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M. Williams Q&A: Whatever the Lions need

ByDave Richard

(Draftees from the 2005 NFL Draft sat down for a couple minutes and shared their thoughts and feelings about being picked. This entry comes from WR Mike Williams , selected No. 10 by the Detroit Lions.)

You had to be shocked when Detroit called your name. What teams did you think you were going to, and what was your reaction when Detroit picked you?

I thought I could go anywhere from four to nine. Any of those were a possibility, excluding Arizona. I really didn't have a good feeling about Chicago. I worked out a bit for Tampa Bay. I had thought Washington was a good possibility, but they ended up taking a corner. We were pretty surprised with those teams and we thought maybe Dallas or San Diego. I had my phone in pocket and when it rang and it was Detroit, I asked if they were serious and they said, "We are serious." And I said, "Buy me a hat."

This question probably would have been easier to answer if you had gone to Chicago or San Diego, but where do you see yourself fitting in with the Lions with Roy Williams and Charles Rogers there?

I went up there and met with (receivers) coach Fred Graves and it is something I always hoped for. I have no problems with the established guys there, but I know they drafted me for a reason. I am just happy for my opportunity. If they want me to come in and play the slot, I will play the slot. If they want me to rotate in and out with guys, I'll do that.

Mike Williams joins a Lions WR corps that is now one of the best trios in the NFL.

Mike Williams joins a Lions WR corps that is now one of the best trios in the NFL.

How did you feel when people said, "Mike Williams would be a good tight end in this league?"

It never bothered me and it still doesn't. It is one of those things that you can't do anything about. I heard it a lot when I came out of high school as well. I went to college and I took care of business. People are going to say what they want to say. All I can do is play football.

What about the concerns over your speed?

You know what? Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin and Cris Carter, they didn't run that fast and they still had good careers. The bottom line is that this isn't track, this is football. If you want a track player, I'm not it. If you want a football player, I'm it. The most important 20 yards on the field are the end zones, and that is where I can catch the ball.

