Sylvester Williams

[honyock]

I'm trying to get a handle on where Williams should be slotted in the draft. I know he's been talked about here, especially as a possibility in a trade-down later in the first round. But his stock seems to be rising on several draft sites, so I'm curious what the draft junkies here think of him.

Gil Brandt has him at #18 on his top 100, and talks about him as a hard worker, really competitive.

National Football Post has him at #12, ahead of both Floyd and Richardson. I've heard a couple of references by un-named NFL scouts that he belongs at the least at the same tier as those two. Lots of mocks seem to be popping up with him going in the first half of round one, and others where he falls to early second round.

The standard report on him is very good first-step explosiveness, quickness and penetration as a 3-tech and stout against the run. Downside is inconsistency, he disappears at times and didn't make an impact in games where he should have dominated his opposition. He did have an ankle issue for much of this year that reportedly slowed him down.

There is plenty of video on him, several of North Carolina's games are on youtube. To my untrained eye in watching a couple of games, he was quick and into the backfield a lot, but would get his pads high and get washed out of the play pretty often.

He fits a need at 3-tech and could probably play some snaps at 1-tech. What do you draft gurus think - is he an option at 18 if the guards, Richardson and Floyd are gone, or is that too high for him?

 

[DFWJC]

I think, for the most part, this forum underestimates Sly Williams.

He did have an ankle issue that he played through last year.
I'll be curious to see how his career turns out. And yes, I think there's about 10-20% chance he ends up in Dallas. Not my top choice at all, but it could be worse.
Look at his measurables as well. Right there with the best in the draft.

 

[DBOY3141]

I'm a UNC fan. Williams is a beast when healthy and also when energized. Sometimes he can get lazy, but when he is on, he's a stud. Without the ankle issue last year, I think he would be top 15 easy. After Star and Sheldon Richardson, he is the DL I would want.

I would not be upset if he is taken at #18. Cooper and Warmack are my first choices, just because the OL is complete garbage and the NFL today is all about offense. We can win with this defense, we can't compete with this OL.

 

[Rack]

I've been having a feeling for awhile now that Sylvester Williams will be our pick. Even if Warmack/Cooper/Vacarro (yuck) are available. Unless one of the higher rated DT's falls, but I doubt it.

As far as him being lazy at times, I think that's the case for most linemen. If they didn't get last "at times" they probably wouldn't be 300+ lbs. JMO

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think he is a fall back option for us and that does not require a trade down.

I think if the top 4-5 players the cowboys like are off the board and they can not trade down they would take him and get a good player.

 

[Gaede]

I think the only reason we don't really talk about him is his age.

Other than that, he's definitely first round pick worthy.

 

[jterrell]

I saw him on ESPN in a skills type competition and it was funny watching him compete. He is definitely got a big ole OL type gut. Had trouble getting low in the drill. Was the only guy who had to put his hands on the ground to do so.


But big guys who stop the run are a different breed. They aren't there to win beauty contests. I don't think he is in the class of Richardson or Floyd who look much more athletic and disruptive across the DL but Sly Williams may well be a better pure run stopper than either guy. Could be a really big DT who plugs holes and forces teams to go elsewhere.

I believe his value is a bit below 18. Maybe 20-25. Probably about same as Fluker who I'd take first due to a little higher positional value for this team.

 

[Primetime42]

Would be a 1 tech in this scheme, I think. The way other DT prospects get talked up, I wouldn't be shocked at all if he slips to the late first/early second.

 

[DFWJC]

Lots a of fair assessments
Though one of those descriptions sound much more like Jesse Williams than Sylvester Williams.

He's rising on most mock boards, not falling, btw.

He is bigger than Richardson (15-20 lbs bigger), but has the same speed.

This defense likes the DT1 and DT3 to be flexible. I think he's drafted as a DT3 but can play DT1 in a pinch. Same as Richardson.

They are both much faster than Star and both are slightly slower than Floyd.

 

[reddyuta]

I think, for the most part, this forum underestimates Sly Williams.

He did have an ankle issue that he played through last year.
I'll be curious to see how his career turns out. And yes, I think there's about 10-20% chance he ends up in Dallas. Not my top choice at all, but it could be worse.
Look at his measurables as well. Right there with the best in the draft.

I am on board with williams and fluker @18,I think he is just a bit below Richardson in terms of ability.

 

[jterrell]

Lots a of fair assessments
Though one of those descriptions sound much more like Jesse Williams than Sylvester Williams.

He's rising on most mock boards, not falling, btw.

He is bigger than Richardson (15-20 lbs bigger), but has the same speed.

This defense likes the DT1 and DT3 to be flexible. I think he's drafted as a DT3 but can play DT1 in a pinch. Same as Richardson.

They are both much faster than Star and both are slightly slower than Floyd.

While Sylvester Williams and Sheldon Richardson ran similar 40s do not be fooled. They are not similar athletes.

