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AJ:Texans draft watch: DT Dan Williams

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
Continuing our draft watch series, let's take a look at senior defensive tackle Dan Williams from Tennessee.

The Texans primary needs entering the 2010 draft are at running back, free safety, interior offensive lineman, defensive tackle and cornerback assuming Dunta Robinson leaves in free agency.

A common reaction by Texans fans will be to yell 'stop the madness' at the prospect of the Texans drafting yet another defensive lineman in the first round.

The Texans picked defensive linemen in the first round in three consecutive years.

One worked out pretty well (Mario Williams, 1st overall in '06), one didn't (Travis Johnson, 16th overall in '05), and another is three year vet at a crossroads at the ripe old age of 22 (Amobi Okoye, 10th overall in '07).

One school of thought is that at first you don't succeed, try again. Another theory invokes a word for trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

The reality is that after all these years, the Texans are still crazy weak at defensive tackle and they have forever been looking for a two gapper that can clog up some running lanes. And with the Texans scheduled to play the power running teams of the NFC East next season (and the Jets), a stout two-gap defensive tackle could pay dividends - if they pick the right guy.

Frank Okam and Shaun Cody aren't going to make anyone forget about Kris Jenkins or Haloti Ngata any time soon, and Jeff Zgonina - god bless his 50 inch calves at age 40 or whatever he is - certainly can't keep it up forever.

Speaking of Jenkins, he had some pretty good things to say about the subject of this article at halftime of the Senior Bowl last Saturday.

Edgar Thompson of palmbeachpost.com wrote this report a few days ago and captured some of the things that Jenkins (a studio guest analyst) had to say about Williams.

"Working in studio for the NFL Network, Jets four-time Pro Bowl Kris Jenkins gushed about (Dan) Williams at halftime," wrote Thompson.

“I have two words and that’s ‘Dan Williams,’” Jenkins said. “I’m a fan. He went out there and for a defensive lineman to see a defensive lineman who possesses those types of intangibles, he was splitting double teams, just being a presence, making plays. I think he’s going to be a player.”

Thomson wrote that Williams "likely will fall somewhere between the Dolphins first pick (No. 12) and second pick (No. 43), unless the team makes a move and gets him."

ESPN's Todd McShay also had some good things to say about Williams via Chris Low's SEC Blog
Click to expand...

http://www.examiner.com/x-778-Houston-Texans-Examiner~y2010m2d2-Texans-draft-watch--DT-Dan-Williams
 
I liked what I saw from Dan Williams during the Senior Bowl. He didn't light up the stat box with a lot of sacks or anything, but he was playing hard and making an impact out there, which is more than I can say for anyone we have at DT right now. Many people have said he's got some work ethic problems, and that may be true, but he looked good.
 
I think our 1st round pick will come down to choosing between Dan Williams, Kyle Wilson, Earl Thomas, C.J. Spiller, or Mike Iupati. With that said I think Dan Williams is highly unlikely because he won't be available, he'll go in the top 15. If he is there then he is a no brainer pick, you run to the podium with his name in your hand. He'd be the answer to our continued problems at DT and anchor this D-line for years to come.
 
Sounds good to me. I love having options. If we get to #20 and have Dan Williams, and Earl Thomas on the board I will be in hog heaven.
 
I like the fact that JD Walton knocked Williams and his 329 pounds on his butt during a blocking drill week of the Senior Bowl.
 
I really like Dan Williams so that means he won't play here. :) Seems like every year I think someone is perfect for the team, he goes somewhere else (for any number of reasons). He can anchor, penetrate and he can wall off and keep someone off DeMeco...what's not to like?
 
Vinny said:
I really like Dan Williams so that means he won't play here. :) Seems like every year I think someone is perfect for the team, he goes somewhere else (for any number of reasons). He can anchor, penetrate and he can wall off and keep someone off DeMeco...what's not to like?
Click to expand...

Vinny likes him? Damn... Sounds like he will be going to a division rival...
 
I don't care what it takes, if you don't win in the trenches then you aren't gonna be a perennial contender. Just because we've been burnt on 1st round DTs thus far doesn't mean we forget about one of our biggest weaknesses. If a player is there that the FO thinks can make us a stronger team in the trenches you have to take a shot... especially if the "BPA" isn't very far apart from him or if he even is the BPA.

Dan Williams seems to fit the bill. The learning curve is steep for DL but we've gotta find a dominant NT to plug up the middle, collapse the pocket, and keep bodies off of DeMeco or this defense will never reach its potential. He's not gonna impact the stat sheet like Cushing, but maybe he can impact the defense just the same by opening other players up to make plays (allowing DeMeco more room to work by tying up blockers and giving Mario a better opportunity to attack the QB by collapsing the pocket).

