Let's talk Mario Williams

[t.j 35]

The big questions about Williams seem to be his effort. His athleticism is incredible.

 

nfl.com grades him as a 7.0, where 7.0 - 7.9 Pro Bowl Player – A true difference maker 1st

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/williams_mario

 

Thoughts?

 

IMO, he is the best athlete at the draft and plays a highly sought-after position, but it sounds like he doesn't have the determination to be in the class of the top one or two players in this draft.

[Zap 0]

The big questions about Williams seem to be his effort. His athleticism is incredible.

 

nfl.com grades him as a 7.0, where 7.0 - 7.9 Pro Bowl Player – A true difference maker 1st

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/williams_mario

 

Thoughts?

 

IMO, he is the best athlete at the draft and plays a highly sought-after position, but it sounds like he doesn't have the determination to be in the class of the top one or two players in this draft.

 

There's definitely serious caveats not often discussed because the stud potential trumps them. I wouldn't call him the best athlete in the class, just one of the primary athletic freaks.

 

Down: Fwiw, he struggled early last season against some very mediocre competition. Then he got it going, but he was still a little inconsistent. 8 of his 13 sacks came in two dominating 4 sack games against very bad offensive lines. In between those performances he was handled by FSU in a win, and unfortunately dominated by Jeremy Trueblood of Boston College. It was Trueblood's finest moment. Mario never sniffed the QB and got pancaked flat runover and backed up on by True on a TD run. Jeremy owned him all day. Fact. I loves me some tackles this year. He only had six sacks the year before and half of them came in one game.

 

As far as his drive is concerned, it's not uncommon with underclassmen. They benefit psychologically from a final year of school. Dealing with things at the normal pace brings a business approach and maturity to entering the pros. Jumping the gun because they're special comes with issues. I don't think Mario is any worse than average in this regard, and it's not an issue.

 

Up: Despite the inconsistency and possible motivation issues, he was always there, always charging, frequently double teamed, and healthy. He has the hands and feet of a great MLB. He sheds blocks and plays the run better than any DE to come out in years. He will pursue sideline to sideline and force backs into his LBs like a great OLB. He plays with good instincts, natural intelligence. And if you make a mistake, he'll hurt somebody with the ball. The Peppers comparison looks very valid in that they are both such great athletes. Peppers is the better athlete, but Mario has size, speed and youth to spare. So the sky's the limit.

 

Note: If I ranked this class overall and not by position, Mario Williams would not be in my top 5.

[CA_7 0]

Kiper was on NFL Live today and said that if Bush was not in this draft Williams would be the consensus #1 pick this year. Not sure why he isn't a definite #2 overall with Bush around

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Interesting Grades

QBs

Leinart 6.4

Clemens 6.3

Meyer 6.25

Martin 6.2

Shockley 6.0

Young 5.9

Hackney 5.9

Whitehurst 5.87

Croyle 5.85

Cutler 5.8

Jackson 5.8

 

RBs

Bush 7.0

Maroney 6.2

White 6.2

Drew 6.0

Washington 6.0

Ross 6.0

Addai 5.9

Riggs 5.8

Bell 5.8

Henderson 5.8

Lundy 5.8

Williams 5.7

 

Don't think I have any use for those.

[esoitl 0]

Kiper was on NFL Live today and said that if Bush was not in this draft Williams would be the consensus #1 pick this year. Not sure why he isn't a definite #2 overall with Bush around

cause Kioper is an asshat that contradicts himself constantly?

[Zap 0]

Interesting Grades

 

Don't think I have any use for those.

 

 

They're horrible at NFL.com this year.