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Round 1

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
1	1	San Francisco	Alex D. Smith	QB	Utah
Vic Carucci's Analysis
The 49ers did the expected. Now, of course, the bigger question is whether they can sign him. This might linger, perhaps through August. Smith isn't likely to see much playing time as a rookie, which is OK. The Niners can go with Tim Rattay this year, and allow Smith to develop into a starter. Bottom line is that he is Mike Nolan's guy for the long haul.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
2	2	Miami	Ronnie Brown	RB	Auburn
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Ronnie Brown is the biggest fast back, with character to boot. The Dolphins couldn't move out of the spot, so they took the running back who can touch the ball 25 times per game instead of the receiver who would get the ball a lot less. Carucci on Brown: Despite the Dolphins' best efforts to throw everyone off the draft trail with talk that they weren't going to take a running back, the fact is they needed a powerful, steady playmaker in the backfield to fill the void left by Ricky Williams. Brown is a perfect fit for the power-oriented offense and defense-first approach that Nick Saban is putting together. Having Brown move the chains as a runner and an excellent receiver out of the backfield is exactly what any defense wants and needs.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
3	3	Cleveland	Braylon Edwards	WR	Michigan
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
It looks like the Browns couldn't drop down in the draft so they took a highly productive receiver who caught 182 passes and 29 touchdowns. With Dilfer throwing the ball and Kellen Winslow back from injury, the offense becomes explosive. Carucci on Edwards: The Browns should be absolutely thrilled to have selected perhaps the most talented player in the entire draft. His game-changing ability is strong enough to give them a legitimate chance to improve more quickly than they would with a quarterback or almost any other position or player. Combing him with Kellen Winslow and Andre Davis will place tremendous pressure on opposing defenses, while also helping the Browns to maximize the contribution of Trent Dilfer.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
4	4	Chicago	Cedric Benson	RB	Texas
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Cedric Benson is a sure thing in the NFL. He's done it as the 'bell cow' back. In Chicago, he will force teams to bring the safety down into the box and open up the passing lanes for Rex Grossman. Benson is no Ricky Williams, but he has cutback vision like Curtis Martin. He may never have a 40-yard run, but there will be plenty of 15-yard carries. Benson will finish his rookie season with over 1,000 yards. Carucci on Benson: The Bears had long targeted Benson for this pick. Like the Dolphins, they want to establish a power-oriented foundation. And there isn't a more powerful back in this draft than Benson. He might not have Ronnie Brown's speed or hands, but he can be a consistent workhorse, pounding between the tackles. And that will help make Lovie Smith's defense better while also helping to take pressure off of young quarterback Rex Grossman.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
5	5	Tampa Bay	Carnell Williams	RB	Auburn
Gil Brandt's Analysis
I think that the Bucs had a tough decision to make. They were impressed with Carnell Williams at the Senior Bowl and he's the kind of back that Gruden likes -- a flash-and-dash back like Charlie Garner except bigger. But they had a hard time because they liked Alex Smith and felt that Mike Williams was also a good choice. I do think that Williams is going to have a great rookie year in that system. If I'm a fantasy football player, this is my guy. Carucci on Williams: We continue to stay true to form. This was the player the Buccaneers thought they would be able to land all along, and he fits well in Jon Gruden's offense as a fast, explosive runner and proficient receiver out of the backfield. He can make an immediate impact, which is something this struggling club desperately needs. Kirwan on Williams: Carnell Williams went to the Senior Bowl and unlike other top running back, participated. That won the Bucs staff over. He can carry the ball 25 times and line up as a wide receiver, and Gruden will love that.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
6	6	Tennessee	Adam 'Pacman' Jones	CB	West Virginia
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Pacman, as he likes to be called, is a cover cornerback and has the ability to break on the ball and make plays. I think it comes from his basketball play in high school -- he was one of the best players in the country. He went to West Virginia because he wanted to get away from the Atlanta area. He grew up in a single-parent home and there was a need for a fresh start. He is also an excellent punt returner, so the Titans are getting two players, really. Kirwan on Jones: Adam Jones, a bit of a surprise as the first corner, but he brings the best man-to-man coverage skills and almost a 15-yard punt return average. When your team wants to blitz and play pressure defense, this is an excellent choice. I am sure thta Norm Chow hoped for Mike Williams at this spot. Carucci on Jones: The Titans had to fill their cornerback call. They couldn't go wrong with either Adam Jones or Antrel Rolle. Jones has the edge in speed and coverage ability, and will step in and likely contribute significantly as a rookie. This team has plenty of holes to fill, but Jones addresses a major one and should greatly help improve the overall defense.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
7	7	Minnesota	Troy Williamson	WR	South Carolina
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Troy Williamson, a surprise pick, rose in the draft very fast in the last week. He is raw and needs a lot of work on his routes, but with the strong arm of Culpepper, they can push the ball vertically with Williamson. Carucci on Williamson: Troy Williamson's stock has been soaring in recent weeks. I'm a little surprised that he surpassed Mike Williams on the Vikings' draft board, but the fact is he provides exactly what they need to fill the gaping hole in their offense created by the Randy Moss trade. Williamson is a dynamic playmaker, and should do plenty to allow the Vikings to continue to receive great production from Daunte Culpepper.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
8	8	Arizona	Antrel Rolle	CB	Miami (Fla.)
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
The Cardinals are delighted that the Titans took Pacman Jones and leave their highest-rated corner on the board. Head coach Dennis Green loves guys from Miami. He is more like Ty Law and the other great Cover-2 corners, so if you are playing zone, he is the best in the draft. More importantly, he brings the "winners attitude" that Green wants in Arizona. Not as fast as Jones, but a great football player.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
9	9	Washington	Carlos Rogers	CB	Auburn
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Rogers ranked first on some boards, and if the Redskins said he was their top corner, believe them. At 6-0 and a 3.82 short shuttle, this is an extraordinary athlete who will provide Gregg Williams the opportunity to increase his presuure defense. Here is the kind of athlete needed to line up on T.O. and get physical. It's a big day for the Auburn athletes -- three in the top nine.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
10	10	Detroit	Mike Williams	WR	Southern California
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Mike Williams, whether he stays on in Detroit or not, is a player that I believe will score the most TDs out of all rookies. He scored more TDs than Braylon Edwards in two years. He has good speed and great hands and will be impossible to cover in the red zone.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
11	11	Dallas	Demarcus Ware	DE	Troy State
Vic Carucci's Analysis
The Cowboys wanted and needed a pass-rushing force, and Ware provides that skill in a big way. His stock has been shooting up in recent weeks. Bill Parcells loves Ware's hustle and the fact that, in addition to having excellent speed, he also offers plenty of power. He is the versatile end/outside linebacker that can play a major role in a scheme that will mix 4-3 and 3-4 fronts.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
12	12	San Diego	Shawne Merriman	OLB	Maryland
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
I am sure the Chargers would have strongly considered Mike Williams if he was on the board, but I also think that they assumed Merriman would have been gone to the Cowboys. With 17 sacks in the last two years and at 275 pounds, he could either be the right defensive end or the outside linebacker. Time will tell. Personally, I think that he is an end. He is extremely strong in the weight room and a wild man on the field.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
13	13	New Orleans	Jammal Brown	OT	Oklahoma
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Jammal Brown is a player that came to Oklahoma as a defensive lineman and was moved to the O-line since. He played guard and tackle, and they see him as a right tackle -- maybe a left tackle -- in the NFL. He's a tough player who has been durable for a number of years. Kirwan on Brown: To move up to the 11th pick in the draft to get a right tackle is a bit of a surprise, but Brown plugs in and plays, which is the positive. But with Derrick Johnson and Aaron Rodgers, and more importantly left tackle Alex Barron still out there, it is an interesting pick.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
14	14	Carolina	Thomas Davis	FS	Georgia
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
A big surprise pick here. Up to two weeks ago, Davis was being advertised as the best strong safety in the draft. But I got information lately that defensive coaches see him as a weakside linebacker and could be a risk playing deep middle coverage. A terrific football player, but Carolina will have to experiment with him to decide what he is in the NFL. It's amazing that Derrick Johnson (255 tackles in two years) is still on the board. Carucci on Davis: One scout recently said this to me about Davis: "He can single-handedly change a game on defense the way Braylon Edwards can single-handedly change a game on offense."

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
15	15	Kansas City	Derrick O. Johnson	OLB	Texas
Gil Brandt's Analysis
I think one of the reasons Johnson was the 15th player picked is because teams don't put the same priority at linebacker as they do other positions. If he were a cornerback, he would have been picked a lot higher. He's got a lot of talent and is a big playmaker. But the negative was that he wasn't real good at taking on the blocker. The good news is that it can be corrected. He's also a quality person in the mold of Dick Vermeil. Carucci on Johnson: I'm a little surprised that Derrick Johnson fell this far, but his stock definitely was falling from the early projections that had him going to the Browns with the third pick. Several teams began to have doubts about whether he was physical enough to take on blockers and wondered if he would be manhandled by the many larger and stronger offensive linemen he would face in the NFL. However, his speed and pursuit make him a nice addition to Gunther Cunningham's attack-oriented scheme. Kirwan on Johnson: Johnson, who has 255 tackles in the last two years, was coached last year by former Chiefs defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, and is ready to come in and play right away. He is a high-character guy who should be expected to post 100 tackles as a rookie. When you combine this selection with the trade for Patrick Surtain, the Chiefs defense may be good enough for Vermeil to make a push in his last season. Yesterday, KC started to suspect Johnson might fall to them, and now they have their future team captain.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
16	16	Houston	Travis Johnson	DT	Florida State
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Travis Johnson is a bit of a surprise pick. I question his pass-rushing ability. He says he is great, but the numbers do not back it up -- some people consider him an underachiever. He will have to stay healthy and bring his game to the next level. More of a 4-3 tackler than a 3-4 end, but he does not lack confidence.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
17	17	Cincinnati	David Pollack	DE	Georgia
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Pollack is a great value pick. He is a lot like Patrick Kerney from the Falcons. He had 34 sacks in college, has incredible measurables and will bring an attitude to Cincinnati that they are starving for. A 270-pound defensive end with a 3.94 short shuttle and impossible to block on a consistent basis. He will chase plays down from behind. The Bengals haven't had a Pro Bowl defensive player in over 10 years, but they just drafted a future one.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
18	18	Minnesota	Erasmus James	DE	Wisconsin
Gil Brandt's Analysis
This is a really good pick. James is a player that has not played a lot of football and is thought to be the best pass rusher in this draft. He got hurt in the Purdue game, but if you saw him against Penn State he was the first pick in the draft. He's got a lot of football ahead of him. Kirwan on James: James is a guy with all of the pass rush skills but had a hip injury and does not have the sack production that a guy drafted this high should have. If healthy, he is the perfect fit at left defensive end opposite Kenechi Udeze.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
19	19	St. Louis	Alex Barron	OT	Florida State
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
This is a personnel director's dream. A left tackle, almost 6-8 and over 300 pounds who runs 4.9, falls into your lap. The most impressive number he has is 38-inch arms, which is great for blocking purposes. The best left tackle candidate in the draft, line coaches worried about his passion for the game and lower leg strength for run blocking. But in this instance, Barron has to go to the right tackle spot with Orlando Pace on the left side, who just happens to be the highest-paid tackle in the league.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
20	20	Dallas	Marcus Spears	DE	Louisiana State
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Marcus Spears is a critical component to the conversion to the 3-4 defense. The only 300-pound defensive end in the draft with a first-round grade, Spears will line up in Parcells' defense much like Richard Seymour does for the Patriots.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
21	21	Jacksonville	Matt Jones	WR	Arkansas
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
This is my kind of pick -- don't pass on the great athlete. I've talked to Jones 10 times since his last game, and here's what he brings to the table: A wide receiver with a limited package on day one but can play in the red zone; a tight end who can cause mismatches against safeties; a third quarterback on the active roster; a special-teams player, and he whispered in my ear once, "I'm a good long snapper." This is a pick that can change a franchise's future, and 10 minutes before the pick, his agent was worried his client wouldn't be picked in the first round. Oops.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
22	22	Baltimore	Mark Clayton	WR	Oklahoma
Gil Brandt's Analysis
A Gil Brandt favorite! If he were a little taller, he'd be in the top 10. He has tremendous quickness, great speed, can return kicks and has great hands.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
23	23	Oakland	Fabian Washington	CB	Nebraska
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
Al Davis always loves speed, and this guy runs a 4.20. And this is another attempt to deal Charles Woodson sooner rather than later. The irony of this pick is that the guy that coached Washington in college, Bill Callahan, was fired by Davis.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
24	24	Green Bay	Aaron Rodgers	QB	California
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