I would like to see us pick up a dominant interior OL, ballhawking safety, or a dominant DT in the first round. It seems that the three best candidates to shore up these weaknesses are Iupati, Thomas, or Williams. Williams dominated Iupati at the senior bowl so that puts him ahead imo. A dominant DT trumps a dominant safety so he is ahead of Thomas as well (again imo). Only problem is... his stock is rising so fast that I doubt he makes it out of the top 10 come April :(
 
I think the biggest problem with this guy is his name. The Vikings are about to lose Pat Williams to reitirement, which will open a need for DTs name 'williams', so they can keep their trademark 'Williams Wall' going. The Vikings will trade up to 10-15 to get him before the Texans ever have a shot!
 
I have a friend in Knoxville that's watched every game he's played and these are some of his thoughts:

  • Often double-teamed, but still managed to be an excellent run-stopper. He is not noted for his pass-rush ability.
  • Many credit Monte Kiffin and Ed Orgeron (last season’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coaches, respectively) for his improvement during his senior season. I think more than anything they used their NFL experience and convinced him that millions of dollars are at stake and he responded to that.
  • Some speculate that without the tutelage of Kiffin and Orgeron, (and with money in his pocket) Dan might tend to get lackadaisical when left to his own devices. His work ethic has been called into question quite often, not due to laziness as much as just a laid back approach to the game. He has also had significant weight issues in the past, though this is currently not an issue. He began his career as an offensive lineman and he was at about 357lbs then – now down to about 325lbs. Nevertheless, his weight struggles have reinforced the questioning of his work ethic and motivation.

  • No reports of off-the-field problems or attitude issues that I can recall.
 
Dutchrudder said:
I think the biggest problem with this guy is his name. The Vikings are about to lose Pat Williams to retirement, which will open a need for DTs name 'Williams', so they can keep their trademark 'Williams Wall' going. The Vikings will trade up to 10-15 to get him before the Texans ever have a shot!
Click to expand...

http://www.gbnreport.com/picksbyteam.html

Ok the Vikes are in the 30 slot.

http://www.gbnreport.com/tradevaluetable.html

the value of their pick according to the chart is 620.

To move up to ten, a slot valued at 1300, they would have to give up picks equal to 680. Which would be most of their picks. They could have a party Friday and Saturday I suppose, then come back Sunday.

The fifteen scenario is a little more doable. The value of that slot is 1080.

They would only have to come up with 460. A swap and their second, third and sixth round picks might just do it. I like the guy, but three guys for one ?
He better be the second coming of John Randle with that type of move.


The major movers and shakers with the ammo to move around are Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco and New England. They have enough ammo to move around and basically choose who they want. Everyone else..... it's going to cost. And it's going to cost big. Look at the Fa lists...sellers market.

http://www.gbnreport.com/draftorder.html
http://www.gbnreport.com/trades.htm
 
Dutchrudder said:
I think the biggest problem with this guy is his name. The Vikings are about to lose Pat Williams to reitirement, which will open a need for DTs name 'williams', so they can keep their trademark 'Williams Wall' going. The Vikings will trade up to 10-15 to get him before the Texans ever have a shot!
Click to expand...

Is cheaper to get him a jersey too. They already have a big jersey with Willaims on it. Easy fit.
 
Personally I think Dan Williams will have a good week at the combine, and shoot up the charts to a 3-4 defense like his ex teammate Robert Ayers.
 
threetoedpete said:
http://www.gbnreport.com/picksbyteam.html

Ok the Vikes are in the 30 slot.

http://www.gbnreport.com/tradevaluetable.html

the value of their pick according to the chart is 620.

To move up to ten, a slot valued at 1300, they would have to give up picks equal to 680. Which would be most of their picks. They could have a party Friday and Saturday I suppose, then come back Sunday.

The fifteen scenario is a little more doable. The value of that slot is 1080.

They would only have to come up with 460. A swap and their second, third and sixth round picks might just do it. I like the guy, but three guys for one ?
He better be the second coming of John Randle with that type of move.


The major movers and shakers with the ammo to move around are Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco and New England. They have enough ammo to move around and basically choose who they want. Everyone else..... it's going to cost. And it's going to cost big. Look at the Fa lists...sellers market.

http://www.gbnreport.com/draftorder.html
http://www.gbnreport.com/trades.htm
Click to expand...

I was actually just kidding about all that, but it would be awesome if the Vikings gave up their 2011 1st and 3rd round picks for the 10-15 spot to get Williams. You never know though, he may drop all the way to 29th for them.
 
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