Is Cadillac Williams Washed Up?
October 9th, 2010
There are few bigger fan favorites among the Bucs than Cadillac Williams. There are fewer — maybe none — who have as big a heart as Williams has; a drive, a passion for the game.
Williams showed that in coming back from not just one, but two knee surgeries.
However, the NFL is about production, not warm and fuzzy hugfests. Cadillac hasn’t been producing, it’s that simple and the numbers don’t lie. Williams ranks among the bottom of running backs for average yards per carry.
In this TBO Bucs vlog, Woody Cummings and Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune discuss the present and (if there is) the future of Cadillac Williams as a Bucs running back.
October 9th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Caddy is not the future, but that doesn’t mean his time is past either. Much can be put on the O-line this year as well. Penalties on K2, Trueblood and Faine have eliminated some of his best runs, which shows when the O-line opens holes (holds), Caddy can still run. Problem is, they aren’t opening much unless they hold. Same could be said of pass blocking. Have we given up a ton of sacks? No, because we have a mobile QB. How many runs has Freeman had? 12 carries. That’s 12 times he’s been flushed and used his legs rather than take the sack. That’s 12 pressures our line gave up. Not to mention times the ball was thrown away. The line is NOT as good as everyone wants to think. Time to wake up, people. This line needs an overhaul. Maybe then Caddy can be effective, if not spectacular anymore.
October 9th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I think he is done. He seems to have lost his lateral cutting ability and is not making anyone miss anymore. He is running hard, but in a straight line. I don’t know if that is what he is being told to do, but he doesn’t look like his old self. Bummer
October 9th, 2010 at 11:29 am
I want Blount in there, but have to ask myself IS the O Line the problem, especially after Fat Boy D Ward did so well after he left Tampa. At the Steelers game, when Blount was put in the game, he moved the ball, and you could feel a new energy in Tampa Stadium.
October 9th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Cadillac doesn’t have to be the #1 feature back guys. He can be the #2. And please relax. It’s only been 3 games and he only got 3 carries against the Steelers dominating rush defense that not even Chris Johnson has been able to have success against.
I agree with BamBamBuc, much of the blame should be put on the O line, because Caddy has had some good runs this year. But I think the loss of Aaron Sears has been the thing that has really hurt us. Our running game was pretty productive with him around. Seriously, the timing of his release was just awful. All that talk about him coming back and going to be ready for the season, and they just flat out cut our 2nd round pick. Just like that. Right after the draft and free agency so then we couldn’t even find a replacement. He was supposed to be the difference. Just like that, our line is the same as last year. Wasn’t Zuttah the weak link on the line last year due to the absence of Sears?? Very poor planning. We could’ve easily picked up an O lineman in the draft.
October 9th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
With Clinton Portis out for 4-6 weeks, I’d like to see us trade Caddie to the Redskins. You know ol’ Bruce Allen would have him. We wouldn’t get much of course, but Shannahan can get 1000 yards rushing out of my grandma. It’d be nice to see Caddie go somewhere where he could have a few years of success before he hangs up the cleats for good.
October 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Wow Patrick, Aaron Sears never gets mentioned anymore. I noticed the same thing, we were becoming a great line when Aaron Sears was here, and playing well.
October 9th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
How many times are we going to have this discussion?
October 9th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
It’s only been 3 games? Seriously dude? It’s been 5 years. This guy has great heart and everyone loves him, including myself, but he has NEVER been great. He broke the record for most rushing yards by a rookie in his first three games in 2005, but he rushed the ball 88 times in those three games. Gruden ran him into the ground and he had injuries that rookie year and has had injuries ever since. A guy that can not stay healthy or break the 4.0 ypc mark is not a #1 back. Period.
…and nobody can run on the Steelers, not even Chis Johnson? Really? Blount had 4 carries for 26 yards in the first quarter with the same O-line. So I’m not buying it for a second.
Caddie’s experience with the playbook and picking up the blitz in pass protection make him a decent #2 to have around….but that is all. When it comes to running the ball, Earnest Graham is probably a better HB. We’ll all see tomorrow, because you know for a fact that Caddie will be giving 110% after all the talk for the past two weeks. He will be his best self in Cincy. :p
October 9th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Caddy has always been a sub 4 yd per carry back who runs like a power runner but doesn’t have the size or power. We’ve seen it over and over where it feels like you’re banging your head against a wall..kind of like Clayton. Let’s see if we can develop Huggins and Blount..I’ve seen enough of Caddy.
As far as D Ward being good last week…his whole team ran well so let’s wait a while before we start saying how well the guy is doing.
October 9th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
i love caddy to death but i dont think theres a whole lot of wiggle left in those legs. it’s time to let blount and huggins take a stab at it and see what they have.
October 10th, 2010 at 8:27 am
I think we have to play a rotation, until we find something that works. Lumpkin and Blount have a lot of power to their game. If the line still can’t open holes, let those two run threw a few tackles. I still believe the passing game needs to be more aggressive , for the run game to really take- off. Every opponent is putting thier safety in the box, shutting the running game down. A little more respect for our young WRs will eliminate that. I hope at 220 lbs, Arreilious Benn can run threw a CB or two, and pull that safety back to where he belongs. If Those two things happen, then Caddy will finally have room ta work. I believe he can still be dangerous . Obviously so do the teams we’ve played against, as they focus their defense on stopping him. That should tell us a little bit about Caddy’s value!