Aaron Williams Graded as Fringe 1st Rounder
Former New York Jets scout Kevin Weidl, currently with ESPN, was at the Nebraska-Texas game watching the secondary talent for the two teams, grading out Prince Amukamara as the best talent on the field in the defensive backfield there.
Aaron Williams slotted second, drawing praise for his versatility, with Weidl calling him a fringe first-round talent. Not sure what more Weidl could ask from Williams, who tackled well and, in my recollection, didn't give up any completions.
Curtis Brown got a mid-second round grade with concerns about his frame, while Chykie Brown ranks no higher than a mid-rounder in his estimation because of his poor tackling ability and general lack of awareness, neither one of which is news to Texas fans.
Comments
In looking at Williams' draft eval
which is ESPN Insider ($), it looks like he’s ranked 5th at the cornerback position (I assume that is among draft-eligible players) and the concerns are about some susceptibility to double moves, some poor open-field angles, possibly not having elite hips, and problems breaking down in the open field.
The concern about breaking down in the open field is interesting because it’s hard to remember too many instances of problems there except for missing Broyles last year, a play in which Muchamp actually said he shouldn’t have broken down because of the dangers of lost momentum there against an elite athlete. Wonder if that is something the ESPN scouts are making a bigger deal of than NFL scouts would. I would be inclined to trust Muschamp about that.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Oct 19, 2010 9:52 AM CDT reply actions
Follow up
The ESPN scout followed up on some of the non CB prospects. He says Acho grades out as a late third rounder and says Keenan is one to watch although there’s no draft grade. He also called Crick a late first or second but curiously made no mention of Kheeston Randall.
I don't always watch football, but when I do, I prefer Dos Achos. Stay thirsty, my friends.
Our DB's......
Not sold on any of them being draft selections right now. Williams seemed to be much faster last season. Has he put on more weight? Neither Brown will make it in the NFL…to slow and get burned 9 out of 10 times when thrown at.
It’s pretty laughable how open the Nebraska WR’s were a few times last week.
I don't think you're watching the same players the rest of us are.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Oct 19, 2010 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm telling you that corners left on an island get burned. That's a strategic reality and you deal with it.
If we were playing a cover 2, and they had help every play, it would be a problem. As it stands Curtis Brown does a very good job and Chykie still has strong odds of wandering through the league for 4 or 5 years.
And neither player is physically “slow” in any meaning of the word.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Oct 19, 2010 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
The coaching staff did challenge Williams
to get stronger in the off-season.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Oct 19, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Maybe we'll keep a couple of our juniors as they try for first rounder money?
I’d like me another year of Randall and Williams
That's a gimmie
Not the Sunkist kind. The that was a too easy to draw to that conclusion kind.
I see Williams gawn. Randall could use the hype of next years All World Defense.
I call bullshit! Bevo size!
by Ese-De-SA on Oct 19, 2010 11:47 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Good point
But if the CBA is ratified and the AW and KR have great 2nd half seasons stats who knows how they grade out.
I call bullshit! Bevo size!
I don't know...
if he’s projected in the second round, he could stay just to up his stock.
Being in the second round and being the top CB pick is the difference of a few millions, I would think.
Didn’t Kindle and Orakpo make similar decisions?
Too bad the scout saw
Curtis Brown when he was playing hurt. Hopefully, there’s time for more evaluation.
It was Scipio, I think, on BC who pointed out that the quality of secondary play by both teams caused QBs to throw differently, to force and try to be too precise, and caused receivers to break patterns and, of course, not get open. Lockdown secondary play, which I thought both teams had, was a major factor in the drops.
Mack talked about the wind, and that was important, too, but passing in today’s game is all about timing. And DB quality like Prince and AW and Curtis and even Chykie certainly impacted what looked like lousy passing attacks.
I laughed out loud when I read this
Aaron Williams as a “fringe first rounder?” No scout who watches him for any length of time and doesn’t put him in the top 10 knows what he’s talking about. What a joke. The criticisms were especially funny because they are all completely untrue—just made-up stuff because the scouts were negligent.
before the season, i thought williams was a top 10 prospect but
now, id say fringe 1st round to mid second is about right
dont get me wrong, dude is good, but he does blow coverage time to time and ive seen him get juked out of his socks by 2 different qb’s scrambling out of the backfield this year
"We'll be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"
by greenspointexas on Oct 19, 2010 12:43 PM CDT reply actions
I think low round 1 is a bit overly generous
If he jumps this year he is a 2nd or 3rd rounder. He could easily get himself into the first round if stays another year.
I want him to stay, but I also think he will benefit a lot from getting the extra year and having the opportunity to really shine. Our overall play this year is going to hold his draft stock down too.
There is a lot of discussion on sportstalk radio about the new harsher penalties from the NFL for dangerous hits. I’m not sure if this helps or hurts Williams, but the NFL scouts are going to be revising the types of guys they look at to comply with the NFL’s vamped up emphasis on dangerous hits according to all the radio “experts”.
It's why they are on radio.
Then again…Skip Bayless, Matt McMillen, Desmond Howard….
I call bullshit! Bevo size!
































