Mike Williams Better Than Larry Fitzgerald?
July 17th, 2011
In Joe’s eyes there is no better receiver in the NFL than Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald. He demonstrates how horrid the Cardinals quarterbacks have been since Kurt Warner retired.
Fitzgerald and his acrobatic catches just fool with defensive backs. But if one is to believe numbers — and Joe knows there are a lot of statheads out there — one could make an argument Bucs receiver Mike Wiiliams is peer in the NFL.
That’s what Evan Silva suggests. The writer for ProFootballTalk.com breaks down how Williams in his rookie season put up eye-popping numbers.
Bucs WR Mike Williams scored a TD every 6th reception as a rookie, a Rice/Moss kind of pace. Larry Fitz’s career best is 1 TD/7.25 catches.
Damn. Joe knows Williams was a stud; Joe wasn’t aware he was putting up Jerry Rice kind of figures.
Later in his Twitter feed, Silva predicts Williams’ numbers will decrease next year because his touchdown-per-reception numbers are “unsustainable.”
That’s one way of looking at it, and Silva has a point. But remember Williams was a rookie still learning the NFL and for much of the season had no protection in that he didn’t have another wide receiver to take heat off of him, or a running back to keep defenses honest until both LeGarrette Blount and Arrelious Benn began to blow up.
Joe wouldn’t be shocked if Williams indeed is able to sustain his numbers.
July 17th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Mike will sustain those numbers but he still won’t be as good as Larry. If mike keeps up this pace for 3 years then we can talk.
July 17th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Um, the best receiver in the NFL is Andre Johnson, hands down.
July 17th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Mike Williams’ hands rival L-Fitz’s but he’s no where near his build/strength. I would guess that Fitz is a bit faster as well. Kid is a horse. Loved seeing him burn the Steelers secondary in the SB.
July 17th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
With a better running game and josh freeman getting better hello the sky is the limit for Williams!
July 17th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
@Bee: No doubt.
July 17th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Freeman and Williams have a bond. They have become pals. Their percision and dedication will show up this season
July 17th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Not yet, but I hope he will soon eclipse him.
July 17th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Wow it’s amazing how some writers come up with headlines from an article where that isn’t even implied. I wonder if Joe used to work for the National Inquirer?
BTW Mike Williams had a GREAT rookie season, so did Michael Clayton – anyone remember? What’s Clayton NOW?
Fitz has had more than one great season. Larry is phenomenal and if our Mike Williams approaches that this year, then we can talk about it.
I wonder what headline Joe would have if the writer had mentioned Arrelous Benn?
July 17th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Mike Williams is the REAL DEAL. His peers in the NFL voted him, a rookie, as one of the top 100 players in the entire league. AS A ROOKIE. It only goes up from here and barring injury you can expect him to get a serious Pro Bowl look this season.
July 18th, 2011 at 12:24 am
we can only hope that we have a greg jennings on our hands here!! although hes not a prototypical andre johnson or larry fitzgerald as far as size goes, hes an exceptional route runner that combined with a young and upcoming stud of a qb (free) like rodgers, will have constant success………and can ultimately help put the bucs in great position for constant success as well
July 18th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
What an awful statistic. Times targeted per touchdown would make sense. This is just dividing one good outcome by another.