• Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
Total Packers - Green Bay Packers Blogs and News
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
Total Packers
No Result
View All Result

Packers Welcome a Third Member of the Fighting Irish to the Team

Rob Born by Rob Born
May 7, 2019
in Articles & Analysis
9

As one sports pundit put it, “Dexter goes from one historic team playing in an iconic venue to another.”

In the middle of the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, Green Bay managed to both fill a roster need and obtain one of the best remaining available players. Dexter Williams was the pick, and given that the Packers only have two notable running backs, Williams is almost a lock to be on the team’s roster in September.

For two reasons, I’d also expect Williams to get more than a token amount of playing time during the season. One is that Matt LaFleur is likely to employ a lot of two-back sets throughout the season, and two is that bumps and bruises are common enough that even if both Aaron Jones and the other Williams (Jamaal) avoid serious injuries, Dexter will probably get some turns while one or the other front-runner is resting.

There are two reasons Williams slid down to Round 6. One is that he does not have a lengthy collegiate record, and the other is that he’s had “character” issues.

The behavioral problems consist of a marijuana arrest two years ago and a four-game team-imposed suspension to start his senior year. What specifically led up to the suspension has not been disclosed. Whatever it was, when Dexter began his final season in the Notre Dame’s fifth game, he was fully reinstated and turned in some great performances over the last nine games.

 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Dexter Williams
Oct 6, 2018; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish Dexter Williams (2) runs past Virginia Tech Hokies defender Rico Kearney (38) for a second half touch down at Lane Stadium. Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to his senior year, Williams saw little action in his first three years on the team. The reason was that he was playing behind Josh Adams each of those years. Though Adams went undrafted, he ran up 3,201 yards in the three years that Williams served as his backup. Adams was eventually picked up by the Eagles, and increasingly got playing time, winding up his rookie season with 511 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

The first sign that Williams was ready to bust out came in 2017. Though he had just 39 carries, he accumulated 360 yards, for a remarkable average of 9.2 yards per carry.

In only those nine final games of 2018, Williams rushed for 995 yards and 12 scores on 158 rushes. That works out to 111 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry. In those games, the Fighting Irish faced lots of quality competition, including: Stanford (then # 7), Virginia Tech (24), Syracuse (12), and Clemson (2). Notre Dame was ranked third, and was undefeated, prior to being handily whipped by #2 Clemson in the Cotton Bowl. In his final season, he was a workhorse, as shown by his four games with 140-plus yards and a touchdown scored every 12 carries on average.

Physically, Dexter has adequate running back dimensions: 5’11” and 213 pounds. His NFL Combine numbers are also fairly standard. Though his 4.57 dash time is below average, it hasn’t prevented him from reeling off a bunch of long runs, including a 97-yard jaunt against Virginia Tech, in which the defensive backs were unable to close on him.

His best trait – and it’s immediately apparent on his highlight reels – is his “one-cut” ability – he explodes forward once he sees a hole or decides the direction he’s going to take.

A number of observers think that Williams will be a perfect fit for the offense Coach LaFleur will feature, which is referred to as an outside zone run scheme. GM Brian Gutekunst agrees, saying, “Very much his skill set fits what Matt wants to do in the run game.”

Scouts also like his flexibility, hip movement, run-to-daylight instinct, and that he “drops heavy, preemptive blows on tacklers.” Williams was used sparingly as a receiver at Notre Dame, catching 16 passes for 133 yards as a senior, so he’ll likely need developing in that area.

NCAA: Dexter Williams - Notre Dame
Oct 27, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Dexter Williams (left) dives in for a touchdown against Navy Midshipmen cornerback Jarid Ryan (right) during the second quarter at SDCCU Stadium. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Trivia

Dexter earned the nickname “Juice” in high school because of his infectious personality.

He joins former Irish teammates DeShone Kizer and Equanimeous St. Brown in Green Bay.

In his junior year he was a standout at special teams, including being tied for second on punt-return tackles.

Williams has already indicated that his mother will be moving up to Green Bay to be with him.

Note: Whether, and how soon, Dexter will jump ahead of Jamaal Williams on the depth chart remains to be seen, but I’ll explore that question next time.

Tags: 2019 NFL DraftAaron JonesBrian GutekunstDeShone KizerDexter WilliamsEquanimeous St. BrownJamaal WilliamsJosh AdamsMatt LaFleurNotre Dame
Previous Post

Brett Favre and Peyton Manning Were Bros This Weekend

Next Post

Which of the Williams Boys Will Get the Nod at Starting RB?

