First-round draft pick Chris Williams' professional debut will have to wait. The former Vanderbilt offensive lineman, who was selected 14th overall by the Chicago Bears in the NFL Draft, had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back that had sidelined him for the last two weeks.
The good news is he won't be put on Injured Reserve, meaning the Bears think he'll be good to play again this season.
Earl Bennett, however, was able to make his professional debut in the Bears' preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, returning three kickoffs for a total of 52 yards and one punt for nine yards. Not exactly Devin Hester, but at least he didn't fumble any balls.
Showing posts with label Chris Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Williams. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Commodore Banter (4/25)
Tennis phenom Ryan Lipman has been spotted at the Curry Tennis Center, look for him to be a 2009-2010 signee.
Tyler Smith, the runner up to Shan Foster in the SEC Player of the Year voting, will be returning to the Vols for his junior season.
Chris Williams is entrenched in the top 15 in this mock draft and this one as well. This blog cites ESPN's scouting report and goes through player comparisons and other sites that discuss the offensive tackle.
As Williams prepares for the draft, he's been keeping his cool relative to his Vanderbilt classmates who have been stressing over exams. Golf and figuring out a place to have dinner with his wife of 19 days have weighed on Williams' mind instead as the going has been good.
If Bennett and Goff join Chris Williams in the top 3 rounds, I suggest you check out this piece to put this sort of thing into perspective for the seemingly lowly Vanderbilt Commodores.
It is never too early to start discussing the baseball draft. It is too bad Evan Longoria has made such a splash in Tampa Bay, but it gives the Pirates a nice consolation prize in Pedro Alvarez...
Here's a nice little piece on Jamont Gordon's decision process in declaring for the NBA draft. We wish him well, it was a treat to watch his all-around game flourish in SEC play.
In case you missed our Q&A's with...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Commodore Banter (3/19)
The Broncos and Eagles have showed interest in Earl Bennett. Bennett could go as early as the first round, writes Bob Brookover.
This Friday, Jay Cutler and Earl Bennett will play a little throw and catch in front of several NFL scouts and coaches at Vanderbilt.
Chris Williams continues to receive hype and is a top 15 pick in quite a few mock drafts: Sports Lounge, NFL Draft Countdown, Football's Future, and NFL Daily.
In the two weeks this blog has existed, two women's tennis players have been named SEC player of the week. Add Amanda Taylor to the list.
It's going to take more than Shan Foster and AJ Ogilvy to propel the 'Dores back to the Sweet 16, writes Maurice Patton.
More unkind words on Vandy from respected national sports betting blog Moneyline. Looks like he won't be betting on the Dores over Siena...
Sam Bryner shows some love for Vandy in the big dance.
Did you know that South Carolina is just 1-5 this year against Vanderbilt in football, basketball, and baseball? Ron Aiken notes that this is an odd development based on differences in facilities, tradition, and academics.
In case you missed our...
- Q&A's with Jamont Gordon, Caleb Cotham,Curt Casali, Merideth Marsh
- Ask a 'Dore with Parker Hanks and Josie Earnest.
- Billy Donovan has gone mad: Exhibit A, Exhibit B.
Monday, March 17, 2008
NFL Draft Watch Part 2
We are just over a month away from the NFL draft, and while it appears Chris Williams has all but locked up a top-20 selection, Earl Bennett is still a big question on draft day.
I questioned why he declared for the NFL draft after a very solid class of juniors (Kelly, Manningham, Jackson, etc.) declared themselves, especially after taking a step back from last year's campaign. He looked like a third to fourth round pick until the Combine, where an excellent performance (particularly his 4.48 40-time) fueled speculation that he could be a late first or early second round pick.
However, the depth of receivers and the fact few teams have a glaring need at the position over others could drop Bennett to the back of the second round or even the third. It will probably take a very good pro day to solidify his status as a second rounder, and some of the other receivers having poor pro days to move him into first round consideration.
The problem is he simply doesn't have the size of Limas Sweed and James Hardy, or the speed of DeSean Jackson to make him stand out in the eyes of teams looking for an immediate impact at wideout.
As it stands, Jackson is the only likely top 15 pick, however, as I mentioned in a previous post many teams in the 11-20 range need both a receiver and offensive lineman, and could opt for either one. The Bills, Broncos, Bears, Eagles, Buccaneers, Redskins, Cowboys (2 picks), Titans, 49ers will all consider wideouts in the first round.
The Titans and Cowboys are almost locks to grab one, and there will be anywhere from three to six taken in the first round. Jackson, Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and Hardy are the top choices, which leaves room for maybe one more.
Bennett has to prove the Combine wasn't a fluke, because even though he runs routes and catches balls better than anyone else in the draft, teams still aren't sold that he can create separation from pro cornerbacks. Mario Manningham seriously hurt his draft stock with a 4.60 40-time, Andre Caldwell has had an injury history, and Early Doucet has similar tools to Bennett with half the resume.
Therefore, Bennett could conceivably be the sixth receiver drafted, and assuming he doesn't go in the first round, there are several teams who could call his name early in the second. The Rams and Jets have desperate needs at the position and will definitely consider him. The Chiefs need a receiver, and if the Niners don't grab one in the first round, they will take one with the 39th overall pick.
After that, all those mid-round teams who passed on a receiver in the first round will get their second chance for one, so I find it hard to see him falling farther than that.
