NFL Draft 2010: Redskins Draft Left Tackle Trent Williams Sooner Than Later
by Kevin Ewoldt on Apr 22, 2010 8:25 PM EDT
in NFL Draft
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I am still in shock the Redskins passed on Russell Okung given his collegiate success and his ability to start now, but who am I to argue Shanahan squared? Both of the last 2 Left tackles they've selected (1st rounders) have been studs (Ryan Clady in DEN and Duane Brown in HOU).
Todd McShay broke down Trent Williams and he certainly is the most athletic Tackle on the board. He packs a punch, can play both ends, and is the quickest Tackle in terms of speed from the NFL draft grades. One of his red flags is his work-ethic, which is highlighted when he'll be given a huge NFL paycheck. It's hard to imagine a regime as tight as Shanahan's would allow a player to tail off like some of the Redskins high-paid free agents did last year.
Grant Paulsen wrote a great piece of how Malcolm Kelly help influenced the pick since he played in High School, College, and now the Pros with Trent.
"I had a real good talk with Bruce and Coach Shanahan about [Williams]," Kelly told me via text on Wednesday. "If we get him that will be high school, college and the pros together. That's crazy," added Kelly.
Here are some of his high and lowlights:
Career accolades...via CBSSports.com..
All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press, earning second-team honors from The Sporting News … Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team choice and finished third in the coaches' balloting for league Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades … He shifted to left tackle for his final season, starting the first 11 games, as Williams registered 99 knockdowns, 11 touchdown-resulting blocks and five downfield blocks while participating in 808 offensive snaps …
2009 Season
| 2008 Season |
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All-American third-team selection by The NFL Draft Report … Earned All-Big Twelve Conference first-team honors from the league's coaches and second-team accolades from the Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express News … Recorded a career-high 131 knock-downs, along with 11 touchdown-resulting blocks and five blocks downfield … Was penalized once and allowed only two quarterback pressures and an assisted sack on 517 pass plays … |
| 2007 Season |
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Williams played in all 14 games, sharing right offensive duties with Brandon Braxton … Started vs. Miami, Tulsa, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State and West Virginia (Fiesta Bowl) … Collected 64 knockdowns with six touchdown resulting blocks, as he paved the way for the Sooners to rank fifth in the nation in scoring (42.29 points per game) and fewest sacks allowed (1.0 sacks per game) … The offense averaged 448.93 yards per game, good for 19th in the major college ranks, including an average of 258.21 yards per game passing. |
| 2006 Season |
|
Freshman All-American second-team selection by The Sporting News … Played in eleven games at right offensive tackle … Did not see action vs. Alabama-Birmingham, Washington or Oregon … Moved into the starting lineup vs. Missouri and remained there for the final six contests (vs. Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and the Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise State) after Brandon Braxton was lost for the season with a broken leg … Was on the field for a total of 462 snaps, producing 75 knockdowns and eight touchdown-resulting blocks … Part of a unit that led the Big Twelve Conference and finished 11th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed (1.21 spg) … Helped the Sooners rush for 177.14 yards per game and average 30.29 points, the 19th-best average in the country. |
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Awesome!
Either way I think there was no way to muck it up if the toss up was between Okung & ‘Silverback’
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Apr 22, 2010 8:43 PM EDT reply actions
Silver Linings
1)At least we took a tackle
2)At least we didn’t take Clausen.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
That's a Gold lining in my book!
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
by Kevin Ewoldt on Apr 22, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Kevin, It looks like all my posts about Trent and Okung over the past 4 months have paid off.
It is feels good to finally have more people on the Trent Williams bandwagon now. Hey, even if I could not get all of HH to jump on the bandwagon, at least most have. We now have a stud tackle once he hits the bench press and builds up his upper body.
by LETJASONPASS on Apr 22, 2010 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Indeed...nice work!
