Stephen Z. Smith
Practice Squad
After the season had ended and Mario Williams had played his last down in college football, most scouts had him projected as a mid-high top 10 pick in the draft.
For example, Yahoo Sports - Mario Williams,
Williams is big and agile enough to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense, yet fast enough to drop into coverage or stand up at outside linebacker. While other ends like Penn State's Tamba Hali and Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka bring pass-rushing skills, Williams might be the only player in this year's draft who has the size and athleticism to line up anywhere in the front seven.
Barring a setback in combine drills, Williams is expected to be the first defensive player off the board possibly to the Green Bay Packers at No. 5.
"He has had some up-and-down games, as most people do, but he's a tremendously talented kid," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said of Williams. " He looks like what you draw up. You want him to get off the bus first."
He could possibly go to the Packers at #5?!? :brickwall
USA TODAY - Mario Williams hopes he will luck out as the Packers' Pick at Five
N.C. State's Williams thinks he's Packers' pick
When North Carolina State's Mario Williams begins his NFL career, he expects it to be with the Packers.
It makes sense. The Packers desperately need defensive help, and the 6-foot-7, 295-pound defensive end is considered by many to be the best defensive player in the draft.
"I've thought a lot about playing there," Williams said Saturday. "I would love that."
The Packers hold the No. 5 pick in the April 29 draft, and it's difficult to imagine them passing on Williams if he's still on the board. With Bush, Leinart, Young, Cutler and Ferguson vying for the top four spots, there seems to be a better-than-decent chance Williams will be available.
"I really think it's where I'm going to end up," Williams said. "I mean, it would be a great feeling. You always hear everybody talk about Lambeau Field."
By the end of the season, Mario Williams finished last year with 14 1/2 sacks.
Here's the clincher: Until the last 6 games, he had a grand total of...one sack. His biggest games were 3 &1/2 sacks against Southern Mississippi, 4 sacks against Maryland, and 1 & 1/2 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss against South Florida.
Not exactly dominating teams, those. And having Manny Lawson lining up across from you doesn't hurt either.
AOL Sports - January 1 - Mario Williams May Be Top-10 Pick
The 6-foot-7, 290-pounder announced Tuesday he will give up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft following a season in which he led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 1/2 sacks.
``I really have to face the fact that I'm leaving a great family here,'' Williams said during a news conference attended by coach Chuck Amato. ``I'm going to be in the real world now.''
Some draft analysts project him as a possible top-10 pick. Amato believes Williams will succeed in the NFL, and that's partly why he gave his full blessing to the early departure.
So he was projected by some draft analysts to be a top-10 pick on January 1st, was he? My how his stock has risen though he hasn't played one more down since then!
He started the season with only one sack through the first five games. He was not among the list of finalists for the Lombardi Award, which is given to the nation's top college lineman or linebacker.
Williams was not even a finalist for the Lombardi award?? Wow! Just wow. This is simply amazing.
For example, Yahoo Sports - Mario Williams,
Williams is big and agile enough to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense, yet fast enough to drop into coverage or stand up at outside linebacker. While other ends like Penn State's Tamba Hali and Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka bring pass-rushing skills, Williams might be the only player in this year's draft who has the size and athleticism to line up anywhere in the front seven.
Barring a setback in combine drills, Williams is expected to be the first defensive player off the board possibly to the Green Bay Packers at No. 5.
"He has had some up-and-down games, as most people do, but he's a tremendously talented kid," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said of Williams. " He looks like what you draw up. You want him to get off the bus first."
He could possibly go to the Packers at #5?!? :brickwall
USA TODAY - Mario Williams hopes he will luck out as the Packers' Pick at Five
N.C. State's Williams thinks he's Packers' pick
When North Carolina State's Mario Williams begins his NFL career, he expects it to be with the Packers.
It makes sense. The Packers desperately need defensive help, and the 6-foot-7, 295-pound defensive end is considered by many to be the best defensive player in the draft.
"I've thought a lot about playing there," Williams said Saturday. "I would love that."
The Packers hold the No. 5 pick in the April 29 draft, and it's difficult to imagine them passing on Williams if he's still on the board. With Bush, Leinart, Young, Cutler and Ferguson vying for the top four spots, there seems to be a better-than-decent chance Williams will be available.
"I really think it's where I'm going to end up," Williams said. "I mean, it would be a great feeling. You always hear everybody talk about Lambeau Field."
By the end of the season, Mario Williams finished last year with 14 1/2 sacks.
Here's the clincher: Until the last 6 games, he had a grand total of...one sack. His biggest games were 3 &1/2 sacks against Southern Mississippi, 4 sacks against Maryland, and 1 & 1/2 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss against South Florida.
Not exactly dominating teams, those. And having Manny Lawson lining up across from you doesn't hurt either.
AOL Sports - January 1 - Mario Williams May Be Top-10 Pick
The 6-foot-7, 290-pounder announced Tuesday he will give up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft following a season in which he led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 1/2 sacks.
``I really have to face the fact that I'm leaving a great family here,'' Williams said during a news conference attended by coach Chuck Amato. ``I'm going to be in the real world now.''
Some draft analysts project him as a possible top-10 pick. Amato believes Williams will succeed in the NFL, and that's partly why he gave his full blessing to the early departure.
So he was projected by some draft analysts to be a top-10 pick on January 1st, was he? My how his stock has risen though he hasn't played one more down since then!
He started the season with only one sack through the first five games. He was not among the list of finalists for the Lombardi Award, which is given to the nation's top college lineman or linebacker.
Williams was not even a finalist for the Lombardi award?? Wow! Just wow. This is simply amazing.
