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IllustrateD volume 25, issue 1 15 f bring the speed part of it. But I think I can bring the power part of the of- fense, going between tackles, A to A gap, not the wide position and getting sideline to sideline, but in between those guys and being a third-down back," Green said. While Green said he had signifi- cantly fewer missed assignments in this camp than he did last year, Knox still is working to learn the playbook and his assignments in pass protec- tion. But when he gets his hands on the ball, he's made quite an impres- sion, displaying a style he perfectly describes. "I would say my running style is kind of give-a-guy-a-move and then run him over," Knox said. "Me be- ing a smaller guy, a lot of guys try to go low on me. So I try to give them a move to stand them up and then I just run them right over. "It's actually been my best friend at this level. One thing that has helped me is driving my feet after I make contact. Moving fast, guys don't take time to break down all the way be- cause the game is moving so fast, so I try to break them down and run them over real quick, and it's worked pretty well for me." Senior Brandon Cottom, based on experience, could get playing time in games, but he probably needs to start heeding coaches' pleading of playing to his 260 pounds. More than once, again, in camp, Cottom didn't show the kind of physicality the coaches want to see for him to be a consis- tent, third-down back. But Cottom did make it through camp healthy, an accomplishment considering how he's been plagued by injuries over his career. Williams moves With Ricardo Allen gone, Frankie Williams was supposed to finally have a chance to prove he can be a lock- down cornerback. But that will have to wait. In the surprise of camp, Williams was working as the team's starting strong safety as practices opened. The move was made to replace Taylor Richards, who Hazell suspended for the first two games for an alcohol-re- lated arrest in the winter. But there's no guarantee Richards will get his spot back: That safety po- sition acts as essentially a third cor- nerback in Purdue's system and Wil- liams could be the perfect fit. He's an upperclassman leader who is good in coverage, and he's accept- ed the challenge of thriving in a new position while senior Antoine Lewis and junior Anthony Brown man the starting cornerback spots. "Anything to help the team," Wil- liams said. "I think my skills fit any kind of spot, honestly." As he learned the position and ad- justed to reading the quarterback's eyes instead of locking on receivers, Williams was in position to make some plays in camp. But he needs to turn those opportunities — he had four chances on interceptions but didn't convert any — into results. Purdue hopes that will come as Wil- liams continues to get comfortable at a spot he hasn't played since high school. But Lewis, for one, thinks Williams can be a game-changer for the Boil- ermakers. "In this conference in 2014, you need cover safeties, pretty good cover safeties, i.e. Michigan State, Nebras- ka, to cover some of those slots and tight ends. Those guys are racking up 60 catches, 1,000 yards every year, so to be able to slide a tough, vocal lead- er with some pretty nifty corner abili- ty over to the inside is just a huge up- grade for our defense overall," Lewis said. "That move is awesome." j Tom Campbell In the surprise move of camp, senior Frankie Williams was working as the team's starting strong safety on Day 1, being shifted from his expected top cornerback role.