With the 26th pick... The Arizona Cardinals select DT Dan Williams, Tennesee

[Shzm13]

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Dan Williams

Emily Schaible: Dan Williams, Tennessee, DT

Scouts Inc. Pros: At his best versus the run. Plays with good leverage and rarely gives ground. Wins most one-on-one battles and does a good job of disengaging and redirecting to fall back into plays. Shows ability to consistently anchor against double teams and flashes ability to split them on occasion. Protects feet well against cut blocks. Moves well in space for size and work down the line in pursuit to get involved in runs off-tackle. Strong overall tackler and flashes explosion upon contact.

Scouts Inc. Cons: Frequently comes out of stance high and lacks ability to counter once engaged with blockers. Closing burst is good but not great. Lacks elite quickness off the snap of the ball. Motor can run hot and cold as endurance appears to be an issue.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Awesome!

This kid has tree trunks for legs. When Lott gets his upper body built up he will be a force.


STEAL!

 

[Shzm13]

Hes actually at the draft.

 

[abomb]

Great pick. Couldnt be happier unless DAL hadnt traded up.

 

[Shogun]

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[MadCardDisease]

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NICE! Built like a TANK!

 

[kerouac9]

THR's Take

STRENGTHS

Dan is a big, strong Defensive Tackle with excellent foot speed and quickness for a player of his size. He has the strength to push the pocket when rushing the QB and the athletic talent to engage and shed his blocker and make a tackle when defending in the running game. Dan has the quickness to split a double team and get into the back field and disrupt the blocking assignments of any pulling offensive line. He can play in a one gap system or a two gap system. He can also play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Dan has some solid pass rushing moves and will get sacks from the defensive position. He has the talent to play DT in any style of defense. Dan reminds me a lot of Vince Wilfork (DT New England Patriots).



NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Dan just needs to keep working as hard as he has this year to improve. He will need to work on his physical stamina for the next level. The more plays Dan is on the field, the more he will be able to impact. Dan has the abilities to be a hell of a DT for the team that drafts him.



BOTTOM LINE

Because of Dan's size and quickness and good lateral agility he can play multiple positions in any style of defense for you. I have no doubt that he could be a DE in a 3-4 defense also because of his quickness off the line and lateral agility. Dan is as close to a finished product that you can get at the college level for his position. He has the speed to catch most QB's from behind when they break the pocket, which is surprising for a person who is as large as he is. Let me tell you, when you see Dan on film start to chase down a QB from behind, it's like sitting on a boat and staring at a stunt plane as you think it is diving into the horizon when in all actuality, it just dove directly into the lake your boat was sitting on. It looks like it's all not happening in real time. That's why I call him Dan (Real Time) Williams because it looks like Dan is not playing in real time.

 

[MadCardDisease]

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

Dan just needs to keep working as hard as he has this year to improve. He will need to work on his physical stamina for the next level. The more plays Dan is on the field, the more he will be able to impact. Dan has the abilities to be a hell of a DT for the team that drafts him.

If he can become more consistant with his leverage he could develop into a monster at NT. I think working with Lott will also help.

I love our goal line package.

Dockett, Williams, Watson and Branch!

 

[Shogun]

Pass rush: Relies on good to very good power as a bull rusher to collapse the pocket. Uses a swim move effectively, but lacks the burst and lateral agility to be a consistent factor in the pass rush. Works hard, but has only phone booth quickness. Requires an open lane to close. Alert defender that gets his hands up in the passing lanes.

Run defense: Greatest asset to the defense due to his build, strength and ability to locate the football. Good burst off the snap to explode into the offensive lineman. Tough to move off the line of scrimmage, as he naturally sprawls his feet, keeps his pads low and has the upper-body strength to hold up even to double-teams. Strong hands and an effective swim move to disengage. Natural candidate to move to nose guard. Keeps his head up and finds the ball. Only phone booth quickness, but hustles laterally and even downfield in pursuit.

Explosion: Good initial burst off the snap. Good upper-body strength to shock his opponent and quickly separate. Needs a lane to gather momentum and provide a big hit, but can deliver a jarring blow when he gets one.

Strength: Arguably his best trait. Low center of gravity due to a thick, wide lower body which helps in the leverage battle up front. Good use of hands and good upper-body strength to stack and shed in the running game. Relies on his strength as a bull rusher to collapse the pocket from the interior. Slides off blocks to make the play at or near the line of scrimmage.

Tackling: Enough strength to slow and even pull down some runners with one arm as he remains engaged with the blocker. Brings his weight with him as a hitter, resulting in some big collisions. Provides enough pop that he doesn't have to wrap up to knock down most ballcarriers, but improved in doing so as a senior. Good vision to locate the ball and can redirect surprisingly well at his size. Hustles laterally and downfield to make the tackle from behind.

