Raiders LB Williams low on stats, high on importance

[jatfly]

Raiders LB Williams low on stats, high on importance
Posted by: Anthony Carroll on October 9, 2007 12:19

It's hard to believe, but the Oakland Raiders aren't running a 5-2 defense this season. They actually have three starting linebackers.
Two already have three picks each and have combined for 53 tackles. Their names, of course, are Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard.
The other has 11 tackles, no interceptions and no sacks.
Under the circumstances in Oakland, that's good football.
Sam Williams, a fifth-year outside linebacker from Fresno State, has been as consistent as anyone on the Raider defense this season. His flashiness is another story.​

The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder lines up as the defense's strongside LB, where he is regularly responsible for covering the tight end. Through four games this season, opposing starting tight ends average three catches per outing, good for under 47 yards per game.​

Only Cleveland's Kellen Winslow, understandably, has hauled in over five passes on the Raider defense. Already, Winslow averages five catches and 83 yards per game through five weeks.​

Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone raving about the 27-year-old Williams. The eldest of Oakland's three starting linebackers, No. 54 has been overshadowed by his two counterparts. Williams ranks just eighth on the team in tackles and is the only linebacker without an interception or any other turnover this season. Despite starting every game this year, the Clayton, Calif., native has fewer tackles than four defensive backs.
Much of the reason Williams has been so behind on the stat sheet has been the way he's been used. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan rotates the former third-rounder out of the game on passing downs, while both Morrison and Howard stay in. Oftentimes, the 240-pound Howard is lined up wide in a cornerback-like position in man coverage against a running back. Williams, two inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, would have trouble running alongside a starting RB.​

Still, Williams has been playing tough, physical football this year. Despite the numbers, he's been stout against the run, and has done a sound job taking on and pushing back the tight end to close rushing lanes. Though not as fast or high-flying as Morrison and Howard, Williams has been equally as physical along the defensive front.​

That's easier said than done for a player who's missed more games to injury than he's started in five NFL seasons. ​

In 2003, as a rookie, Williams fell to a knee injury and missed 15 games; the next season he missed seven games with a shoulder injury. Finally, in 2005, an injury to his ACL left the linebacker sidelined for the entire regular season. Last year was the young defender's most complete season, when he missed just one Week 2 start.​

For Oakland, keeping Williams healthy is a major concern, even if it doesn't show in the stats.
It seems he's becoming the defender making a commotion behind the scenes.
Or behind his teammates.
Williams was the player pushing defensive end Tommy Kelly from behind when he fell forward and blocked Cleveland's Week 3 game-winning field goal attempt.​

That kind of play doesn't show up on the stat sheet.​

• Anthony Carroll, a senior writer for RealFootball365.com, can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com.​

 

[BigTron]

Sam getting some love. I dont dislike Sam, but he needs to flash more. This is the NFL!

 

[Crow]

Anthony Carroll. 'Nuff said.

 

[Freakshow]

This guy was supposedly a big, quick, athletic, gifted linebacker/end coming out of Fresno St, and maybe he was. But after two consecutive season ending knee surgeries the dude just doesn't have the explosiveness he once did. In fact, when I isolate on him during the games he seems slow to react and lacks instinct, often trailing the play. Not the fluid, refined guy we thought we were getting (gave up a future 3rd for him). I distinctly remember Romanowski saying what a sleeper we "stole" that year.

Well, guys like him are a dime a dozen in the NFL and I'm of the opinion we need to upgrade our strong-side backer position. I actually think Robert Thomas makes more things happen, despite his diminutive stature. I realize not everyone on the team is going to be a star but one can hope...

 

[Chris_77]

He's so good at covering TE's that they take him out on passing downs...

Right.

 

[Langlier]

He's so good at covering TE's that they take him out on passing downs...

Right.

We take him out to put an extra DB in. not on "passing downs". I've seen him do a ton on "passing downs" and hes rather good at it. Sammy has taken a lot of heat but hes a good player at SLB

 

[RaiderDestiny]

It seems to me that I have seen Sam make a number of plays against the run, some of which have been in the backfield. Those are only plays that I notice, and he may be blowing assignments on other plays, but he seems to be doing a pretty solid job. Not what we expected of him, but solid.

 

[Madturk]

I had really expected him to be more of a pass rush threat since he played with his hand on the ground in college. I'm just thinking the injury bug may have caught up with him. I recall him being pretty quick off the edge when we first drafted him. Nonetheless, he's a solid LB, albeit unspectacular. He'll probably get some looks in FA after this season. Hopefully not morphing into Nap Harris after he leaves.

