If he can stay healthy, he'll put up good numbers behind that offensive line. Williams isn't the type of back who is going to run over people or around NFL-talent, but he will always pick the right hole and angles to get the most yardage possible. He has a shot at having a productive year there.
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The move to make sure that Williams would be with the team by giving him by far the largest guarantee of any player signed to a futures contract in the league...
He must be doing something right on the practice field.
I was living in Phoenix, when he was with Arizona, and wanted so much to see him light it up in Glendale. I thought the hiring of Arians (who, in all fairness, gave RW every opportunity) was going to be a turning point for RW's career.
Even with slight hatred for the Cowboys, I would be extremely happy for RW, if he became the #1 RB for them and had a year anywhere close to what Murray had last year.
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Good for him... But I really question what Dallas is doing if they're really thinking about going into next year with both of their 2 deep RBs being guys with fairly significant injury patterns. Sure, that OL might help... but I have a hard time seeing it help that much.
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He was a 4-star and UVA's "Smoke-that-got-tracked-down-by-Bonner" was a 5-star. That alone is reason enough to not give half a crap about recruiting stars.
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I've always thought had Darren Evans stayed through 4 years he would have been something really special, maybe the best. He left for good reasons but he left way too soon.
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Agreed. Darren Evans is one of my favorite Hokies because he was tough, talented, and had the personality I want in the face of a program. But RMFW was, in my book, the best RB since I became a Hokie fan. That he went to Stonewall solidifies him as the best.
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Man, this is an interesting debate. All of them were awesome in their own right, but I'm really torn between Williams and Jones as our best back to date. I'd say Jones definitely had the better lines to run behind, and also had the benefit of being spelled by another supremely talented back in Suggs in 02. Ryan was probably a bit more shifty and also contributed a good bit in the receiving game. But Jones had some serious Heisman potential in 03 and ended up a 1st round draft pick. Ryan was a little on the smaller side and, other than 09, just hasn't seemed to be able to stay healthy. We could compromise and say 1a and 1b. I think Wilson was an incredible talent as well, but sometimes his improvisation got him in trouble. At one time, I thought had he returned in '12, he would've been a serious Heisman contender...then I saw the shambles our O-Line would fall into. We've really been fortunate to have so many incredible running backs over the years. I enjoyed watching them all.
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Now I loved watching RW, but I have to argue that statement in favor of TD-Lee. Lee Suggs was a Touchdown maker, I can't ever remember him going backwards in short yardage situations. Give him the ball and it seemed like we were guaranteed to get at least 3 yards.
made more runs out of nothing
Here I would argue for David Wilson. Some of his runs were unreal, the one against Clemson comes quickly to mind.
That being said Ryan was probably the best combination of those two abilities. He had the power for the shorter runs and he had the shiftiness to improvise.
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Unfortunately Wilson could also make a 15 yard loss out of nothing. Sometimes it would turn out to be worthwhile for him to give up yards and completely change directions, but the problem was that was always his strategy regardless of what the situation called for. Wilson was a special athlete but we never saw him develop into an elite running back.
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David also managed to make a few runs become nothing out of something. If you want a guy to find the tiniest crease before it even appeared, hit it and gain positive yardage, you want RMFW. If you want a guy where the same run could easily be either -5 yards or +50, you want DW.
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True, there were times that he would lose ground, but more times than not he gained yards. Kind of like Barry Sanders, you always had a chance of losing big yardage, but the more often than not, he gained big yardage. Also reminds me of something I used to say when Hosley went back to field a punt. Something big is going to happen, we're just not sure for which team.
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Suggs scored more often, but he had huge holes to run through. When you go back and watch RW, it is amazing how many times he was caught behind the LOS on the goal line and found a way to break through.
As for Wilson, terrific athlete and great effort, but he didn't have that knack for getting 4 when you need 3 to keep a drive alive or score like RW34
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Couldn't be with much worse of a team but I'm glad to see he's gonna get a real shot at it. It's totally possible for him to break records and the team loses, right?
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Comments
If he can stay healthy, he'll put up good numbers behind that offensive line. Williams isn't the type of back who is going to run over people or around NFL-talent, but he will always pick the right hole and angles to get the most yardage possible. He has a shot at having a productive year there.
Outstanding.
He must be doing something right on the practice field.
I was living in Phoenix, when he was with Arizona, and wanted so much to see him light it up in Glendale. I thought the hiring of Arians (who, in all fairness, gave RW every opportunity) was going to be a turning point for RW's career.
Even with slight hatred for the Cowboys, I would be extremely happy for RW, if he became the #1 RB for them and had a year anywhere close to what Murray had last year.