Intangibles: Re-dedicated himself after the hiring of Lane Kiffin. Was moved to the nose and his draft stock "skyrocketed" as a senior. Was characterized by Monte Kiffin as a "undrafted free agent" based on film before the 2009 season … Has struggled maintaining his weight in the past. Has been as heavy as 357 pounds and ballooned to over 340 during the off-season last year. Played at 320-325 this season … Majored in legal studies and has aspirations to be a lawyer after his football career is over.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1125522?tag=pageRow;pageContainer

 

[Shogun]

Pass Rush/Closing Ability/Moves and Counter Moves: Totaled just 6.5 sacks over his four year career, not much of a finisher in the pocket. However he is very disruptive on deep dropbacks, hard guy to keep at bay. Closes in on the ball carrier very well, moves well in space. Uses his hands well to get off blocks, limited repertoire of moves.
Pursuit/Lateral Movement/Agility: Perhaps the most surprising part of his game. Chases well sideline to sideline, makes a lot of tackles outside the box. Does not adjust well to the late cut block, can get heavy feet in the trenches.
Quickness/Explosion: The hustle off the snap is not always there, seems to tire easily. Can get in to the blocker’s face right away with his anticipation. Not necessarily quick in to the backfield but he has the powerful explosion that will show up on occasion.
Run Defend/Recognition: Constantly double teamed but still makes an impact on tackles. Gets in on a lot of hits. Covers a lot of ground from his nose tackle spot and gets moving in the right direction off the bat. Reads blocks and gets himself in position to make the tackle or alter the running lane.
Size/Length/Hand Size: Has the ideal lower half for a defensive tackle. Huge rear with thick legs gives him the power to hold ground against double teams and get a push against a single blocker. Carries his 320+ pounds comfortably. Has longer arms than a normal 6’3 player has and he knows how to use them to keep blockers at bay.
Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Can bench press almost 500 pounds, a very stout defender. Seems to be on another level strength wise from head to toe than his opponents. Difficult to keep blocked for long because of his active hands and sheer power. Looked like a man among boys on some weeks.
Tackling: Improved in this area since his earlier years. Had over sixty tackles from the nose tackle position, an impressive number. Does get juked in space because his feet get heavy in pursuit. When in position, he completely swallows the ball carrier with his arms and does not let them escape. Strong tackler.
Technique/Hand Use/Leverage: Plays low from his rear on up, hands are constantly attacking the blocker’s numbers. Strong hands prevent him from getting locked on to. Overall technique is picture perfect when he is not fatigued. Cuts corners and loses out on the leverage battle when he is on the field for more than six straight plays.
Versatility: Can play in any scheme on the inside. Has the girth and strength to be double teamed inside as a 3-4 nose tackle, but can also shoot the A gaps in the 4-3. His versatility will boost his grade as any team looking for interior defensive line help will have him high on their board.
Final Word: Williams has arguably given a bigger boost to his stock than any senior in the country this season. In a strong class of defensive tackles, Williams could break his way in to the first round because of his NFL-ready ability to stuff the run. The impact that Terrance Knighton has had on the Jaguars defensive line will only help Williams here. While his motor can be questioned, it is obvious he has put in a lot of time to molding his body in to ideal shape for a run stuffer. If he can be put in to a healthy rotation up front, his impact will be felt early and often.

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2010/1/11/1246524/dan-williams-nfl-draft-scouting

 

[Shogun]

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[Shogun]

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[Shogun]

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[Cardiac]

Come on you lazy ***** row. There are Greeks dying out here.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Dan Williams

Defensive Tackle | Tennessee | SR

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 327 | 40-Time: 5.16

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Strengths:
Excellent bulk --- Good quickness and athleticism --- Fantastic brute strength --- Great range --- Does a terrific job in pursuit --- Outstanding run defender --- Stout at the point of attack --- Able to take on and occupy multiple blockers --- Gets a nice push up the middle --- Powerful tackler --- Solid bull-rusher --- Good instincts and awareness --- Offers schematic versatility --- Has lots of quality experience --- Still improving.

Weaknesses:
Extremely inconsistent --- Effort / Motor runs hot and cold --- Does not always use proper leverage --- Limited repertoire of moves --- Will not offer much as a pass rusher --- Average hand use --- Struggles to get off blocks at times --- Has serious issues with conditioning and stamina.

Notes:
A three-year starter for the Volunteers --- Garnered All-SEC honors in 2009 --- Began his college career at 360 pounds --- Really took to the pro-style coaching of Monte Kiffin and enjoyed an exceptional senior campaign --- Improved his draft stock as much as any prospect in the country this past season --- Could project to nose tackle in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme --- The type whose true value can't always be measured by looking at the stat sheet --- Talented prospect who can be as good as he wants to be but shaky intangibles are a big concern --- Showed what an impact player he is capable of being at times as a senior but the key will be keeping him in shape and motivated --- Boom or Bust.

http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/DT/Dan-Williams.php

 

[TJ]

Sig update

 

[Shogun]

Pick Analysis: The Cardinals add a key piece to their defense by nabbing Dan Williams. The hulking interior defender has the size and strength to thrive as a nose tackle, and his ability to occupy multiple blockers should free the team's linebackers to roam freely inside. Although linebacker remains a pressing need, the decision to fortify the front line should result in better play from the linebacker corps in 2010.