The kid does not know how lucky he is -- the pain of today will be gone soon. I spend my Sundays with Dan Marino, who went 25th in the draft, and he never forgot about it and had a pretty good career. The Packers just found Brett Favre's replacement. He's athletic, creates like Favre did when he was young, and the Tedford system does teach him to read and release the ball. This is the steal of the draft for the Packers. Brandt on Rodgers: Every year there's a player that for some reason falls. This is too good a player to be drafted this low, and I think he's a young guy (21 years old) who has a chance to really be a part of that franchise for a long time to come.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
25	25	Washington	Jason Campbell	QB	Auburn
Vic Carucci's Analysis
He could very well end up being the best of the three quarterbacks taken so far. He has a tremendous amount of physical talent, probably more than Smith and Rodgers. The only issue is how long it will take him to develop the mental side of his game. The Redskins need to have that happen sooner rather than later because they don't seem to have much of a future with Patrick Ramsey and Mark Brunell. Kirwan on Campbell: Information leaked out that the Redskins would take him with this pick, but most people thought they were bluffing. Cleveland was interested in him in the second round, so Washington selected him now. He had a good Senior Bowl and impressed coaches. He is more of a thrower than a runner, has a bit of a windup in his release, which has to be corrected. This spells trouble for Patrick Ramsey after this year. Campbell throws an excellent slant route. Some question his intelligence, but I don't.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
26	26	Seattle	Chris Spencer	C	Mississippi
Pat Kirwan's Analysis
I love this pick. When I went to Mississippi earlier this month and spent two days with him because one of the most respected NFL line coaches told me he's the best center to come out in 10 years. This is a 10 to 12-year starter who will go to several Pro Bowls. He can handle a DT with his strength, and is athletic enough to go against a linebacker in open space and decleat him. He can also pull, like Kevin Mawae, which changes everything for the blocking scheme. I'm not surprised he is a first-round pick.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
27	27	Atlanta	Sharod 'Roddy' White	WR	Alabama-Birmingham
Gil Brandt's Analysis
White is a tall wide receiver with tremendous speed. Ironically, he's the second receiver who went to high school in South Carolina (Williamson). He was a wrestling champion in high school, so you know he is tough and athletic. He had a tremendous senior year (20 yards per catch). When you saw how many people attended UAB's Pro Day, you saw how highly regarded he was. He got hurt and didn't work well at the Senior Bowl, but he's got plenty of upside. Kirwan on White: Roddy caught 21 touchdowns and has the speed to be a factor early in his career. This pick is a bit of a surprise with USC DT/DE Shaun Cody still on the board. Veteran wide receiver Peerless Price is in trouble to stay on this roster.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
28	28	San Diego	Luis Castillo	DT	Northwestern
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Castillo played in 2004 with injuries that would have sidelined most players, and he wound up playing at a high level. He was the fastest defensive lineman at the draft and is a very good inside player. Kirwan on Castillo: There's some controversy around this pick after he admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs. He's a force inside, and with his measurables, he should fit in right away in the Chargers' 3-4 defense at DE.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
29	29	Indianapolis	Marlin Jackson	CB	Michigan
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Jackson is an outstanding athlete -- he was a running back in high school and played safety and corner. He reminds me of Ty Law -- he doesn't have burning speed but is a very tough player and does a good job against the run. He's good enough against the pass to play for a zone team like Indy. Kirwan on Jackson: Jackson is a versatile player who has a real team attitude. The Colts need to develop a defensive personality. With the Colts having the lead in most of the games they play and the Colts in nickel and dime defense often, they need Jackson right away.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
30	30	Pittsburgh	Heath Miller	TE	Virginia
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Miller was a QB in high school and actually played that as a redshirt freshman at Virginia. He moved to tight end and played very well. He's a good blocker and a better receiver. He slipped a little because he had a sports hernia operation in January and his recovery has been slow. He had not been worked out much. Still, this is a good pick. Kirwan on Miller: Heath Miller has some medical issues, but those should clear up by the time camp starts. He's a vertical threat as well as an underneath quality receiver. Young Ben Roethlisberger needs a good tight end if he's to advance as a quarterback.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
31	31	Philadelphia	Mike Patterson	DT	Southern California
Gil Brandt's Analysis
Patterson could be called "Going Jessie" -- a term used for a guy that never stops playing hard. That's Patterson. They double- and triple-team him, and he still produces. His only negative is his height, but he does compensate for it with 32-plus-inch arms. He's a really good player. Kirwan on Patterson: Mike Patterson is an undersized fire plug nose tackle who can be very disruptive inside. Corey Simon will learn a lesson in how to play hard every down from him. The Eagles like to 'zone dog' their defensive linemen into coverage, and Patterson has the athletic ability to do that. I know Patterson very well, and he will give the Eagles the same things John Randle gave the Vikings and Seahawks.

#	Sel#	Team	Player	Pos.	School
32	32	New England	Logan Mankins	G	Fresno State
Gil Brandt's Analysis
A walk on from Fresno State, Mankins is from Mariposa, Calif. He missed the 2003 season with a knee injury. He is a solid, solid football player -- 6-4 1/2, 215 pounds and has real good tenacity. He will block and block. His summer occupation has been that of a lumberjack.

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