BTSC 2010 Community Mock Draft - Pick #9 by the Buffalo Bills: Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee

by Michael Bean on Apr 7, 2010 9:48 PM EDT

I really don't think the Pittsburgh Steelers will draft Casey Hampton's eventual replacement in the first round of this April's draft. If Dan Williams from Tennessee were still available at #18, the Steelers might find him impossible to pass on, but more than likely, Williams will be gone somewhere around where he's being selected here in our mock draft. Good stuff from mojo88 here. Thanks. Next up? At #10, it's nlevine34, who will be drafting for a team I just love to watch lose - the Jacknsonville Jaguars.

Drafting this decade has not been kind to the Bills, with the exception of a couple of Pro Bowl running backs, in Marshawn Lynch and Willis McGahee. McGahee of course is no longer with the team, instead residing 275 miles south in Baltimore.

Year	Player Selected	Position
2009 (11)	Aaron Maybin	DE
2008 (11)	Leodis McKelvin	DB
2007 (12)	Marshawn Lynch	RB
2006 (8)	Donte Whitner	S
2006 (26)	John McCargo	DT
2004 (13)	Lee Evans	WR
2004 (22)	J.P. Losman	QB
2003 (23)	Willis McGahee	RB
2002 (4)	Mike Williams	OT

The Buffalo Bills need help all over the offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick is hardly an NFL calibre starter, but with Clausen and Bradford both of the board, there's no QB left with a first round grade. The other major need on offense is an offensive tackle, to take the place of Jason Peters who was traded to Philly. Help at WR may also be required if the Bills intend to step up this year, but the consensus number 1 receiver, Dez Bryant, throws up too many character issues, and had a poor showing at his pro day to deserve the number 9 draft spot.

On defense, the front seven need upgrades, however, the Bills appear set at the pass rushing OLB/DE, where they have Aaron Schobel, opposite last year's number 1 draft pick, Aaron Maybin. This year the Bills are moving to a 3-4 defensive front, but they lack the big space eating NT that forms the central clog of every 3-4 D. There is only one DT worthy of a first round grade who projects as a 3-4DT and that's Dan Williams, out of Tennessee.

In the end, this pick came as a toss up between Brian Bulaga and Dan Williams. In the end, this pick comes down to the fact that Dan Williams is much more of a need, and will likely need to start from Day 1, than Bulaga, especially with the likelihood that the Bills can draft OL help in the second round. So with the 9th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select, Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee.

Updated first round picks after the jump.

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Comments

Good pick...

If you run a 3-4, you need a nose tackle. Simple as that.

Anybody know what’s going on with Marcus Stroud?

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preperation."
-Arthur Ashe

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 8, 2010 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

and John McCargo

for that matter… someone should at least have picked those guys up.

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Apr 8, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

McCargo is a bust

out of the league. Stroud will probably play DE

I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
McCourty! McCourty! McCourty! McCourty! McCourty! McCourty!

by Steel in FL on Apr 8, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Didn't know that

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Apr 8, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

McCargo’s not currently out of the league. He’s still with the team. I’m sure they’ll try him at DE during camp, but I doubt he’ll make good. He definitely doesn’t have the size for NT. Neither does Stroud.

Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.

by WhyBillsWhy on Apr 13, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Bills website

has Stroud listed as a DE, but I don’t know that he is going to be a great holding DE, Aaron Smith style. He’s a high motor guy who was a great DT, but I think he may struggle at end.

by mojo88 on Apr 8, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice pick

I am really curious to see what happens with Williams next year.

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

NUTS!!!

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

Emerald or Planters?

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Take your pick

I hope the draft doesn’t pan out this way. Hopefully Seattle takes an OT to replace Jones, Cleveland doesn’t take Clausen (can’t see the Browns taking ANOTHER Notre Dame saviour) and Buffalo then nabs Clausen or an OT to begin repair that joke of an OL. That would leave Williams on the board for Denver who then perhaps the Dolphins. TRADE TIME!!

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

You want Williams enough to trade up to get him?

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes

After reading all the plethora of Mock Drafts here and around the web and viewing whatever video I can find, I have come to the conclusion that I want Dan Williams in B&G. Despite the Casey signing and the fact that we have Hoke, our NTs are dinosaurs who are nearing the end of their runs. The 3-4 needs a studly NT and, with not guaranty of football next year (and not knowing much about next years crop of draft eligible NTs) I think the Steelers cannot pass up on the chance to get this guy this year. Then, they can concentrate on this year’s CB/S crop in the 2nd round where I think the value is a better match.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with all of this.

