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DeAngelo Williams

Yes, Williams is that good. Some quick numbers comparing him to Bell.

Record as a starter. 2-1, Bell 3-3

TD's. Williams 5, Bell 3

Yards per carry. Williams 5.3, Bell 4.9

Yards per reception. Williams 10.2, Bell 5.7

Injuries. Williams 0, Bell out for the year.

Suspensions. Williams 0, Bell 2 games missed for DUI.

Williams > Bell in every major category for the 2015 season. When healthy I think Bell is very good, but part of that had to do with the talent around him. With AB, Miller, Bryant and Wheaton, you just can't put 8 men in the box often.
Williams just did not have this type of talent around him in Carolina. Now he does. WOW
 
My favorite Williams highlight (courtesy of BTSC):

deblock.0.gif


"Hey, Aldon, how about this for a hit-and-run?"
 
I don't like comparing him to Le'Veon because they are on the same team. But let's just say I'm happy we have both guys in black & gold!!
 
The injury and suspensions are not fair evaluations.

I love the way Williams hits the hole hard and runs with purpose. He's more of a power back

Bell is the most skilled athlete we've ever had at RB. His vision and ability to set up holes with his cut backs is unmatched. He is also a better receiver and needs to be given more difficult routes to run vs LBs.

Steelers are used to having a stable of backs:

Rocky, Frenchy, Franco
Hoge, Worley, Warren Williams
Foster, Hoge, Thompson
Bettis, Willie Parker/Pegram/Staley/Fu/Amos Whitman/Kreider

Bell Williams and Nix can run with any of them.
Bettis,
 
Cras108er said:
Williams is good, but let's not get carried away. lol
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I know right ??? He's veering towards a path of ridiculousness in suggesting that Bell might be subplanted by Williams...........

Stats tell a lot but they don't tell the whole story.....
 
Lol Coach, c'mon man.

DWill has been terrific- one of the best signings in the last 2 years. But you are forgetting one key component of your "analysis"-

Bell has only enjoyed about 2.5 quarters playing with Ben. Essentially, he was averaging nearly 5 yards a clip when everyone in the building knew he was getting the rock
 
Coach, I'll tell you this much. This is the best two backs we've had on this team since Rocky and Franco possibly. These two guys are dangerous and can make things happen. Now as far as comparing the two that's somewhat difficult to do. Bell is a dynamic playmaker running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield. I've not seen a guy who can make such a quick change of direction like him in a while. this dude when healthy is a special player.
Not taking anything away from Deangelo who has been great picking up the load with his running and pass catching ability and lets not forget his blocking. I like him a lot but at this point in his career you have to consider him as great support for Bell. I'm glad we have him but I'd rather have Bell healthy and starting.
 
Coach how many games have you seen this year?
 
Bigappleyinzer said:
Lol Coach, c'mon man.

DWill has been terrific- one of the best signings in the last 2 years. But you are forgetting one key component of your "analysis"-

Bell has only enjoyed about 2.5 quarters playing with Ben. Essentially, he was averaging nearly 5 yards a clip when everyone in the building knew he was getting the rock
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That's the key point.

Comparing the stats of the two is not really valid because Williams has been playing almost exclusively with Roethlisberger while Bell hardly got the opportunity.

Bell's numbers will still really damned good given that he was the sole focus of opposing defenses.
 
Why the need to compare them at all. We have two good backs period.
 
I love Bell. I think he's a great back.

He's had two very serious injuries in three years now. I'm just sayin'. Let's take a look at his yards total at the end of his rookie contract and see how it all pans out given the fact that he will have missed somewhere in the zone of 20+ games at a minimum. When you consider that - well... Math matters.

I like Bell when he's healthy and able to play. Kinda like Pouncey. He's perfectly decent when he's able to play. Unfortunately, due to circumstances largely beyond his control he's been injured quite a bit. Again, that darn math!

Me, I look at Williams and I see a God-send. Here's a guy who comes in at a great price, works his *** off, loses weight, throws solid blocks and as far as we can tell so far, picks up as many yards on the ground as our starter. I'm not saying he's as good as Bell, I'm saying he's as good in relief as Bell. He deserves our respect and our thanks. The dude is full on Covering the Steelers' *** right now. Everyone should be sending D'Angelo a very nice Christmas Card.
 
wig said:
I love Bell. I think he's a great back.

He's had two very serious injuries in three years now. I'm just sayin'. Let's take a look at his yards total at the end of his rookie contract and see how it all pans out given the fact that he will have missed somewhere in the zone of 20+ games at a minimum. When you consider that - well... Math matters.

I like Bell when he's healthy and able to play. Kinda like Pouncey. He's perfectly decent when he's able to play. Unfortunately, due to circumstances largely beyond his control he's been injured quite a bit. Again, that darn math!

