Ryan Williams Video (Wow!)

[BleedRed]

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but it's a pretty "sweet" run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyLmWyrbYI&feature=related

 

[D-Dogg]

Personally, the run that starts around 2:10 in this video is WOW to me. Dragging the guy 10 yards is impressive for sure, but the run at 2:10 looks more like what he'll see behind the Cards line.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Seems to me that he has a nice ability to break tackles and but through initial contact. He also seems to be pretty "quick" around the line, however, he lacks true break-away speed. I don't think we'll many, if any, long TD runs from Williams in the NFL.
Trying to come up with a comparable style... In some ways, he actually reminds me of what we currently have in Hightower. Perhaps he's "quicker" up at the line than Timmy. But, both lack true break-away speed and both are very determined runners...

But hey, if he can find a way to average 4.5 per carry or better, I don't care care if he ever puts up 80 yard TD runs...

 

[Shane]

I don't think we'll many, if any, long TD runs from Williams in the NFL.

Trying to come up with a comparable style... In some ways, he actually reminds me of what we currently have in Hightower. Perhaps he's "quicker" up at the line than Timmy. But, both lack true break-away speed and both are very determined runners...

First sentence quoted: Great we drafted Beanie Wells!

Second part: Timmy has proven he has plenty of break away speed on more than one occasion.

 

[Mulli]

First sentence quoted: Great we drafted Beanie Wells!

Second part: Timmy has proven he has plenty of break away speed on more than one occasion.

My thoughts were, if Timmie can get break away runs, why can't RW (and why can't bEaN)?

 

[82CardsGrad]

First sentence quoted: Great we drafted Beanie Wells!

Second part: Timmy has proven he has plenty of break away speed on more than one occasion.

Hightower is not a break-away threat. He did have a nice 80 yard run last year in Atlanta, however, reality is that he's not a pure speed threat. That said, I personally have no issues with that when he's averaging 4.5 per carry, which he did last season! The fumbles of course are an issue however...

But truth is Hightower should never be confused for a running back with "take it to the house on any carry" speed. He's quick, but not fast... 4.6 40 times are not often considered fast or translate to break-away speeds...

 

[Seandonic]

He really seems to have the skill set one would need to succeed behind the Cards inferior O-line. He is quick to the hole and thus doesn't miss even a tiny opportunity. He doesn't always go down with initial contact. He is shifty in the hole but does not dance around and waste time. When there is not an opening (which happens often in Arizona) he seems to keep attacking and uses his quick initial burst to squeeze through when something finally opens up or break it outside.

With all that said there are concerns as well. The two big ones are injuries and ball security. He has not had a major fumbling issue but he caries the ball loosely which could lead to problems.

I see him as Tim Hightower but with athletic ability. If he can learn to pass block (which I believe he will) he would be a great replacement for Hightower. Hightower has a big heart but is just not that good...and even when he is he literally fumbles away any momentum he gains.

If it were up to me I would maybe sign Hightower to a one year deal and let he and Wells fight it out to see who will be on the roster for the 2012 season.

 

[Shane]

Hightower is not a break-away threat. He did have a nice 80 yard run last year in Atlanta, however, reality is that he's not a pure speed threat. That said, I personally have no issues with that when he's averaging 4.5 per carry, which he did last season! The fumbles of course are an issue however...

But truth is Hightower should never be confused for a running back with "take it to the house on any carry" speed. He's quick, but not fast... 4.6 40 times are not often considered fast or translate to break-away speeds...

Nobody's going to confuse Timmy with Chris Johnson or Felix Jones. But he definitely has breakaway ability. The guy in 3 years has runs of 80, 70, 50, 41, 32 twice and 30 yards with several over 20... All but one of the over 30 yarders went for TDs IIRC. That is all in limited carries and not being a full time RB. To say he doesn't have the ability or isn't a threat is just flat wrong. If you want to say that about Beanie who doesn't have a run of over 30 yards ever yet I would agree. But Timmy definitely has the proven ability and that really isn't even debatable IMO!

 

[john h]

Personally, the run that starts around 2:10 in this video is WOW to me. Dragging the guy 10 yards is impressive for sure, but the run at 2:10 looks more like what he'll see behind the Cards line.

He needs a tear away jersey.

 

[john h]

Seems to me that he has a nice ability to break tackles and but through initial contact. He also seems to be pretty "quick" around the line, however, he lacks true break-away speed. I don't think we'll many, if any, long TD runs from Williams in the NFL.
Trying to come up with a comparable style... In some ways, he actually reminds me of what we currently have in Hightower. Perhaps he's "quicker" up at the line than Timmy. But, both lack true break-away speed and both are very determined runners...

But hey, if he can find a way to average 4.5 per carry or better, I don't care care if he ever puts up 80 yard TD runs...

