Scouting Report: Ryan Williams And The All-22 Film

[NeonDeion21]

I love running backs. I love scouting them. I love watching them play. But I also realize that their “value” has decreased in recent years. In back to back years, a running back did not go in the first round. I’ve heard and seen many NFL pundits discuss how running backs are becoming a dying breed in the NFL. I couldn’t disagree more with that statement. We just saw a run-first team with an elite back win the Super Bowl this year. Last year, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers played in the super-bowl and both teams had a run-first approach. I don’t believe running backs have little to no value anymore. They’ve just become easier to find.

This week, the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with former Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams. Williams was drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft and to date injuries have crippled his career. But I don’t believe that is the only reason he failed in Arizona. Ryan Williams was miscast as a big-play, home run back that will create plays on the edges. He was drafted to compliment Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower, when in fact, he was more similar to those players. Before I begin my scouting report on Ryan Williams, let’s take a look at the measurables of all the running backs on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster:



Williams isn’t the fastest player, but having a 40 inch vertical at 212 pounds does show me that he has explosiveness in short areas. Williams and Murray are the heaviest backs on the roster and I think the Cowboys are looking for a true back up to DeMarco Murray. Ryan Williams fits this offense very well. He’s a zone runner who can find the open cut-back lanes well. I’m going to show you an example of Williams doing so, and I want you to remember that when viewing the all-22 film, this looks like a simple run, but it’s not. Take a look:

Read the rest at: http://cover32.com/cowboys/2014/05/22/scouting-report-new-dallas-cowboys-running-back-ryan-williams/

 

[Zordon]

Good stuff man. I'm excited b/c I remember what he was at Tech but a part of me is thinking this is fools gold.

 

[Section446]

Going to be a numbers game, I don't know that he makes the roster. The guy was amazing at VT though.

 

[DanTanna]

Sweet post! And I even clicked on a few of the adds on the top of the page for good measure.

 

[theSHOW]

Williams reminds me of a back who rushed for a few yards and wore the number 22

 

[Alexander]

Good stuff man. I'm excited b/c I remember what he was at Tech but a part of me is thinking this is fools gold.

All comes down to his physical health. He has shown the natural run skills and vision well enough in the past to justify taking a shot.

 

[Zordon]

Williams reminds me of a back who rushed for a few yards and wore the number 22

Big difference in durability. 22 never got hurt, rarely took a clean shot. If he did, he fought thru it like a warrior.

 

[Zordon]

All comes down to his physical health. He has shown the natural run skills and vision well enough in the past to justify taking a shot.

The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that the Cardinals gave up on him so quickly this offseason. Didn't he have another year or two on a cheap deal? They chose Stepfan Taylor over him, a fifth round pick who I don't think is very special. Taylor put up Joseph Randle numbers last year. If Ryan Williams was all the way back from his injury and showing his 2nd round talent running ability again, wouldn't they have at least kept him until training camp for competition purposes?

 

[theSHOW]

Big difference in durability. 22 never got hurt, rarely took a clean shot. If he did, he fought thru it like a warrior.

Let me add a statement to my post. Williams will be in a dogfight to make this team. As an underdog. Still reminds me of 22

 

[NeonDeion21]

The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that the Cardinals gave up on him so quickly this offseason. Didn't he have another year or two on a cheap deal? They chose Stepfan Taylor over him. A fifth round pick who I don't think is very special. Taylor had Randle types of numbers last year. If Williams was all the way back and showing his 2nd round talent again, wouldn't they have at least kept him till training camp?

The selection of Stepfan Taylor, Andre Ellington and the signing of Jonathan Dwyer didn't help. Bruce Arians wanted his guys. I don't blame him, but that doesn't mean Williams is washed up.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Great post. I'm really rooting for Williams. He deserves a lot given how hard he's worked coming off two devastating injuries.

 

[Alexander]

The only thing that gives me pause is the fact that the Cardinals gave up on him so quickly this offseason. Didn't he have another year or two on a cheap deal? They chose Stepfan Taylor over him. A fifth round pick who I don't think is very special. Taylor had Randle types of numbers last year. If Williams was all the way back and showing his 2nd round talent again, wouldn't they have at least kept him till training camp?

They were probably doing him a favor (and themselves since he was due about a million dollars I think). I read some things that Arians was just not a fan but he stuck around last year mainly because GM Steve Keim liked him.

 

[AsthmaField]

I don't have a whole lot of confidence that he is going to make the team. Something about the guy just never has really impressed me, but I certainly could be wrong.

Something about his mental makeup that I'm just not crazy about.

We will see. Physically, the guy is good if healthy.

 

[Risen Star]

I don't have a whole lot of confidence that he is going to make the team. Something about the guy just never has really impressed me, but I certainly could be wrong.

Something about his mental makeup that I'm just not crazy about.

We will see. Physically, the guy is good if healthy.

If he doesn't make this roster he's pretty much done as an NFL player. We have DeMarco Murray and nothing.

 

[pgreptom]

Good stuff man. I'm excited b/c I remember what he was at Tech but a part of me is thinking this is fools gold.

He was stupid talented at Tech. I just remember being blown away at the 4.60. He always looked so fast at Tech.

 

[Bullflop]

In response to the OP, I don't think RBs are any easier to find than they used to be -- the typical reason being given for why they have been devalued is because the passing game has increasingly been implemented to dominate offenses while the running game is being given less emphasis. Also, the tendency for offenses to utilize RBs by committee has significantly decreased demands for dominant RBs.

 

[AsthmaField]

In response to the OP, I don't think RBs are any easier to find than they used to be -- the typical reason being given for why they have been devalued is because the passing game has increasingly been implemented to dominate offenses while the running game is being given less emphasis. Also, the tendency for offenses to utilize RBs by committee has significantly decreased demands for dominant RBs.

I think teams realize they can find really good backs in later rounds, but all the good corners, OT's, DE's, etc. go very early. So they grab that Tackle they need early on and worry about the back later.

 

[AsthmaField]

If he doesn't make this roster he's pretty much done as an NFL player. We have DeMarco Murray and nothing.

Yeah, I think he will certainly empty the tank trying to make the team... at least I would.

It would be good for us if he does make it. I just have my doubts.

 

[Craig]

I don't really think RBs are a dying breed. But Ryan Williams is a great example of why their value is dropping in drafts. The position is just to volatile to invest in and a mediocre back can be made to look great behind a good line. Williams is obviously talented and also obviously a little injury prone. Having him and Murray in the backfield seems to fit in nicely with the team philosophy this offseason.

 

[Idgit]

There's always going to be a huge need for a running game. What we're seeing, though, is that it doesn't really matter all that much who's running the ball. The fact that you can get your starter at the position in the third round tells you everything you need to know about the availability of running backs right now. When effectiveness at the position makes the difference between winning and losing again, we'll see it change, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.