 

[R4Life]

He'll probably get some looks in FA after this season. Hopefully not morphing into Nap Harris after he leaves.

Nap's best years were with us:

YEAR TEAM G TOT SOLO AST
2002 OAK 15 81 60 21
2003 OAK 16 110 80 30
2004 OAK 14 61 48 13
2005 MIN 15 25 18 7
2006 MIN 14 59 42 17
2007 KAN 5 43 29 14
Career 79 375 273 102 14

He's on pace for a good year in 2007, but it's a long season.

 

[Raidermania12]

Nap is an MLB, its a different position and I think his stats are garbage based on his position. My type of MLB makes "90 and up" tackles every full year(ala ray lewis and greg biekert). So I think Nap has been a failure mostly to the standards I have for the position..

IMO Sam is ok at his position. Serviceable would be the term I use. What I expect at his position though is atleast 70 tackles a year, turnovers, and sacks. Until he can register more sacks or turnovers, I'm dissatisfied with him. Its those type of plays that win you games. I'd love to have a nasty Bill Romo type great football instincts player instead of Sam. With that said He's far from a bum. Just ok to me.

 

[007]

I don't think you can pigeon hole guys and throw numbers up to say how good they are, especially at a position like linebacker...

Saying a middle linebacker should reach X number of tackles to be considered good, or Sam Williams needs at least X number of tackles is silly. A ton of LB's are dropping into coverage, covering a RB or TE for a lot of the game, or taking on multiple blockers and fullbacks to free up other tacklers...

Guys like Barrett Ruud and DJ Williams are making a ton of tackles this season, but they are also getting run on all the time, and I don't think making 11 tackles while giving up 150+ on the ground makes you a good MLB.

Through five games, Harris has an INT, a FF, a couple sacks and 40+ tackles...He's adapting to that hybrid cover two KC plays pretty well.

Sam does the little things well, the stuff that goes unnoticed. Howard and Morrison get the high profile plays, and the accolades, but Sam is in on his share of third down stops and key tackles. We could always upgrade, but I don't think he's a weak link by any stretch (That's Stuart Schweigert)

I wouldnt mind a Phillip Wheeler or Keith Rivers next draft though...

 

[Raidermania12]

I don't think you can pigeon hole guys and throw numbers up to say how good they are, especially at a position like linebacker...

Saying a middle linebacker should reach X number of tackles to be considered good, or Sam Williams needs at least X number of tackles is silly. A ton of LB's are dropping into coverage, covering a RB or TE for a lot of the game, or taking on multiple blockers and fullbacks to free up other tacklers...

Guys like Barrett Ruud and DJ Williams are making a ton of tackles this season, but they are also getting run on all the time, and I don't think making 11 tackles while giving up 150+ on the ground makes you a good MLB.

Through five games, Harris has an INT, a FF, a couple sacks and 40+ tackles...He's adapting to that hybrid cover two KC plays pretty well.

Sam does the little things well, the stuff that goes unnoticed. Howard and Morrison get the high profile plays, and the accolades, but Sam is in on his share of third down stops and key tackles. We could always upgrade, but I don't think he's a weak link by any stretch (That's Stuart Schweigert)

I wouldnt mind a Phillip Wheeler or Keith Rivers next draft though...

I think his little things are very noticed. But he's still underachieving at his position because of his lack of big plays. He provides very competent play though. I dare not dispute that much. But I'd rather have a nastier ballhawk with sharper instincts and better all around skills at my Strong side. In a perfect world Jon Alston lives up to his potential and takes over at weak side with Howard locking down the strong side in a smooth transition. That would give us one of the most athletic LB cores in the league and we'd spend less money. Unfortunately thats the least likely scenario...lol

My point was lost. Stats or no stats Romo and Biekert were the type of players you want at those positions. Morrison lives up to that. Sam doesn't imho.

As far as Harris goes, I'm not sold on him. But I think with donnie edwards and derrick johnson next to him, he'll be safe. As a compliment to a core rather than the main guy, he'll flourish better possibly.

 

[BigTron]

I don't think you can pigeon hole guys and throw numbers up to say how good they are, especially at a position like linebacker...

Saying a middle linebacker should reach X number of tackles to be considered good, or Sam Williams needs at least X number of tackles is silly. A ton of LB's are dropping into coverage, covering a RB or TE for a lot of the game, or taking on multiple blockers and fullbacks to free up other tacklers...

