NFL Draft successes and busts 10-year evaluation: 9th overall success
by Dan Kadar on Apr 6, 2011 11:00 PM EDT
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Over the next few weeks, we'll evaluate the best and worst top 10 picks in a 10-year span from 1999-2008. We capped this at 2008 because it's unfair to judge first- or second-year players. Today, the pick nine success.
Pick: Nine overall
The player: Kevin Williams | DT | Minnesota Vikings (2003)
With the ninth pick between 1999 and 2008, there were a few quality choices. Brian Urlacher (2000) were both hits John Henderson (2002).
Neither has had a career like Williams, however. Williams rocketed up draft boards during his senior season after an ordinary first three years at Oklahoma State. He really turned his draft stock around at the Senior Bowl.
Since he was drafted, Williams has arguably been the league's best three-technique tackle. It's not normal for interior linemen to get sack numbers like Williams does. He has 49.5 for his career, though 22 came in his first two seasons. Still, Williams has been an anchor for the Vikings.
Coming tomorrow: The ninth overall bust
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I think Urlacher has had a better career.
He’s won a DPOY award and been an All Pro almost every year. Williams is good, but give the edge to Urlacher!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Yea, Urlacher is a potential HOF player and Williams is not. I would go with Urlacher for sure.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
Totally disagree with the last part of that statement.
Williams has been the key player on the Minnesota defence for his entire career. If Kevin W. does not make the Hall of Fame, there is something seriously wrong. He has demanded double teams, and still continuously makes plays. As a Lions fan I hope that Suh will be as productive as Kevin.
"I read one article, I said, 'This guy doesn't know what he's talking about,' " Mayhew said. "Then I read another one, and I thought, 'Wait a minute, they're all saying the same thing.' -Martin Mayhew 2011 regarding Draft Gurus.
+1
Not to mention that Urlacher has missed huge chunks of seasons with injuries, it’s not that great at the point of attack (more finesse that power) and has not always been the best ’backer on his team (Lance Briggs is very underrated).
Urlacher
has been in the debate for the best linebacker in the league for the last decade. With Kevin Williams you would first have to debate whether he is the best tackle named Williams on his own team before you got any farther.
If it makes you guys feel any better
The Vikings will probably be on this list (twice) for the #7 pick.
Best: Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma
Worst: Troy Williamson, WR USC (the east coast version)
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
It won’t be Peterson, or at least it should be Peterson. Champ Bailey by far deserves to be the best #7 pick in that time span.
Williamson should get the bust, Leftwich could fight for that spot as well.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
Shouldn't be Peterson?
Champ Bailey by far deserves to the best #7? Wow dude. Bailey is a stud, no question, but a running back of Peterson’s caliber has way more impact on a game than a Corner of Bailey’s caliber any All Day.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Bailey has had a HOF career, Peterson has not yet. How can you be so surprised that I said Bailey should get the spot?
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
I respect Bailey as a player
But in my mind it’s not even close. He just has not impacted the game the way AP has.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
He hasn’t impacted the game over the last 12 years more than AP has in 4 years? Sorry, but Champ was the best CB in the league for a long time before Revis and Nhamdi came around, and Bailey is still top 3.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
IDK, Ty Law and Charles Woodson might have something to say about that
But obviously Champ has a few years on AP. I’m not comparing that. I am comparing their individual impact on the game on a game to game basis.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Well in my opinion, Bailey has had a bigger impact on the game shutting down the other team’s #1 WR week after week.
Not a knock on AP, what he has done in such a short time is incredible, but I want to see more of it before I will say he was the best #7 pick during that time frame. Definitely the runner up though.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
hard to argue with either one
But what AP has accomplished in 4 years is pretty amazing:
Awards
AP Rookie of the year (07)
Diet Pepsi ROY (07)
2nd team all pro (07)
Pro Bowl MVP (07)
Pro Bowl (08)
ESPY- Best breakthrough Athlete (08)
Rushing title (08)
1st team all pro (08)
FedEx Ground Player of the year (08)
Pro Bowl (09)
1st team all pro (09)
Pro Bowl (2010)
2nd team all pro (2010)
NFL Records
Most 200 yrd games as a rookie (2)
Most rushing yards in first 8 games (1,036)
Most rushing yards in a single game (296)
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
by NMVike on Apr 8, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
By the end of his career, AP could well be the choice here
Just not now. Its too premature. You cant argue with one of the most dominant and ball hawking CB’s ever to play the game. Champ has lost a bit of shine the last couple years playing for a declining Denver team and of course will all aging players his skills diminish, but you cannot ignore what he did for the first 7-9 years of his career. He has had a HOF career. He deserves the best #7 spot.
AP could and probably will go on to have a HOF career, but until he does, this spot is Champs
A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.
BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia
by Michael Hewitt on Apr 8, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
You guys have your opinions...
And I have mine. AP could very well be the best #7 pick of all time, not just the last 10 years.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Thats what I said with my first sentence. I just think its premature after 4 seasons. In 3-4 years if his production has stayed/increased, I have no doubt it will be Peterson
A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.
BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia
by Michael Hewitt on Apr 9, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
But what he has accomplished in 4 years is pretty special
Especially when you consider that for the better part of 3 of those seasons his offense was pretty one dimmensional, with AP being the focal point.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
The thing that I appreciate
Is that you have done an excellent job of stating your case.
10 pro bowls and 48 INTs is impressive too
But I just think that AP has had a much bigger impact on the game. I mean people tune in to watch him run the ball, knowing that he could take it to the house on any given play. I know I’m coming off as a complete homer, but I’ve been a fan of AP since his freshman year at Oklahoma. The dude is electric.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
I agree with this
Shutdown CB’s are much more difficult to come by than great RB’s. Peterson’s is special but Champ Bailey has completely chaged the complexion of defenses for a decade.
really? this draft might have 3 shutdown CB's
Last draft produced a few.
How many RB’s of AP’s potential are expected to come out this year?
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
There are about 10 teams in the NFL who have true, shut down CB’s. I expect Peterson to be an immediate type of that player and Prince will come along later. Not sure yet if Smith is going to be a shutdown guy.
Those guys are so hard to come by and about half the teams in the league don’t have a shut down CB.
Real G's move in silence like lasagna
Very true, Vikings don't have a SDC, I'd love to have Bailey
But there’s maybe only one other back in Peterson’s league right now (C. Johnson). We’ll see what Foster does this year.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
10? I would say about 5 to be honest
A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.
BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia
by Michael Hewitt on Apr 8, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Kevin Williams is widely mentioned as the best DT in the league.
It’s really hard to argue against either of these 2 for this spot. But remember Urlacher was drafted to play OLB, and he stunk at it. He flourished when he moved inside and benefitted from playing behind some decent DT’s in Chicago.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
He was originally put at strong side,
but was not amazing there. The middle linebacker became injured and he was moved inside. I actually he is best suited for weak side. I know there were some teams that would have put him at strong safety out of the draft instead of line backer.
Ask GM's
Around the league which player of the Williams wall they like? Kevin all day baby, and twice on Sundays. Kevin gets to the QB.
What you said is meaningless.
You believe that Kevin is better and thus believe that GM’s around the league would also agree with you. However, I highly doubt that you have gone and polled GMs around the league. You should have just said I have a different opinion and moved on rather than cite information you do not have.
Kevin is a better pass rusher and Pat is a better run stuffer. Do I think that Kevin is the better of the two? Yes. Is it debatable? Yes.
Don't make me laugh
What you said is meaningless
All things should be factored in, right? Age, salary, play and scheme fit.
How is it meaningless? I guess we have to agree to disagree :)
If you made an argument based on
Age, salary, play and scheme fit.
I would have no problem, but you didn’t. Your argument was just a statement of a hypothetical polling of GMs with no basis or support.
It's not debatable
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Phat Pat. But the push KWill generates up front is what makes the the Minneapolis Sack Machine go.
"I am patient with stupidity but not with those who are proud of it."
Thank you very much
Nothing to add. The Vikings fan has to be correct! Lol.
To that point, Williams has been named to one more All Pro team. He’s also on the All Decade team and Urlacher isn’t.
Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.
Actually....
Urlacher is on the All- Dace team
And to think he’s not is pretty ignorant lol
Here’s the Link
I'll roll up
Agreed, Urlacher all the way
"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham
by sportsfan4life2012 on Apr 6, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
Who means more to his franchise?
If you are looking at which is the better value and which turned out to be the better pick the first question I would ask is whether the guy became the face of the franchise. In this case one is and one isn’t, and never was.
Urlacher is the guy for that reason. It isn’t just that he’s a potential HOF and the Bears are simply better when he’s in the line up. Those are all good reasons, but when you look at the bottom line of who represents Chicago Bear football for the last decade or so it’s Brian Urlacher. Part of that is his position, part of of that is the team he plays for, but when all of that can come together with skill, position, and tradition that’s a damn good pick….one needs to win out unless the other guy you are talking about means the same to his franchise.
DING!!
"I read one article, I said, 'This guy doesn't know what he's talking about,' " Mayhew said. "Then I read another one, and I thought, 'Wait a minute, they're all saying the same thing.' -Martin Mayhew 2011 regarding Draft Gurus.
No disrespect to Kevin Williams talents or career thus far
But this has to be Urlacher in this spot. There was about a 5 year (at least) period where he was no doubt the best Middle Linebacker, and probably even Linebacker in the game. Perennial All-Pro year in year out, has been the commander of some of the best defenses in the NFL over the last decade, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has played in Title games and a Superbowl, how is Urlacher not the pick?
Kevin Williams is great no doubt, but was he ever as widely considered the greatest player at his position like Urlacher was? I dont think so.
As someone said above, Urlacher will be a HOF after he retires, Williams may well join him, but it isnt as clear cut.
A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.
BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia
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