Packers Dominate the Bears with Aaron Jones

Packers Dominate the Bears with Aaron Jones

September 19, 2022
Rodgers touchdown celebration

Can Gutekunst Keep Rodgers and Keep the Team’s Roster Mostly Intact?

March 4, 2022
Victory Over Vikings Is the Ideal Launching Pad to the Playoffs

Victory Over Vikings Is the Ideal Launching Pad to the Playoffs

January 5, 2022
Will My Warnings Ever Be Heeded?

Will My Warnings Ever Be Heeded?

December 23, 2021
Next Post
Packers RB Jamaal Williams

Which of the Williams Boys Will Get the Nod at Starting RB?

Comments 9

  1. Avatar for Howard Howard says:
    4 years ago

    I don’t think it is likely that LaFleur will employ a lot of two-back sets. Tennessee last year employed two-back sets on approximately 2% of all plays. The Rams last year employed two-back sets on 1% of all plays. The other head coach LaFleur has been associated with is Shanahan. The 49ers last year used two-back sets 50% of all plays. That may have been because of the injury to the 49ers QB#1. I think LaFleur will use position groupings at a similar % that he did with the Titans, and McVay did with the Rams.
    That does not mean Williams is not a promising pickup, as the Packers will run the ball more under LaFleur. Williams does have a good running style for the NFL.

  2. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 years ago

    In other News: New from JSOnline and PackersNews: Former Packers GM Ted Thompson reveals diagnosis of autonomic disorder http://bit.ly/2DZQzvs #Packer

    Some relate this to Parkinson’s disease. which is what some thought to themselves, and verbally.

    Godspeed Mr. Thompson.

    • Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
      4 years ago

      I think you and others saw this before most did, including myself.

    • Avatar for Stiggy Stiggy says:
      4 years ago

      In other news I’m convinced you are Tom Silverstein lol.

      You see the article today about murphy?

    • Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
      4 years ago

      lol, Thanks Stig….I’m gonna take that as a compliment

  3. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    4 years ago

    In other News: It seems that Mr. Angry will be the Head Coach and General Manager of an XFL team in Los Angeles. No.people, it’s not Jason Parker. It’s Mr. happy Winston Moss.

    Good luck you angry bastard.

  4. Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
    4 years ago

    I’m not a scout, but the one thing I always thought that a running back should have in the NFL is a little bit if wiggle at the very least. I remember guys the Packers drafted like LeShon Johnson who were blazing fast, a guy who Mel Kiper said was second best running back in the league behind Marshal Faulk, but had only straight ahead 4.3 speed and never made it in the NFL.

    I don’t see any wiggle in Dexter Williams. Maybe the Packers are looking looking for a one cut runner to go with their zone blocking.

    • Avatar for Kato Kato says:
      4 years ago

      Speed kills. See Johnson, Chris. He seems to break a fair amount of tackles, which makes up for wiggle. His skill set fits the offense

    • Avatar for Deepsky Deepsky says:
      4 years ago

      Chris Johnson has way more moves than Dexter Williams.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Total Packers - Green Bay Packers News and Rumors

Subscribe to Packers News Updates

100% Spam Free - Unsubscribe at any time.

Find It!

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2023 Packer Draft: What We Learned
  • Packers Choose TE Tucker Kraft with 78th Pick in Round 3 NFL Draft
  • Packers Select TE Luke Musgrave & WR Jayden Reed in 2nd Round NFL Draft
  • Packers Draft Lukas Van Ness
  • Packers 2023 Draft Brings Opportunity
  • TV-Drama “As the Packers Turn” Cancelled as Star Diva Aaron Rodgers Traded to Jets
  • Packer Potential Draft Strategies
  • A Fan’s Farewell to John Brockington
  • Packer Draft Needs: Safety
  • An Aaron Rodgers Farewell
  • Packer Draft Needs: Edge
  • Inside the Packers’ Insane Ticket Situation

Popular Tags

A.J. Hawk Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre Brian Gutekunst Bryan Bulaga Charles Woodson Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Clay Matthews Clay Matthews III Dallas Cowboys Davante Adams Detroit Lions Eddie Lacy fans Featured free agents game analysis Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Greg Jennings injuries Jay Cutler Jermichael Finley Jordy Nelson Julius Peppers Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy Minnesota Vikings Morgan Burnett New England Patriots New Orleans Saints NFL Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles predictions Randall Cobb Sam Shields San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks T.J. Lang Ted Thompson Ted Thompson Tramon Williams Ty Montgomery
No Result
View All Result
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com