Richardson did 3 more reps on the bench with longer arms, jumped 5.5" more in the vert jump and did 14" more in the broad jump.

Richardson ran at his pro day against his agents advice and put up tremendous numbers dropping his 40 to below 4.9 and producing shuttle times closer to DEs than to Sly Williams who had very poor lateral agility drills times.

Sly Williams is rising on boards because he is the NEXT guy there. But he is in a class below the top 3 DT.

 

[Fredd]

I se him more in the 20-25 range...(originally had him around 30)...but, as someone else said, he is a very good fall-back option if the guards are gone as well as star, richardson, et al

 

[DFWJC]

While Sylvester Williams and Sheldon Richardson ran similar 40s do not be fooled. They are not similar athletes.

Richardson did 3 more reps on the bench with longer arms, jumped 5.5" more in the vert jump and did 14" more in the broad jump.

Richardson ran at his pro day against his agents advice and put up tremendous numbers dropping his 40 to below 4.9 and producing shuttle times closer to DEs than to Sly Williams who had very poor lateral agility drills times.

Sly Williams is rising on boards because he is the NEXT guy there. But he is in a class below the top 3 DT.

I like Richardson a lot.

Of course, these guys are not playing linebacker. Sheldon is about 20 lbs ligher than Sly. That will help Richardson in agility drills...though we are talking DTs here.
I saw Williams' 40 time as low as 4.93 anyway. Richardson has 3 more reps on the bench.
Guys like Star come in at 5.4 or so and weigh about the same as Sly.

 

[jterrell]

I like Richardson a lot.

Of course, these guys are not playing linebacker. Sheldon is about 20 lbs ligher than Sly. That will help Richardson in agility drills...though we are talking DTs here.
I saw Williams' 40 time as low as 4.93 anyway. Richardson has 3 more reps on the bench.
Guys like Star come in at 5.4 or so and weigh about the same as Sly.

I don't think we are any real disagreement. Just slightly different views on guys which is normal. MY own rankings are certainly not anyone else's.

Richardson to me a Warren Sapp type. He'll get that burst and explosion up the field but also can make plays sideline to sideline. Sly Williams did some of that at UNC but it's not really his best asset imho and something I am not sure he is athletic enough to do at the NFL level.

You watch Richardson on tape and he makes plays 10 yards from the ball regularly. Sly was more up field in the backfield or at point of attack.

Star looks to be the most powerful DT prospect. He really seems to move OLs. But he isn't as purely athletic as the other guys we are discussing. His 38 reps at the pro day were certainly impressive and his lateral agility numbers were better than Sylvester Williams. But he is obviously not fast considering his 5.17 pro day time. He will hopefully dominate an area. But he isn't going to be Leon Lett.

I'd rank the DT:
Richardson
Floyd --More athletic than any of them and very talented; but just behind Richardson for me based on explosion versus the same opponents.
Star

then tier 2 would be topped by Sly Williams
Jesse Williams
Kawann Short
Jon Hankins

then tier 3 guys...

 

[xwalker]

He fits a need at 3-tech and could probably play some snaps at 1-tech. What do you draft gurus think - is he an option at 18 if the guards, Richardson and Floyd are gone, or is that too high for him?

I believe that he could play either the 3-tech or 1-tech; however, I think his best fit in Kiffin's defense is at the 1-tech in the long term.

I think that a perfect interior DL for Kiffin would be Richardson at the 3-tech and Williams at the 1-tech.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Why are you guys talking about 40 times for DT when their 10 yard splits are available for at least some of them.

Star ran the 10 at 1.89. Shuttle 4.63. 3 cone 7.79. 30" vert. 8'9" broad 38 reps


Richardson 1.68 4.59 7.33 32" 9'8" 30

Williams 1.72 4.8 7.93 26" 8'6" 27

The athletic gap between Star/Richardson and Williams is a chasm as opposed to the difference between say Williams and the next in line.

Richardson is a rare athlete. A very rare athlete. Star is a step below but the power gap is obvious.

 

[xwalker]

Why are you guys talking about 40 times for DT when their 10 yard splits are available for at least some of them.

Star ran the 10 at 1.89. Shuttle 4.63. 3 cone 7.79. 30" vert. 8'9" broad 38 reps


Richardson 1.68 4.59 7.33 32" 9'8" 30

Williams 1.72 4.8 7.93 26" 8'6" 27

The athletic gap between Star/Richardson and Williams is a chasm as opposed to the difference between say Williams and the next in line.

Richardson is a rare athlete. A very rare athlete. Star is a step below but the power gap is obvious.

 

[honyock]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Nice feedback. I was looking at Williams as more of a 3-tech but after reading the responses and some more scouting reports and seeing some more video, I could see him getting a ton of snaps as a 1-tech. He'd be a quick and athletic 1.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What a great draft for DT.

 

[Gaede]

On a side note, can't believe how well Datone Jones tested.