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preperation."
-Arthur Ashe

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 8, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope the FO does, too

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I dunno how I feel about it. I used to think we should trade up, but I think we are going to have so many options open at 18, that it wouldn’t make sense. We have so many “needs” that making a move to fill one probably means we give up picks to create depth for competition in those spots of needs. Let’s be honest, even Colbert shoots at best 50% in the later rounds. So having as many picks as we can is important. Also, to move up, we’d probably have to give up our 2nd or 3rd and, again, I think we have too many depth issues to trade away potential players.

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant, we give up picks to be used to create depth for competition…

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the difference between you and I is

that I don’t see that the Steelers do in fact have that many needs. Urgent ones anyhow. This team is one year removed from winning the Super Bowl.

NT is going to become awful urgent awful fast if they don’t do something about it soon. It is going to be very hard for me to watch the Steelers pass up on Williams.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

That is probably true. I just think we need players at RB, DE, LB, OL, S, and maybe CB.

At RB, Mendy is solid, but RB is the position most likely to get injured. So what legit back up do we have there? Moore? I don’t think so anymore. We really need a guy who could come in and play if we have an injury. Also, I’d like a change of speed back too, but that is probably asking too much for one draft.

At DE we are pretty old. Ziggy looked good last year and Sunny could be a potential guy if he develops. Outside of those two, Eason is the youngest and nearly 30. Smith will hopefully be back in full force and Keisel is still a diesel, but now is the time to wane out the age.

OLB. Depth? Yikes. God forbid Harrison or Woodley goes down for a significant time. How well is Timmons ready to jump into that position if that happens? I dunno, but I’d rather just have a guy who knows how to play the position and can take over when Harrison moves on. ILB is not too bad with 4 great players. Foote was a huge signing.

OL, well our depth isn’t too bad, but our talent could definitely improve, especially at center and guard. We need some guys who can get a real pull in the running game and bring back an offense that can run well when needed.

Safety and CB have been beat into the ground, so I don’t need to elaborate much. Ike is going to slow down soon and that is his best attribute in his game. I think some of the young guys we have could be good, but not as good as Ike. Troy is injury prone. There I said it. We need to take that into consideration. Without him Clark looks lost and so do our CBs. We clearly need better depth at this position, and Allen is not the answer.

I know that a solid NT is a lynch pin to a 3-4 D, but we learned last year that LeBeau’s D is also dependent on a play making safety and solid corner play. Additionally, a weak ILB can cause huge problems on inside routes. With all those positions being a need, I just don’t see why we’d trade away picks to fill just one of them and reduce our chances to successfully fill the others.

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Soooo

Spiller in the first?

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

If he fell to us, they would have to. And I’d eat the hell outta that towel.

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by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

that's what she said.

by klompus on Apr 8, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

Towely says don’t foget to brush your teeth

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

You all going to the pool later?

Don’t forget to bring your towel!

Providing you your Daily Six Pack. If you have something good for a six pack, shoot me an email at john.stephens8@yahoo.com

by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I mostly agree with you Johnny the S

I still think the Steelers can trade of for the NTand still address several of the other areas you mention later in the draft. You can never address all of’ ‘em in one draft so obviously the FO has to prioritize. Chewie’s order of priorities

NT (no one behind Snack and Hoke)
CB (Ike not out of steam YET, 2 young fellars and a Gay nickel)
OL (I am not as down on the OL as many others)
LB (aging but still solid with perhaps 1 exception, ’10 will tell)
RB (come on, we have Redman)
DE (Ziggy and Sunny promising future with WILLIAMS!)

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Is a gay nickel any different than a joyless nickel?

Providing you your Daily Six Pack. If you have something good for a six pack, shoot me an email at john.stephens8@yahoo.com

by John Stephens on Apr 8, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

wow, that nickel is really happy to be a nickel!

most nickels want to be bigger, better things. say, dimes, quarters, or even sacajawea’s. but this nickel, this nickel right here, he has learned the value of his role being a nickel. he once tried to become a dime… and lets just say everyone knew he was a nickel. this little gay nickel has learned a lesson few do in their life time. accept your slot in life as a nickel and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise

by klompus on Apr 8, 2010 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Little Kat Williams in the middle there?

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preperation."
-Arthur Ashe

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 8, 2010 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

You know

I think I’ll have more fun waiting for Spiller to be drafted than perhaps any other player in this year’s draft.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Besides

I think Burnett and Lewis are being sold a bit short given their brief tenure in the Burgh. Methinks it prudent to give those guys one more year in the system combined with the return to health (hopefully) of Troy before going out and getting a CB/S with an extremely valuable 1st round pick.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

by chewiesteeler on Apr 8, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

You know

Keenen Lewis and Mike Wallace were good friends even before they got drafted by the same team. If Lewis is anything what Wallace was on offense, well I wouldn’t mind if we didn’t pick up a corner in the entire draft.

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Apr 8, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions