RD 3, Pick 91: LB Dorian Williams, Tulane

[OldTimer1960]

45 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I think there is a better chance that Spector is that guy who bulked up as he apparently spent the entire offseason at the facility. We will see how it shakes out. Maybe they truly think Dodson can step up.  

Hope that both Spector and Bernard have done so.  I agree, Spector staying at the facility all off-season is a suggestion of dedication, but you can train most anywhere, so hoping Bernard has too.  

[Conlan58]

8 minutes ago, Tom Donahoe, GM said:

He only played in 3 games last year, started none, and had one tackle (special teams). Scored the second lowest score ever on the wonderlick. Weighs 146 lbs. His back has been fused in 3 places due to back injuries. Will probably retire.

 

Great pick beane

....what?

[JMM]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Ah, sorry to misunderstand.

 

But equally ridiculous. As I pointed out, there's a reason Tremaine is now the fourth-highest paid off-ball linebacker in football, behind only Roquan Smith, Shaquille Leonard and Fred Warner. He's an extremely good player. Terrific applies.

 

The whole D played much worse when he was out.

 

Hard to replace, as we seem to be finding out, though I hope I'm wrong about that.

I agree the D was significantly worse with him out last year. BUT that was Fraziers D , and he was a key cog. This D is going to be different, maybe subtly, but perhaps more. His loss may not effect this coming D as much as you think. We shall see. A great test for McDermott for sure.

[PrimeTime101]

17 minutes ago, Tom Donahoe, GM said:

He only played in 3 games last year, started none, and had one tackle (special teams). Scored the second lowest score ever on the wonderlick. Weighs 146 lbs. His back has been fused in 3 places due to back injuries. Will probably retire.

 

Great pick beane

Stop It!

[balln]

38 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

This confirms the return of 3 LB sets. 
 

If it’s Williams- Bernard - Milano you have incredible speed and coverage ability. 

He’s closer to 230

How does that confirm a 4-3? 
 

they ARE not taking taron Johnson off the field. 
 

If anything they’ll go 4-1-6 with a small nickel taron and a big bickle Williams / Bernard / nova kid 

[Bob in STL]

9 hours ago, NeverOutNick said:

I want to like the pick but the facts are there were better players available that can be immediate game changers not back up LB and special team contributor.
 

- Clark Phillips III has some of the best instincts at corner in the draft and would’ve played significant snaps immediately.

 

- Michael Wilson has #1 WR upside and is already a very good route runner and if it weren’t for injury concerns would’ve went way higher (he was selected 2 picks after Williams)

 

- Dawan Jones immediately challenges Spencer Brown for the RT spot

- Siaka Ika immediately is a rotational DT on run downs who could develop to take over full time for Jones

 

Even Zavala, Freeland and Duncan are all O lineman who could immediately challenge for starting spots

 

Again I want to like the pick but it feels more like a McDermott pick telling Beane hey can I at least get a special teams guy here since we went offense last two rounds. Stay true to your board Beane you did great first two picks 

 

But I’ll try not be negative and hope he surprises me and actually does play meaningful defensive snaps and is not just a Milano backup and special teams guy 

Really?  You might be correct but you are calling these players immediate game changers!  Then how did they all fall to the late 3rd.  

 

They just drafted 2 corners last year and both are contributing.   Corner is something they have had good luck with in later rounds. 
 

Brown is the RT. The Bills are still very high on him and  sticking with him.   They just drafted OL in the 2nd and added a starter. 
 

DT is a position of need as is LB .  You can’t fill everything with one pick. There is something about this guy they like.  They picked him before all those immediate game changers that the 31 other GMs left on the board.  .  
 

Your sentence in bold is not how McDermott and Beane work. I give them a lot more credit.  
 

[Mat68]

This pick is the problem with amateur scouts.  No one has mentioned him therefore not a good pick.  I like the way he plays.  I think coaching staff is giving Bernard Dodson and Spector a legit shot at Mike. If no one take the job I think Williams sooner or later takes it.  6-1 225 is average height and weight for a 2023 linebaker.  All the elite bakers are at or under 230.  I could see them playing 4-3 over with Milano on the line with Bernard and Williams off Ball.  Adding a linebaker was important.  He may not be your guy but the negatives are not much different than the “higher” ranked guys.    

[wppete]

The more video I watch about Dorian Williams the more it looks like this was a great pick! I can see him at MLB or the Bills play him as interchangeable LBs with Milano. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

9 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

You do know we play 2LBs on most downs?  Is there really an inside or outside anymore?  
 

He backs up Milano and then Bernard moves “inside” to challenge Dodson.  

This guy is a hustler, a team captain, and a fantastic tackler.  
 

Who were all these other players?  

 

 

Agree LOL.  Last year Edmunds was MLB, so was Milano RLB or LLB? or did he play two different positions?  When only two are on the field is kind of hard to argue who's the MLB.

[wppete]

BTW the Bills website has him listed at 6’2 230.

[NeverOutNick]

7 minutes ago, Bob in STL said:

Really?  You might be correct but you are calling these players immediate game changers!  Then how did they all fall to the late 3rd.  

