You dont make players play in situations that dont suit their strengths, especially just because he was a 1st round pick. Willis was a 1st round pick because he is a great runner. Can he catch the ball? sure...... can he block? maybe a little... but he is not a great at them and they are not his strengths. He is not that all around back like Tomlinson or Edgerrin James and that is not taking anything away from him. On 3rd and 3, hes in there.... on 3rd and 4, hes in there.... but on 3rd and 12 it makes no sense to have him in the game when he does nothing for your passing game, shaud williams does. This does not mean shaud williams is a better back than willis, or willis sucks, it means that in one scenario out of many that may occur in a game, shaud has an advantage. Running back is a different position, and they do get drafted sometimes to be a part time player as you call it.
- Being touted as the "best college football player" some have ever seen, and should have been the number one overall selection, Reggie Bush has been a part time player his whole career and will continue to be. Now Deuce McCallister will be as well, both 1st round picks. If its 4th and inches do you give Reggie the ball? of course not, it's not his strength. Throw lendale white in here too, if it werent for his hamstring and character problems, this "part time player" could have been a top 5 pick.
- The NFL's leading rusher in Sean Alexander is also a "part time player" and fits in the same scenario as Willis. On 3rd and more than 6 was he in the game? no.... Maurice Morris was, because he was a better option in that situation.
- In 2004 the best rushing team in the NFL was the Atlanta Falcons, who used TJ Duckett and Warrick Dunn, both 1st round picks. Obviously we know what they were used for and their strengths and weakness contrast each others.
- Last example, one of the NFL's all time leading rushers in Jerome Bettis is going to take his "part time" career to the Hall of Fame.
Point being, it doesnt matter that he was a 1st round pick, he wasnt in the game on 3rd and long because we had other players that played out in that situation better. This does not mean we wasted a pick, or willis is a horrible player, its just the way it is. He is a great runner, not a 3rd down back.