Kyren Williams, RB Pick #164 - 5th Round

[kurtfaulk]

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here's what marshall faulk thought 2 weeks before the draft.



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[dieterbrock]

I’m going to point out a clear, consistent point… IF the other guys are healthy, Kyren is #4.

Then who is #3? Because it’s nobody currently on the roster.
Healthy or not, Funk likely doesn’t make the team.

 

[Merlin]

Excellent cutup of blitz pickups.

View: https://youtu.be/RezxLLgVLGg

 

[Kupped]

Then who is #3? Because it’s nobody currently on the roster.
Healthy or not, Funk likely doesn’t make the team.

I think there's a good chance I'm wrong in worrying about Williams' athletic traits too much.

I don't think there's much of a chance of Funk NOT being on the team next year. No idea where you'd get "likely doesn't make team."
He does real work on Special Teams and knows the offense and has a year in the system. Whatever Williams will become, he'll still be a rookie.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think there's a good chance I'm wrong in worrying about Williams' athletic traits too much.

I don't think there's much of a chance of Funk NOT being on the team next year. No idea where you'd get "likely doesn't make team."
He does real work on Special Teams and knows the offense and has a year in the system. Whatever Williams will become, he'll still be a rookie.

They only carried 3 RB last year, and that was after losing Akers, Calais & Xavier Jones
Funk would have a large hill to climb to be the #4 RB, missing 6 games and then only playing in about 50% of the ST snaps when healthy. Will be heavy comp with guys like Buddy Howell (who played more ST snaps than Funk), Calais, X Jones and Javian Hawkins
I'd say Funk is a longshot at best

 

[Ram Ts]

Barring injuries, Funk will be a PS guy. He’s a young JAG RB with bad injury history.

 

[RamFan503]

Excellent cutup of blitz pickups.

View: https://youtu.be/RezxLLgVLGg

That was posted earlier. Of course that didn't stop me from watching it again. The thing that really stands out to me is how he chooses the right player to block.

A lot of RBs can do pass protect. But often, I see them either take bad angles, block the wrong guy, or just commit to one side.

Williams seems to not only figure out where the free runner is coming from but whether to hit him high, low, help off to the side, etc... He's really heady at it.

As a RB, he's not likely to run away from NFL players. But he sure looks like he sees where he needs to be and when. I think he has an insane awareness and that is what will allow him to make plays at the next level.

 

[ottoman89]

Excellent cutup of blitz pickups.

View: https://youtu.be/RezxLLgVLGg

That was honestly incredible to watch. Physical blocker for a smaller guy.

 

[BrooklynRam]

That was honestly incredible to watch. Physical blocker for a smaller guy.

After watching that he's already my favorite Ram.

 

[Psycho_X]

Excellent cutup of blitz pickups.

View: https://youtu.be/RezxLLgVLGg

Yep, he will be our #2 in short order after watching that. Also, I think Funk sticks on the roster as he was good at special teams before his injury and you can never have enough RBs in this league. Barring injuries I wouldn't be surprised to start season carrying 4 RBs. Especially with all of the injury history there.

 

[AvengerRam]

Its the age old debate with later round prospects...

Do you want a guy with great measurables who did little in college, hoping that you can unlock the potential...

...or do you take a guy who played really well in spite of pedestrian workout numbers?

I like Williams' game tape. I think it will translate to a valuable role.

 

[Merlin]

That was posted earlier. Of course that didn't stop me from watching it again. The thing that really stands out to me is how he chooses the right player to block.

A lot of RBs can do pass protect. But often, I see them either take bad angles, block the wrong guy, or just commit to one side.

Williams seems to not only figure out where the free runner is coming from but whether to hit him high, low, help off to the side, etc... He's really heady at it.

As a RB, he's not likely to run away from NFL players. But he sure looks like he sees where he needs to be and when. I think he has an insane awareness and that is what will allow him to make plays at the next level.

Guess I missed it.

But agreed on all. Pass pro is no easy thing at the NFL level that's for damn sure. Gotta be big and strong enough to not get trucked, know the scheme cold, make quick decisions at live speed, and also see the threats.

It does seem like his vision is exceptional. And he seems genuinely ready to run through walls. No wonder McVay is so pumped about this guy.

BTW still a huge fan of Akers and think the world of the guy. Hope he stays healthy too because these two are going to make for a great 1-2 punch.

 

[OldSchool]

Its the age old debate with later round prospects...

Do you want a guy with great measurables who did little in college, hoping that you can unlock the potential...

...or do you take a guy who played really well in spite of pedestrian workout numbers?

I like Williams' game tape. I think it will translate to a valuable role.

One thing McVay has said a couple times about Williams which resonates with a lot of us is he's able to get up to speed fast in game with great acceleration.

 

[nighttrain]

As a RB, he's not likely to run away from NFL players. But he sure looks like he sees where he needs to be and when. I think he has an insane awareness and that is what will allow him to make plays at the next level.

watched some of the tape on Williams, seems to have next level awareness of opposing players, makes really nice moves, cuts, and such, to throw off pursuers.

train

 

[jap]

Kyren is what? 194-198 lbs? That's not a lot of beef at the pro level where defenders are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, and smarter. I imagine the Horns are going to try to maximize his mass & muscle to an optimal level, which does not compromise his current speed & quickness. Adding another 10-20 lbs. of muscle while retaining his current speed & quickness would be ideal.

 

[OldSchool]

Kyren is what? 194-198 lbs? That's not a lot of beef at the pro level where defenders are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, and smarter. I imagine the Horns are going to try to maximize his mass & muscle to an optimal level, which does not compromise his current speed & quickness. Adding another 10-20 lbs. of muscle while retaining his current speed & quickness would be ideal.

He's within 5-10 lbs of Funk and Hendo only Howell is really much bigger than him and this is without him having been with out our conditioning staff yet.

 

[jap]

He's within 5-10 lbs of Funk and Hendo only Howell is really much bigger than him and this is without him having been with out our conditioning staff yet.

I'm thinking of him having confront NFL-level pass rushers, some of who are legitimate monsters. That's why I think he may be best served by maximizing his mass-strength ratio without compromising his speed & quickness. If he can do that - if not in this abbreviated off-season, then next off-season - the increased mass & strength would only benefit the other aspects of his game - as a runner, receiver, even as a returner.

 

[JonRam99]

Excellent cutup of blitz pickups.

View: https://youtu.be/RezxLLgVLGg

At 1:34, he pancackes a rushing Clemson LB.

Wish I could see his # so I could post the lb-for-lb matchup.

'nuff said folks. This kid can't be in horns fast enough.

 

[CoachAllred]

View: https://youtu.be/g2jO5h2vwAU

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Funk is special teams and depth. Williams will be the third down back by mid season.

Funk hasn’t shown us anything to get excited about in his attempts last year.