Almost makes up for all your Pro-Jason posts!! haha
"I am excited about starting 2009. We are looking forward to an outstanding year. We're on our way. We have a lot of healthy players this year." - Vinny Cerrato
by Kevin Ewoldt on Apr 22, 2010 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to give it to you LJP
you called that pick right from the start. All of our arguing about who is better is moot now—here’s to our future All-Pro Tackle Trent Williams!
Well he definitely did call it. And he definitely had no hesitation about making his prediction known. Give the guy some credit.
Serious business.
I give LJP props for IDing Williams as the better choice
but don’t give him credit for “making it happen.” E.g. – “all my posts have paid off.”
Just a little over the top, there, LJP. :) But, if the Shannys like Williams, I’m going with Williams.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
combine stats look great:
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/trent-williams?id=497073#tabs:tab-analysis
From Yahoo:
Draft Week Inconvenient Truths:
5. Okung isn’t a franchise left tackle
Teams like Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung, but he’s not a nasty mauler with great upper body strength. And he’s not consistent. When teams describe him in relation to other offensive tackles, he always comes in a clear notch below the Cleveland Browns’ Joe Thomas(notes), and some think he won’t even be a left tackle in the NFL. Not exactly what you want to hear if you’re drafting in the top five and want a Pro Bowl anchor on the left side.
Said one personnel man, "Okung is the consummate pro and a good soul, but ultimately that guy would be nice around 15 through 19. When you’re talking about the single digits [with Okung], people are concerned about that."
6. Williams is actually the most highly skilled tackle available
Like Okung, Trent Williams of Oklahoma is not overly nasty, either. But he is extremely athletic, and teams think he could sustain that even if he got into the 320-pound range. He’s got great balance, great feet, good arm length and has at times punished defenders with his hands. Essentially, he’s got a maximum amount of tools and ability to work with to become a true franchise left tackle.
Said an NFC source: "If you’re just looking at skill, and take away all the other stuff, he’s far beyond Okung. [Williams] has much more skill and athleticism. He’s definitely a left tackle and he could also play right."
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsE3BXhnkB78lvIGBhIdxbJDubYF?slug=cr-inconvenienttruths041910
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Apr 22, 2010 8:52 PM EDT reply actions
Doesn't Have Great Upper Body Strength?
Okung maxed out the 225 lb bench press, and Williams didn’t (in a big way).
Don’t get me wrong, I think they made the right choice for Shanahan’s offense – Gibbs would have taken Okung in a heartbeat because he fit the smashmouth hogs profile. But Coach Shanahan doesn’t run that offense – he favors zone blocking, which requires athleticism and agility over pure size and strength. And lest we forget, they led the league in rushing for most of a decade there with a variety of running backs.
Williams is not "extremely" athletic
He is more athletic than Okung, but no where near extremely athletic.
If he were, everyone would have Shanny taking him from the start. But he is a nasty mauler when it comes to run blocking. Really your post is filled with misleading information.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
by Horcasitas4 on Apr 22, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
on an unrelated note
Trent Williams will be facing Brandon Graham now…. ugh. Why did Philly have to pick Graham???
Yeah that sucks
Great pick by Philly.
At least the Giants didn’t get McClain – he was a perfect fit to revitalize their defense.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
And I'm not so worried about JPP
I think he’s at least a season from being an NFL-level pass rusher. What do they do with Osi?
Some people think JPP has bust potential.
I dunno.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
He's the guy that we see every year
a pass rusher that teams take because of his size and speed. Potential instead of production. We see a guy like this bust every year it seems.
Brandon played on the left side of the line at U-M
I’m more worried than ever about our RT/RG situation now. And this was one of my nightmare scenarios – that we would not get Brandon (which I knew was likely) but that another NFC East team would. At least he didn’t go to the Giants or Dallas, but still a bummer.
Only bright spot – at least I’ll get to see him play regularly.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Speaking of...
