, Williams is a big hitter who has the ability to disrupt opposing offenses.

“I don’t know about a mean streak, but it’s just something that comes naturally,” Williams said. “I just enjoy getting in there and mixing it up. It’s doing things you have to do to play football. You have to be aggressive on defense because that’s the only way you’re going to cause turnovers, cause fumbles and get the ball back to your offense.”

Williams has been timed at 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash, not blazing speed. He was used to return punts in college and said he enjoys playing special teams.

The Palataka, Fla., native expects the biggest difference between college and the NFL to be the increased need for concentration.

“Just staying there the whole time, just being prepared every play,” Williams said. “You fall asleep for a play and that’s it.”

Whether he gets placed in a starting slot during training camp or not, Williams plans to keep everything in perspective.

“I’m just going to do the things I’ve been doing, going out and playing hard, being prepared for whatever they throw at me,” Williams said. “The only thing I can do is come in and do the things I do best. That is get to the ball, get to wherever I need to be and do just whatever I need to do.”