My greatest concern is injuries as he lost much of last year. We, of course, had him go through our battery of medical exams which hopefully would have picked up anything significant.

What do you guys think of Cam Newton wanting Jersey #2 which currently belongs to the Panthers QB? Personally I think it takes a lot of hutzpah to even request it. Does he want his locker also?

 

[john h]

Hightower is not a break-away threat. He did have a nice 80 yard run last year in Atlanta, however, reality is that he's not a pure speed threat. That said, I personally have no issues with that when he's averaging 4.5 per carry, which he did last season! The fumbles of course are an issue however...

But truth is Hightower should never be confused for a running back with "take it to the house on any carry" speed. He's quick, but not fast... 4.6 40 times are not often considered fast or translate to break-away speeds...

John Riggins and Franco Harris were not breakaway threats either. Just get the yards. Just get the yards.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Nobody's going to confuse Timmy with Chris Johnson or Felix Jones. But he definitely has breakaway ability. The guy in 3 years has runs of 80, 70, 50, 41, 32 twice and 30 yards with several over 20... All but one of the over 30 yarders went for TDs IIRC. That is all in limited carries and not being a full time RB. To say he doesn't have the ability or isn't a threat is just flat wrong. If you want to say that about Beanie who doesn't have a run of over 30 yards ever yet I would agree. But Timmy definitely has the proven ability and that really isn't even debatable IMO!

Shane, there is a long list of current backs well beyond Johnson and Jones, who are considered greater break-away threats than is Hightower. He is not a threat to break long runs, period. Doesn't mean that he won't do just that every now and then. However, I would bet that NFL defenses are not in the least worried about Tim Hightower busting a 50 yarder or more... Now, Johnson, Jones, McFadden, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, Jones-Drew, AP, Ray Rice, Ahmad Bradshaw, LeSean McCoy.... they are all true, pure break-away threats that defenses are much more concerned about - or think about, than Tim Hightower.

And don't get me wrong - I LOVE Timmy. If it weren't for his damn fumble problems, I would be totally fine with him being our feature back. I would of course, prefer to have a true game-breaking home run threat as the Cards haven't had anything close to that since Thomas Jones. But Timmy is more than adequate if not for the fumbles... he's just not a true break-away threat...

 

[BurqueCardFan]

I had never seen video of Ryan Williams until we drafted him. The way he runs reminds me of runners like Emmitt Smith. He seems to have good vision and quick feet. Guys like Emmitt were not considered break away threats either coming out of school but they did pretty good. Granted our OL is nothing like the Dallas OL when Emmitt played but the styles are similar. We can only hope.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I had never seen video of Ryan Williams until we drafted him. The way he runs reminds me of runners like Emmitt Smith. He seems to have good vision and quick feet. Guys like Emmitt were not considered break away threats either coming out of school but they did pretty good. Granted our OL is nothing like the Dallas OL when Emmitt played but the styles are similar. We can only hope.

Yea... let's hope Anthony Sherman becomes something even close to MOOSE Johnston who was a HUGE asset to Emmitt....

 

[bg7brd]

Shane, there is a long list of current backs well beyond Johnson and Jones, who are considered greater break-away threats than is Hightower. He is not a threat to break long runs, period. Doesn't mean that he won't do just that every now and then. However, I would bet that NFL defenses are not in the least worried about Tim Hightower busting a 50 yarder or more... Now, Johnson, Jones, McFadden, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, Jones-Drew, AP, Ray Rice, Ahmad Bradshaw, LeSean McCoy.... they are all true, pure break-away threats that defenses are much more concerned about - or think about, than Tim Hightower.

And don't get me wrong - I LOVE Timmy. If it weren't for his damn fumble problems, I would be totally fine with him being our feature back. I would of course, prefer to have a true game-breaking home run threat as the Cards haven't had anything close to that since Thomas Jones. But Timmy is more than adequate if not for the fumbles... he's just not a true break-away threat...

Arian Foster? The guy that ran a 4.7 at his pro day?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Arian Foster? The guy that ran a 4.7 at his pro day?

Ooooops... how did that guy get in there??

 

[D-Dogg]

I had never seen video of Ryan Williams until we drafted him. The way he runs reminds me of runners like Emmitt Smith. He seems to have good vision and quick feet. Guys like Emmitt were not considered break away threats either coming out of school but they did pretty good. Granted our OL is nothing like the Dallas OL when Emmitt played but the styles are similar. We can only hope.

So you are comparing Ryan Williams to Emmitt Smith!??!?

Really??!!




Just kidding. I also thought of Emmit's running style at the line, with a little less vision and a little more shake.

 

[Cardiac]

Even an old Emmit Smith behind a typically poor Cards O-line did fairly well, considering...