I questioned why he declared for the NFL draft after a very solid class of juniors (Kelly, Manningham, Jackson, etc.) declared themselves, especially after taking a step back from last year's campaign. He looked like a third to fourth round pick until the Combine, where an excellent performance (particularly his 4.48 40-time) fueled speculation that he could be a late first or early second round pick.
However, the depth of receivers and the fact few teams have a glaring need at the position over others could drop Bennett to the back of the second round or even the third. It will probably take a very good pro day to solidify his status as a second rounder, and some of the other receivers having poor pro days to move him into first round consideration.
The problem is he simply doesn't have the size of Limas Sweed and James Hardy, or the speed of DeSean Jackson to make him stand out in the eyes of teams looking for an immediate impact at wideout.
As it stands, Jackson is the only likely top 15 pick, however, as I mentioned in a previous post many teams in the 11-20 range need both a receiver and offensive lineman, and could opt for either one. The Bills, Broncos, Bears, Eagles, Buccaneers, Redskins, Cowboys (2 picks), Titans, 49ers will all consider wideouts in the first round.
The Titans and Cowboys are almost locks to grab one, and there will be anywhere from three to six taken in the first round. Jackson, Sweed, Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and Hardy are the top choices, which leaves room for maybe one more.
Bennett has to prove the Combine wasn't a fluke, because even though he runs routes and catches balls better than anyone else in the draft, teams still aren't sold that he can create separation from pro cornerbacks. Mario Manningham seriously hurt his draft stock with a 4.60 40-time, Andre Caldwell has had an injury history, and Early Doucet has similar tools to Bennett with half the resume.
Therefore, Bennett could conceivably be the sixth receiver drafted, and assuming he doesn't go in the first round, there are several teams who could call his name early in the second. The Rams and Jets have desperate needs at the position and will definitely consider him. The Chiefs need a receiver, and if the Niners don't grab one in the first round, they will take one with the 39th overall pick.
After that, all those mid-round teams who passed on a receiver in the first round will get their second chance for one, so I find it hard to see him falling farther than that.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
NFL Draft Watch
I'm sure most Vanderbilt football fans are well aware that there will be at least one, and possibly two, Commodores called in the first round of the NFL Draft in April. Both tackle Chris Williams and wide receiver Earl Bennett did nothing but help their stock with their combine performances several weeks ago. Williams solidified his status as a sure first-rounder, while Bennett has a good chance to land in the second round.
Of course draft position relies heavily on team need and position depth within the draft pool, which is favorable for Williams. After Jake Long and Ryan Clady, the consensus top two tackles, Williams is the next best lineman available, which probably means a pick somewhere in the teens.
Of teams in this range, there are several that have pressing offensive line concerns and should be in the market for a lineman (pick in parentheses): Buffalo Bills (11), Denver Broncos (12), Chicago Bears (14), Detroit Lions (15), Houston Texans (18). The Steelers at No. 23 are a possibility as well if Jeff Otah goes first and other cards fall in place.
Of teams in this range, there are several that have pressing offensive line concerns and should be in the market for a lineman (pick in parentheses): Buffalo Bills (11), Denver Broncos (12), Chicago Bears (14), Detroit Lions (15), Houston Texans (18). The Steelers at No. 23 are a possibility as well if Jeff Otah goes first and other cards fall in place.
The Bills were the second worst team last year in allowing yardage to opposing offenses, but already made big offseason acquisitions in defensive tackle Marcus Stroud in a trade from Jacksonville and free agent linebacker Kawika Mitchell. That means they will probably focus on offense in the draft and either find a weapon for their young QBs (whichever one starts) or find protection for them.
The Broncos desperately need a linebacker after struggling last year at the position and after cutting veteran Ian Gold. But another Vanderbilt alum is struggling behind a weak offensive line, and reuniting Williams with Jay Cutler is an intriguing possibility. However, after cutting Javon Walker loose, Denver will now think long and hard about getting another receiver.
The Bears are a mess. Last season, the defense was far from the dominant force it was during the team's Super Bowl run, though mostly because of injuries. Still, the offense is in far worse shape. Both Mushin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian are gone, leaving the receiving corps decimated, and Cedric Benson is a bust in the backfield.
Sadly for the Bears, there will be no quarterback worth taking at their draft position to solve the Rex Grossman problem. That means just like the Bills and Broncos, the Bears will likely take either a receiver or a lineman, and Williams could be the guy.
Sadly for the Bears, there will be no quarterback worth taking at their draft position to solve the Rex Grossman problem. That means just like the Bills and Broncos, the Bears will likely take either a receiver or a lineman, and Williams could be the guy.
The Lions need offensive line help badly, but after taking receivers in the first round of four straight drafts, defense should take precedence this time around in Detroit.
Every year the Texans have a miserable offensive line and fail to address those positions in the draft. Williams seems like a logical choice with the defense improving and key offensive weapons already established. Then again, the prove conventional wisdom wrong every year.
Williams is not a consensus No. 3 lineman, and should Jeff Otah go before him and the teams with picks in the teens opt to address other needs, he could fall to the Steelers at 23. Losing Alan Faneca in free agency was a big blow to the offensive line stability they have had for the last several years, and they would likely jump on Williams were he to fall this far. Pittsburgh could move him to guard, and seeing as there is not another immediate concern, it is very unlikely Williams falls past Pittsburgh.
Coming soon, Earl Bennett...
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