Dallas, Let’s hope Dez Bryant doesn’t shake carlos out of his shoes…Like every other WR in the league has already done
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 23, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
very related…and we should trade next years #2 or AH to Balt for their available LT. Have Trent start on the right side. Esp if we trade AH, I will be ecstatic!
by les boulez bomber on Apr 22, 2010 9:06 PM EDT reply actions
This makes me alot more open
to giving Minny AH for their #30 pick to take Charles Brown or Saffold….
THANK GOD WE DRAFTED OFFENSIVE LINE. With that said, I would of rather drafted Okung. He played LT a lot more than Williams and gave up fewer pressures and sacks with a worse QB on his team.
Are they really playing music from The Patriot to celebrate the veterans segment?
you’d think they’d choose ambient music that’s a little less cliched for them
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Apr 22, 2010 10:04 PM EDT reply actions
Holy shit the 9ers....
I don’t like Anthony Davis, but damn… 2 OL in the 1st round…. now they have 3 1st rounders on their line… Frank Gore is on deck for a monster season.
Plus Chilo Rachal was the 39th overall pick in 2008
That line is stacked for the future.
by BayAreaBullet on Apr 23, 2010 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Unless Rachal is a Bust
He’s had a lot of struggles, and gets ripped in the SF papers.
He was very solid last year
by BayAreaBullet on Apr 23, 2010 1:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
49ers are going to win their division
ok, it’s not exactly a scary division but still…
This is my dream draft
2 OL in the 1st round
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
The 2 OL they got in the first round
would’ve been bad picks for a Shanny offense though… Iupati would be a great Hog, but not a Shanny guy.
In another post
Rekka posted this picture depicting what would happen if Okung and Orakpo did Oklahoma drills…
you mean us drafting a QB right?
Kids in the backseat cause accidents, Accidents in the backseat cause kids.
by Area 51 Forever on Apr 23, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions
After the 1st round there are still enough good picks in the 2nd.
The Skins still need a second strong tackle. Apparently the Skins approached the Saints before the about Jammal Brown (RFA). A starting tackle is not likely to be found in the 4th, 5th, or 7th round. Forget about Alex Barron, he isn’t much better than Heyer. Although all of Barron’s bad stats came at LT while Heyer only played 3 games there.
I know you like PFF Jefferson
In 2008 Barron played RT exclusively and was Heyer like. In 2007 he was solid at RT. I would like to move back into the second to take one of the three remaining LT’s(Charles Brown, Saffold, Campbell). Only if the price is right though.
by BayAreaBullet on Apr 23, 2010 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
If we want to get that other starting tackle
I say package next year’s first rounder for Gaither from Baltimore. Really big, young, and has the talent to be elite.
Kids in the backseat cause accidents, Accidents in the backseat cause kids.
by Area 51 Forever on Apr 23, 2010 2:29 AM EDT reply actions
Have the fans not seen the smoke and mirrors show before, Trent Williams is who Coach Shannahan wanted all along.
HAIL TO THE REDSKINS, FIGHT FOR OLD D.C.
It confirms my belief that they know what they are doing in the FO
and on the coaching staff now.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
OL pick is a great start
I’m so relieved that we improved our OL and didn’t use the pick on another position.
while I would've preferred
trading down, I am happy with the pick. I like Williams a lot more than Okung. Bottom line, we addressed our biggest need with one of the best players in the draft. We are on our way.
Agreed
but you can’t get too upset about not trading down. I mean we would’ve had to have found someone to trade down with and it just may not have been an option.
by SkinsOsTerps on Apr 23, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep, I know
Didn’t mean to sound upset. I’m just saying I would’ve preferred to trade down. At the same time, I knew it was unlikely.
Does anyone know..
What team is looking at Navorro Bowman? He’s like a smaller lavar, I would love to see him in burgandy and gold.
~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~
by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 23, 2010 2:15 PM EDT reply actions
we got what we needed..
shocked we did,nt take okung .but shanny knows talent now all we need is to snag another one is bruce campbell still on the board ?
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