 

 

Just my opinion. I believe Phillips fell because his combine numbers aren’t great and he’s smaller but will be a stud nickel corner in this league that can play outside. His instincts are starting level day one but you’re right it’s not an immediate need. Wilson is a special WR but because of the cloud surrounding his injury history and he never put up the numbers because of it but he was the best WR at the senior bowl with good route running and WR1 upside.

Edited April 29, 2023 by NeverOutNick

[Dunkirk Donski]

This guy has instincts.  He can read the play and react.  Tremaine didn’t have that 

[Mynamemike]

Don’t know much about him but his highlights he looks fast and definitely likes to hit.  He plays a lot like Milano imo which isn’t a bad thing.  Is it what the defense needs?  No idea but I’ll trust McDermott to put the best d on the field as possible.  

[TheyCallMeAndy]

12 minutes ago, balln said:

How does that confirm a 4-3? 
 

they ARE not taking taron Johnson off the field. 
 

If anything they’ll go 4-1-6 with a small nickel taron and a big bickle Williams / Bernard / nova kid 

They used to take Johnson off the field, but  Klein was SO BAD at coverage they were forced to evolve. Williams gives them scheme flexibility, we really don’t want Johnson on the field when the opponent is in 11 personnel. 

[FireChans]

42 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

He really showed that 180 lb WR who’s boss

The blockers in the NFL have been introducing Edmunds to the Gatorade jugs more often than not.

[balln]

9 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

This pick is the problem with amateur scouts.  No one has mentioned him therefore not a good pick.  I like the way he plays.  I think coaching staff is giving Bernard Dodson and Spector a legit shot at Mike. If no one take the job I think Williams sooner or later takes it.  6-1 225 is average height and weight for a 2023 linebaker.  All the elite bakers are at or under 230.  I could see them playing 4-3 over with Milano on the line with Bernard and Williams off Ball.  Adding a linebaker was important.  He may not be your guy but the negatives are not much different than the “higher” ranked guys.    

Agreed. I see the gem in him. Way more than Bernard. 
 

he’s a box safety ? He’s a qb spy player ? 
 

his 4.4 speed and freakish offensive tackle wingspan and sure tackler 

 

and trepasso and Louis riddick love his instincts. Something we haven’t had at Lb for a long time. Best case scenario the adds weight and is London fletcher 

 

I see another specialist/ weapon for the defense 

 

yea he’s small. 

[hondo in seattle]

8 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

It’s an absolutely awful pick.

 

Say it out loud, a 6’1” 228 pound linebacker from Tulane.

 

When does that kind of linebacker get onto the field as an effective linebacker?

 

Every Scouting Report has him as a 4th-6th.

 

Everyone loves Joe Marino out here, he had him as a 6th. 
 

ESPN has him at a 61, backup and Special Teamer.

 

Bernard was a huge reach last year, and Williams is no different.

 

Dewand Jones, I want to hear the story on why a 6’8” 376 pound OT that Greg Cosell likes on film, was not the pick there, and was not chosen the rest of the 3rd. 
 

He would have been a second bonafide presence on the Offensive Line. 
 

Only saving grace I see is the Bengals have done nothing on offense. 

 

 

You may be right.  Most 3rd rounders don't amount to much, anyway.  But one line you wrote, to me, is meaningless: "Every scouting report..."

 

What you mean is: "Every amateur scouting report..."  I forget which one, but one draft guru a couple of years ago mentioned that he watches 3 or more game tapes of each of the top 100 prospects and then 1-2 games of all the rest.   I imagine that's a lot of work for one guy so I'm not knocking it.  But draft 'gurus' like him may have only watched one of Williams' games.  How accurate will their assessments be?

 

But now imagine an entire NFL scouting department with a team of year-round professionals studying film, talking to coaches, interviewing players and their teammates, and in some cases, even hiring private detectives.  Who's going to make the better assessment?  

 

When the media talks about a player falling in the draft, what they really mean typically is that the amateurs in the media overrated someone and the professionals didn't think he was worth a high pick.  The amateurs and pros often disagree.  Personally, the fact that Wiliams was rated a 4th-6th round pick by some amateur talent evaluators in the media means nothing to me.  

 

FWIW, some mocks had Williams in the 3rd round:

 

 

 

[balln]

6 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

They used to take Johnson off the field, but  Klein was SO BAD at coverage they were forced to evolve. Williams gives them scheme flexibility, we really don’t want Johnson on the field when the opponent is in 11 personnel. 

Yea I hear that. Sometimes I think the bills coaches get fooled when they get lucky w taron on running plays. He plays awesome / it works vs ravens. 
 

but then jets and bengals it really really really doesn’t work 

[John from Riverside]

I think he still got a shot
 

He’s 61 228 pounds if he can add another 10 pounds or so he’ll he will have the bulk

 

The guy is a heat seeking missile

[Dr.Sack]

6 hours ago, Process said:

The more I think about this pick the more I hate it. No idea wtf McBeane is doing. Such a good first two rounds and then they had to go full McBeane. They can't help themselves. 

 

We extend Milano. Then spend a third round pick on a guy to be his backup/ST player..... a year after spending a third round pick on a guy to be his backup/special teams player.

 

Ugh

Trust the Process