Mocking: Sylvester Williams
April 17th, 2013
If the Bucs still own the No. 13 overall pick come next Thursday, and if they don’t see a cornerback on the board they like at that investment, then it’s likely the Bucs would nab a defensive lineman.
One guy allegedly climbing up draft boards is DT Sylvester Williams out of North Carolina. Of course, what adds intrigue to Williams is the fact Greg Schiano senior operative/advisor Butch Davis recruited Williams to Tar Heel country out of the junior college ranks.
Williams, at 6-3, 313, is like a bigger version of Brian Price. But he’s a bit of a bizarre prospect, having only played one year of high school ball and turning 25 years old in November.
Here’s what NFL.com has on Williams:
STRENGTHS
Wide body nose tackle with an unexpected bit of quickness off the snap. Has girth through the middle that makes him tough to move when he looks to anchor. Keeps his eyes in the backfield and locates the ball well (and will sniff out the occasional screen). Uses strong hands and upper body to rip past and push aside lesser linemen. Good flexibility and balance, showing the ability to bend and roll his hips through contact off the ball and keep a wide base to anchor against base blocks and doubles. Violent tackler, will throw ball carriers to the ground. Has enough short-area quickness to charge through the A-gap off the snap. Spins off blocks when moving forward to threaten hesitating quarterbacks or get a hand on running backs in the backfield. Can two-gap, moves to either side of his man to corral backs coming between the tackles. Shows good leverage, pad level, and hand quickness to split double teams. When fresh, he will chase a bit more than most players his size against the run as well as give a second effort if his initial pass rush move fails.
WEAKNESSES
Lacks closing speed to get a lot of sacks or make plays outside the box. Overly reliant on the swim move. Does not bull linemen backwards very often, won’t out-quick NFL guards. Flashes quickness off the snap, but gets stuck on blocks too often when tired, and loses ability to get to the ball even if able to disengage. Can get low and create a pile on the goal line, but gets pushed back when playing high in other short-yardage situations. Doesn’t have the athleticism to stop his momentum. Will run himself too far upfield and miss sacks and tackles when he can’t stop himself and break down. Turns 24 during the 2012 season.
Today, former NFL scout Russ Lande projected the Bucs to draft Williams in the first round.
Joe’s biggest question on any potential defensive tackle pick is whether the guy would be able to play the 3-technique successfully if Gerald McCoy was injured. One would think Williams has the physical tools to play the position.
Joe, though, doubts Greg Schiano would want to invest in a nose tackle after waving goodbye to Roy Miller, a guy he said was “custom-built” for the position.
April 17th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
If going DT, I’d much rather see Richardson, who has somewhat consistent production at the college level.
A bigger version of Brian Price is not necessarily something we’d want to add to this team.
April 17th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Over Floyd and Richardson? No thanks.
April 17th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
ACC?
Pass.
April 17th, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Pass
April 17th, 2013 at 4:57 pm
There are three DTs rated higher. For a reason.
April 17th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
In the 2nd or 3rd maybe
April 17th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
This guy wears down quickly. The Florida heat would get him
April 17th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
Not unless we trade back into 20s and add 2nd or early 3rd
April 17th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Meh, do you want 2 three-technique DTs on the line??…This draft is pretty deep at both UT & NT types; it would be a bit wasteful to take one in the first round.
April 17th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
No way this happens with Floyd and Richardson still on the board
April 17th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
This a shot in the dark – no way the 13th pick will be on a DT of this guys status. This is as bad is reaching on a QB (equivalent to Blaine Gabbert)
April 17th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Joe,
Ira Kaufman is tweeting that Warren Sapp will announce the Bucs 2nd and 3rd round picks at the draft. Why no announcement on a presenter for the 1st round pick or am I being too clever here?
April 17th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
His weaknesses take too much away from his strengths to be an automatic starter at the NFL level. He’s not worth the 13th pick, maybe a late 1st rounder.
If Dominik selected him, the pressure to start him would be overwhelming considering where he was chosen in the draft, even if he’s not the best DT on the team. If the Bucs didn’t start him, you would start hearing little birdies claiming that he’s a bust and would blame it on Dominik.
Too much risk for the 13th pick.. IMO
April 17th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Macabee – Goodell handles the 1st round pics
April 17th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Youpeople,
Thanks for saving me from the Revis paranoia syndrome!
April 17th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Tavon Austin, Barkevious Mingo, or Jarvis Jones would be the pick.
(All 3 go in the 3 picks after Sylvester Williams.. This would cost Dom his job.)
April 17th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
I’d rather have Sylvester Stallone 🙂
April 17th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Star,Floyd,Miillner,Geno if there gone. Trade down 10 spots and take Xavier,Manuel,Werner.
April 17th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
76buc76,
Interesting cluster of players. I would be ecstatic for any of those picks.
I am hoping Ansah falls (because of QB needy teams). That would make my day, dude is going to wreck sh!t.
April 17th, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Mike J, I personally would love to see two McCoys on the line. Where our defense has been best was when we had people penetrating up the middle, thus causing disruptions on running plays, as well as timing of passing plays. My first choice at #13 (outside of Milliner if he fell) would be Floyd, Star, or Richardson, as they can all three get into the backfield. Two DTs in the face of QBs an RBs would be a nightmare to opposing teams.
April 17th, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Handwriting on the wall is signed by Butch Davis. That’s it. Williams. Why pay Butch if they don’t follow his suspect ideas.
April 17th, 2013 at 9:29 pm
mvermulm , Sapp had a NT beside him; I dunno how your idea would work out on running downs.Not too many NFL teams try it, to the best of my knowledge.
April 17th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Which ever DT we draft, I hope he works hard, and in a few years- we might have the number one rush defense in the leag . . .
Didn’t we just do this?
Upgrades are great. But DTs take a few years to be useful.
Miller showing him the ropes woulda been really smart!
April 17th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Sylvester Williams will NOT be drafted in the first round. I have him going to the Bucs in the second round. The Bucs will take Banks in the first round.
One guy has Sylvester Williams ranked as a first rounder…not gonna happen.
April 17th, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Capt. Tim,
What’s done is done. No point in crying over spilled milk.
April 17th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Btw, Warren Sapp will be announcing the Bucs 2nd round pick. Coincidence?
April 18th, 2013 at 4:31 am
Sylevester Williams a Dt turning 25? No thanks… flashback to 2009 Perria Jerry ring a bell? No thanks…
John Lynch already did it in 2011 and dexter jackson in 2012. It’s obvious that Warren Sapp will do this year’s 2nd round pick since he’s getting into the HOF.
April 18th, 2013 at 8:09 am
Both Richardson and Floyd can play nose, and both can also back up McCoy.
April 18th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Sylvester would seem to be a big gamble at #13. It doesn’t appear to be a position the Bucs put a premium on either. I don’t see them drafting a DT in the first round unless they believe the player can offer much more than Roy Miller offered. To my knowledge, Schiano’s defense requires the slanted nose tackle to tie up blockers for McCoy and the linebackers to make plays and stuff the run. This is what Miller was good at and they let him walk. Maybe the philosophy asks for the nose tackle to collapse the pocket and rush the passer like McCoy. Hmm.