Your Newest Buccaneer: Mike Williams
April 24th, 2010
The Bucs have snagged super-talented, super-troubled receiver Mike Williams in the fourth round, the guy who quit the Syracuse football team in 2009 and is known as much for his questionable attitude as his mad skills.
NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock just told his audience that he gave Williams a “second round grade as a football player. But it’s the off the field that pulls him down.”
When Joe watched every minute of the receiver workouts at the combine, it was Williams who stood out as a guy with great hands and the kind of body control and sheer athleticism that can’t be tought.
It’s an exciting pick, although Joe would have preferred Mardy Gilyard, who the Rams grabbed two picks earliers.
Justin Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM, and a Mayock-like draft guru in his own right, broke down Williams as follows for subscribers to the JoeBucsFan.com draft coverage.
Why I’m taking him: I’m on the record saying it, and I’ll continue to say it, Mike Williams has the second best talent of any receiver in this draft. Watching this guy play at Syracuse was fun, while it lasted. He can be a true number one guy. I always saw him catching the ball with his hands away from his body. He doen’t have elite speed, but he’s more than fast enough and quick enough to be a number one guy. Williams has great size and is physical. On the field, Williams has everything you want from a receiver.
Why I’m staying away: One word: character. We’re still wondering why Williams quit the Syracuse football team in 2009. He was also suspended for 2008 because he violated the university’s academic integrity policy. It was reported that Williams was blaming everyone but himself at the combine.
Impact on the Bucs: Well, I wouldn’t draft him early, but this guy has special talent. I’ve heard some people say that Williams might go in the 7th round if he’s drafted at all. I’ll tell you what, if Williams is there in the 7th round, he’s worth the gamble. Hell, he might be worth the gamble earlier than that, but not too early.
NFL Comparison: Antonio Bryant – Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Dominik has officially strayed from his good-character mold.
Is this goodbye for the blocking icon?
April 24th, 2010 at 10:28 am
If williams can read and write goodbye Clayton. I hear people saying Hovan and Sims (and there 2 sacks combined, 7 TFl combined) I gurranted one of them is gone this year they are getting too old and not productive for a team trying to get young
April 24th, 2010 at 10:31 am
A guru? Paraphrasing the talking heads on TV and the numerous magazines that come out as early as February does not make one a guru.
April 24th, 2010 at 10:33 am
well im good with al this WR we added to #5!!!
April 24th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I don’t think its bad to take a risk at this point (though if we were going to take a risk, why not use a 5th on Santonio instead of a 4th on Williams or a 2nd and 5th on Benn).
There are only 3 more players I really want in this draft. Wooten, Brandon Carter, and Myron Rolle. We can probably get Rolle in the 7th, we’ll need to start trading people to get the other two, though.
April 24th, 2010 at 10:35 am
OMG!! I actually agree with CharleB
April 24th, 2010 at 10:37 am
You seem to actually not hate the Bucs. So that helps immensely. 🙂
April 24th, 2010 at 10:43 am
“though if we were going to take a risk, why not use a 5th on Santonio instead of a 4th on Williams or a 2nd and 5th on Benn).”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
April 24th, 2010 at 10:47 am
More proof Dumbinik is not smart enough to follow any template. He just picks people with no rhyme or reason.
That being said , this will probably be a good pick. Williams has awesome talent.
April 24th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Out-Freakin-Standing!!!
This kid’s biggest infraction was a speeding ticket. Not everyone is a Scholar. Can he run? yes. Catch? yes. Block? yes. Fill a Major Need? yes.
Do we miss Antonio “bad knees” Bryant? I don’t think so. NFL, beware of a young sleeper team that nobody will see coming. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers!
Great Job Dom!
April 24th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Everything we have asked for in this Draft, Dom has delivered on. DE still to come, more CB’s, LB’s, RB’s.
April 24th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I like the selection, although it exposes some deep hypocrisy with this “good character” stuff.
If the guy beats out Clayton all will be pleased.
He looks like he has good hands.
April 24th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
We use a 4th round pick on this troubled guy but don’t give a 5th rounder to get Holmes who is an established, proven receiver????!!!!!!
Don’t even compare him to Antonio Bryant. He’s worse.
April 24th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Antonio Bryant wasn’t that bad. He made one little comment in an interview a year back that no one liked!! Big deal!