Guys like Barrett Ruud and DJ Williams are making a ton of tackles this season, but they are also getting run on all the time, and I don't think making 11 tackles while giving up 150+ on the ground makes you a good MLB.

Through five games, Harris has an INT, a FF, a couple sacks and 40+ tackles...He's adapting to that hybrid cover two KC plays pretty well.

Sam does the little things well, the stuff that goes unnoticed. Howard and Morrison get the high profile plays, and the accolades, but Sam is in on his share of third down stops and key tackles. We could always upgrade, but I don't think he's a weak link by any stretch (That's Stuart Schweigert)

I wouldnt mind a Phillip Wheeler or Keith Rivers next draft though...

I could use that arguement for Mike Huff. Obviously Sam wasnt #7 overall, but you see my point agent 007. Huff is important in ways that dont show up on the stat sheet. If he locks down Gates this week... is he worth a #7?

 

[Crow]

Harris' success in Minnesota was due to the Williams Twins in front of him. He's not exactly shining behind inferior DTs in KC. From what I've seen, he's played like he did when he was in Oakland. Nothing, nothing, badly blown assignment, nothing, "Hey, nice play", nothing, nothing...

 

[007]

I could use that arguement for Mike Huff. Obviously Sam wasnt #7 overall, but you see my point agent 007. Huff is important in ways that dont show up on the stat sheet. If he locks down Gates this week... is he worth a #7?

Have you ever seen Williams whiff on tackles the way Huff does?

Not me.

For a top 7 draftpick to hear words like 'average' and 'competent' makes me sick.

One game or one season doesnt make him worth #7...I expect him to be a good pro, but as of right now, I find him very underwhelming for a "ball hawking safety".

JMO of course.

 

[BigTron]

Have you ever seen Williams whiff on tackles the way Huff does?

Not me.

For a top 7 draftpick to hear words like 'average' and 'competent' makes me sick.

One game or one season doesnt make him worth #7...I expect him to be a good pro, but as of right now, I find him very underwhelming for a "ball hawking safety".

JMO of course.

Huff made a huge tackle that got Clevelands offense off the field late in the 4th quarter of a close game we won. If he whiffed that one we might not be in 1st place in the AFC west. he also has a safety this year. I understand he hasnt lived up to Ed Reed status but he is still one of the best cover safety's in the NFL. Especially since ballhawks usually play FS not SS. Putting a guy who weakness is tackling at SS is a coaching error.

 

[Stanny]

Huff still has a ways to go but I think the guy is playing solid ball. Tackling has gotten much better and his instincts are starting to kick in. All you have to do is look back over the past 5 years and remember how badly an average TE used to tear us a new ass every week? You look at this year and the middle of the field or the TE position hasn't produced much against our D. Granted they haven't (Raiders) went up against any ALL PRO guys outside of Winslow who had a decent game and he never scored, but outside of him there's been nada. This weekend will be a big test for him to shut down Gates but I like his progress. Nothing spectacular, but the dude isn't losing games for us like years of past from the SS position.

 

[BigTron]

Huff still has a ways to go but I think the guy is playing solid ball. Tackling has gotten much better and his instincts are starting to kick in. All you have to do is look back over the past 5 years and remember how badly an average TE used to tear us a new ass every week? You look at this year and the middle of the field or the TE position hasn't produced much against our D. Granted they haven't (Raiders) went up against any ALL PRO guys outside of Winslow who had a decent game and he never scored, but outside of him there's been nada. This weekend will be a big test for him to shut down Gates but I like his progress. Nothing spectacular, but the dude isn't losing games for us like years of past from the SS position.

Aso took a few years to start making plays. But he was always pretty solid in coverage. If we had given up on him this early we would have missed out.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Aso took a few years to start making plays. But he was always pretty solid in coverage. If we had given up on him this early we would have missed out.

Same for Stanford Routt. He had some flashes the first couple of years, but he's only progressed to starter now (year 3)

Personally, I love our secondary with Asomugah, Routt, Washington & Huff. We just need to fill the other Safety slot....

 

[Rupert]

Williams is often being asked to eat up a blocker so guys behind him can make the tackle. It's a very common duty for a SAM. However, anyone asked to eat a blocker should have some ability to shed the block and make the tackle.

I don't know if Williams will stay healthy long enough to start getting the feel of it. There have been flashes when the play is one gap inside of him that he can get off the blocker, but when the play is at him he's usually fully engaged by the blocker and unable to shed him. I've also seen plays where he's been "legally" held at the point, in other words he's trying to backpedal away from the blocker with no success because the blocker's got two hands full of jersey.