Good for him... But I really question what Dallas is doing if they're really thinking about going into next year with both of their 2 deep RBs being guys with fairly significant injury patterns. Sure, that OL might help... but I have a hard time seeing it help that much.
Not a Cowboys fan, but would LOVE to see RMFW finally turn it on in the NFL. Here's something to remember him by: (sorry for the quality)
The best part is Earl Wolff plays for the Eagles, so RMFW will have a chance to repeat this performance.
One of the most incredible things I have seen, takes that LB for a 15 yd ride and looks like he barely slows down.
Also like this:
He was a 4-star and UVA's "Smoke-that-got-tracked-down-by-Bonner" was a 5-star. That alone is reason enough to not give half a crap about recruiting stars.
THISSSSSSSSSS.
Man I miss him. Best of luck RMFW
Best RB we've had. I loved Kevin Jones, Lee Suggs, etc. but I thought that Williams was the best.
I've always thought had Darren Evans stayed through 4 years he would have been something really special, maybe the best. He left for good reasons but he left way too soon.
I thought Evans was incredible his freshman season but never seemed the same later on in his VT career after his injury.
Agreed. Darren Evans is one of my favorite Hokies because he was tough, talented, and had the personality I want in the face of a program. But RMFW was, in my book, the best RB since I became a Hokie fan. That he went to Stonewall solidifies him as the best.
I think the line he was running behind was better than any since
Man, this is an interesting debate. All of them were awesome in their own right, but I'm really torn between Williams and Jones as our best back to date. I'd say Jones definitely had the better lines to run behind, and also had the benefit of being spelled by another supremely talented back in Suggs in 02. Ryan was probably a bit more shifty and also contributed a good bit in the receiving game. But Jones had some serious Heisman potential in 03 and ended up a 1st round draft pick. Ryan was a little on the smaller side and, other than 09, just hasn't seemed to be able to stay healthy. We could compromise and say 1a and 1b. I think Wilson was an incredible talent as well, but sometimes his improvisation got him in trouble. At one time, I thought had he returned in '12, he would've been a serious Heisman contender...then I saw the shambles our O-Line would fall into. We've really been fortunate to have so many incredible running backs over the years. I enjoyed watching them all.
No VT back had a better nose for the goal line and made more runs out of nothing than Ryan Williams. A terrific Hokie.
Now I loved watching RW, but I have to argue that statement in favor of TD-Lee. Lee Suggs was a Touchdown maker, I can't ever remember him going backwards in short yardage situations. Give him the ball and it seemed like we were guaranteed to get at least 3 yards.
Here I would argue for David Wilson. Some of his runs were unreal, the one against Clemson comes quickly to mind.
That being said Ryan was probably the best combination of those two abilities. He had the power for the shorter runs and he had the shiftiness to improvise.
Unfortunately Wilson could also make a 15 yard loss out of nothing. Sometimes it would turn out to be worthwhile for him to give up yards and completely change directions, but the problem was that was always his strategy regardless of what the situation called for. Wilson was a special athlete but we never saw him develop into an elite running back.
David also managed to make a few runs become nothing out of something. If you want a guy to find the tiniest crease before it even appeared, hit it and gain positive yardage, you want RMFW. If you want a guy where the same run could easily be either -5 yards or +50, you want DW.
Ugh that one in the Sugar Bowl.
Took us from a goal to go situation to out of field goal range. We kick a filed goal there and we don't even go to overtime.
True, there were times that he would lose ground, but more times than not he gained yards. Kind of like Barry Sanders, you always had a chance of losing big yardage, but the more often than not, he gained big yardage. Also reminds me of something I used to say when Hosley went back to field a punt. Something big is going to happen, we're just not sure for which team.
Good thing Coale bailed us out in OT, or we would've lost!
Suggs scored more often, but he had huge holes to run through. When you go back and watch RW, it is amazing how many times he was caught behind the LOS on the goal line and found a way to break through.
As for Wilson, terrific athlete and great effort, but he didn't have that knack for getting 4 when you need 3 to keep a drive alive or score like RW34
HTTR but I'll gladly cheer for his individual success
Love me some Ryan Williams! Glad to see that he's finally getting a legitimate shot. One of the very best backs we had at Tech! WTG Ryan!
Williams was special. If he ever gets healthy he easily has starting NFL ability
Couldn't be with much worse of a team but I'm glad to see he's gonna get a real shot at it. It's totally possible for him to break records and the team loses, right?
He is hoping that "lil sweetness" can stay healthy and shows the world what we already know, he is a great running back.