Overview

Williams was a three-year starter for the Vols and had a breakout season in 2009. He has an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism for an interior defender. He plays with great pad level and a natural base to anchor effectively versus the run. He is a powerful bull-rusher who can collapse the pocket in the passing game. Williams can be inconsistent with his effort but does play with an attitude (can be nasty) in the trenches when he wants to. He is tough to move due to great initial punch and good balance and will draw many double-teams on the inside. He doesn't have great initial quickness to penetrate gaps but is a better run defender than pass rusher in base defenses. He feels pad pressure well and understands how to leverage blockers to maintain gap responsibilities. Williams will fit best as a nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme and will improve his draft status if concerns about his weight and work ethic are answered.

Strengths

Thickly built in the lower half with excellent strength. Almost unblockable one-on-one and maintains good balance to eat up double teams. Shows a strong punch and uses heavy hands to control blockers. Collapses the pocket with a strong bull rush and is athletic enough to make plays in space. Explosive tackler who plays mean.

Weaknesses

Carries around too much weight. Lacks a good initial burst to consistently provide a good pass rush. Does not always give a solid effort and takes plays off. Plays too high and struggles to disengage from blockers at times. Lacks the closing speed to make plays from the backside.

Grade

8.5

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/dan-williams?id=496873#tab-watch:tab-watch/tabs:tab-overview​

 

[Shogun]

26(26) Arizona Cardinals Dan Williams DT Tennessee
What he brings: Williams is one-of-a-kind in this year's draft; he's the only nose tackle who graded out as a first-rounder He carries his 330 pounds well and has an extremely thick lower body and base. He plays with great bounce and has heavy hands and an explosive initial punch. He should provide an immediate anchor in the middle for Arizona?s 3-4 defense. In addition, Williams has adequate athleticism to hold up on the interior and to make plays in pursuit outside the tackles. Arizona got great value here. Video analysis: Video McShay | Edwards

How he fits: Old-timer Bryan Robinson is no longer around, so Gabe Watson was slated to be the nose tackle in Arizona?s 3-4 packages. With the addition of Williams the Cardinals get the best prototypical 3-4 nose tackle in this draft. While this wasn't the club's biggest need they now have a formidable front in Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett and Williams. Alan Branch

ESPN Insider

 

[Cardiac]

That's a start Shogun but I want your opinion about DW.

 

[Shogun]

That's a start Shogun but I want your opinion about DW.

Oh. Just say so.

I love the pick. I thought he'd be long gone before 26. I had him rated higher than Cody from jump street. Prototypical body type of a 3-4 NT and athletic enough to play in several schemes. I still think that he might fit better in a 4-3, but that isn't an indictment on his ability to play in a 3-4 at all. The flags about consistency and motor don't bother me because big men get that tag unjustly at times. There's a difference than between not trying and being gassed. I feel Williams was the latter. The only real knocks I had about him was that he had piss poor conditioning and would allow himself to get steered every now and again, but those flaws are correctable with Lott and coaching.

 

[Cardiac]

Oh. Just say so.

I love the pick. I thought he'd be long gone before 26. I had him rated higher than Cody from jump street. Prototypical body type of a 3-4 NT and athletic enough to play in several schemes. I still think that he might fit better in a 4-3, but that isn't an indictment on his ability to play in a 3-4 at all. The flags about consistency and motor don't bother me because big men get that tag unjustly at times. There's a difference than between not trying and being gassed. I feel Williams was the latter. The only real knocks I had about him was that he had piss poor conditioning and would allow himself to get steered every now and again, but those flaws are correctable with Lott and coaching.

Thank you for getting past being to busy and being lazy to post.

It just seems crazy to me that Beanie fell to us last year and now Williams to us this year.

 

[joeshmo]

Love the pick. Didnt think he would be there, thought Weatherspoon had a better chance being there then Williams.

What I like most is that he has already been learning a NFL style Defense having worked under coach Kiffen and being mentored by Chester McGlockton on how to prepare during the week and break down film. Has a slight head start to get acclimated compared to other rookies IMO.

 

[Cardiac]

Love the pick. Didnt think he would be there, thought Weatherspoon had a better chance being there then Williams.

What I like most is that he has already been learning a NFL style Defense having worked under coach Kiffen and being mentored by Chester McGlockton on how to prepare during the week and break down film. Has a slight head start to get acclimated compared to other rookies IMO.

Another "heavy hitter" elated with the pick. Thanks for the info on about DW already receiving NFL style coaching.

 

[az1965]

Sig update

Like your sig...

Maybe you can put FA's on the first row and draftees on the second row.

 

[joeshmo]

One more item of note on Dan Williams. Monte is known to play around with the 3-4 look from time to time so I assume that Williams has at least been introduced to it and played a few snaps in the 3-4 look while at Tennessee.