Kansas City Chiefs Ransom Hawthorne

Darrel Does It All: Why Williams Demands A Roster Spot

Ransom Hawthorne August 24, 2018 No Comments

Darrel Does It All:

Why Williams Demands A Roster Spot

by Ransom Hawthorne

The NFL is extremely competitive. Even the worst GMs are some of the most brilliant football minds in the country. That said, they all, together, did a stupid, stupid thing. They let Darrel Williams go undrafted. Never mind that he was a highly touted prospect out of high-school, teams must have got stuck on the fact that he was a backup in college. A backup to two RBs who went in the first two rounds (Fournette and Guice), but hey, a backup nonetheless. The Chiefs, at least, have a reasonable excuse. They were rebuilding on defense and had a pretty good assortment of RBs, already on the roster. Even so, as soon as the draft ended, Veach pounced. Chiefs gave Williams the biggest signing bonus, of any of their UDFAs. Why? Because Darrel can do it all.

Pass Catching: So many of the top backs, coming out of college, aren’t accustomed to acting as a receiver. Consequently, this role, is often left to the backups, and this is where Williams really shines. Last year, at LSU, Williams caught 23 passes for 331 yards, an average of 14.4 yard per catch. A performance, that easily out-shined the guys he was backing up. Andy Reid’s offense is a paradise for RBs with soft hands and broad shoulders. Williams might not see a ton of action, his first year, due to the complexity of that offense, but when he does, he’ll be productive. Purely from a skill standpoint, he’s ready to start right now. With Mahomes a constant threat to chuck it deep, Chiefs RBs will find plenty of space, underneath, to work with.

Pass Blocking: This isn’t a very popular topic, for the casual fan, but it’s an important one. NFL running backs have to be able to chip, pick up a blitz or leak out into the flat as a check-down option. Knowing which thing to do, when, and doing it well, are critical to an Offense’s success and it’s more important to teams than rushing talent. Don’t believe me? Check out Charcandrick West. He got a ton of 3rd down work, last season, because he’s an excellent pass protector. It’s the reason you’ll see my draft crush, diminutive RB Philip Lindsay, make the Broncos Roster (dang you Elway!).

Short Yardage: There’s a reason most NFL backs productivity wanes, after they turn 28. RB is a physically demanding position, and you take a lot hits. This is why smart teams see a talented college back-up as a guy with more tread on his tires. For the past couple years, Chiefs have had a quality starting RB, but little to back him up. This resulted in a fall-off in production, for both Ware and Hunt, toward the end of the year. If Williams can take the brunt of the carries, on 3rd and short, which are some of the most physically taxing, it can keep Hunt fresh for the playoffs, which could be huge.

Plain Old Rushing: While teams get excited about guys who can do all the above things, fans want to see a guy who can, straight up, run. No worries on that front, Williams pairs good vision, with a big frame and quality balance. Way too many college backs are looking to get the edge, and end up running sideways, more than forward. This doesn’t seem to be a problem for Williams. I was particularly impressed by his 7 yard run, against the Falcons. He cut sideways just enough to avoid the defender, and then, immediately, headed up-field. This north-south mindset, will help Williams be successful early in his career, and I can’t wait to see what he can do for the Chiefs, in the near future.

The league’s loss is Chiefs gain. Great teams are built on cheap contributors. With Williams coming in as an UDFA, Chiefs should have control of him, for at least the next three years. It should not go over-looked that Williams’ decision, to come to a team already loaded at RB, happened because of Deland McCullough, Chiefs new RB coach. It’s a reminder that, while Veach seems good at scouting talent, so far, Reid is a master of scouting coaches. Between OC Eric Bienemy and McCullough, expect Chiefs RB room to be the envy of the league, and Darrel Williams to be a marquee addition to it. Go Chiefs.