Me, I look at Williams and I see a God-send. Here's a guy who comes in at a great price, works his *** off, loses weight, throws solid blocks and as far as we can tell so far, picks up as many yards on the ground as our starter. I'm not saying he's as good as Bell, I'm saying he's as good in relief as Bell. He deserves our respect and our thanks. The dude is full on Covering the Steelers' *** right now. Everyone should be sending D'Angelo a very nice Christmas Card.
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He comes to work, didn't complain about lack of touches and is a great character guy. Such a different flavor than LeGarrett. Whats NOT to like about the guy.
 
DeAngelo Williams accepts all challengers, including coach and media


Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Fresh off a 225-yard, two-touchdown day, this money quote was said with conviction.

"It does help when guys like the media doubt me," Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams said after the 38-35 win over the Raiders. "So thanks for the fuel guys, keep it up."

Not sure what doubt Williams is referencing, exactly. The sentiment this offseason from personnel evaluators was Williams still had explosion in his legs for at least a few more years but durability was still a question because of his history with the Panthers.

What's clear is Williams, 32, seems ready to tackle all challengers, from any ounce of media skepticism to his own head coach's motivational tactics. It's becoming obvious that Williams is on a mission to regain his spot in the running backs hierarchy. In three games as a starter while Le'Veon Bell was suspended or hurt, Williams is averaging 124.6 rushing yards per game.


DeAngelo Williams runs the ball for a second-quarter touchdown against the Raiders. Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Any time Tomlin motivates Williams, it seems to pay off big-time. When Tomlin asked Williams during the offseason to drop some weight, he slimmed down to around 210 pounds, which has helped him regain his Memphis-days quickness.

And in anticipation of the Raiders loading the box to stop the run, Tomlin challenged his running back and his offensive line not to make the Steelers one-dimensional.

Williams listened. He consistently sliced through the Oakland defense for 170 rushing yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns, often flaring toward the sideline from the second level for big gains. Antonio Brown won one-on-one matchups on the outside, while the running game kept safeties honest.

“I think we answered (Tomlin’s) call and his challenge,” Williams said.

In the process, Tomlin is finding out Williams isn’t a one-dimensional player. He knew Williams, a free-agent acquisition signed to a two-year deal, could still run the ball proficiently. But Williams is showing growth as a receiver, too, catching two passes for 55 yards plus a two-point conversion catch in the flat Sunday.

‘We were able to see some signs of that that maybe we hadn’t seen,” Tomlin said. “The running, that’s DeAngelo.”

That’s 29 touches for Williams against the Raiders, a sign that he’s hardly a supporting player in this offense. He and Brown are the featurec play-makers entering Sunday’s game with the Browns.

Williams has become one of the best stories of the Steelers' season, and not simply because of production. The Steelers don't rely heavily on free agency, so when they bring in a high-profile player from another team, there's hardly a guarantee he'll coalesce with a tight-knit locker room.

Williams did.

"He's one of the few guys that we've seen come in with free agency that fits perfectly in with us," guard Ramon Foster said. "That's the way we work. He's that guy."

Williams isn't one to back down from a fight. He has been a vocal supporter of breast cancer awareness after losing his mother to it. And after Williams' 480 rushing yards and five touchdowns in about a quarter-season's worth of work, the Steelers appreciate the fight he's taken to the field every week.

"I don’t think he’s gotten enough credit, the way he’s conditioned himself and his mindset about playing this game," Foster said.
 
The way I see it, Williams is a better pure power runner and more of an asset near the goal line. He also is a little quicker and faster and is more likely to hit a longer play with the same blocking and hole. He's also more durable.

This is not to say he has Bell's soft hands to catch a football, or he can pass block as well as Bell can. Bell is very versatile. A true triple threat of a back who can run, block and catch.
 
wig said:
I love Bell. I think he's a great back.

He's had two very serious injuries in three years now. I'm just sayin'. Let's take a look at his yards total at the end of his rookie contract and see how it all pans out given the fact that he will have missed somewhere in the zone of 20+ games at a minimum. When you consider that - well... Math matters.

I like Bell when he's healthy and able to play. Kinda like Pouncey. He's perfectly decent when he's able to play. Unfortunately, due to circumstances largely beyond his control he's been injured quite a bit. Again, that darn math!

Me, I look at Williams and I see a God-send. Here's a guy who comes in at a great price, works his *** off, loses weight, throws solid blocks and as far as we can tell so far, picks up as many yards on the ground as our starter. I'm not saying he's as good as Bell, I'm saying he's as good in relief as Bell. He deserves our respect and our thanks. The dude is full on Covering the Steelers' *** right now. Everyone should be sending D'Angelo a very nice Christmas Card.
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I'm just glad Bell's contract is not up in 2016. This way, we can see if he can come back from two knee surgeries and steer clear of off the field issues. I'm thinking he'll be fine off the field, but two knee surgeries for a young back is troublesome.

Bell will be asking franchise type of money ( about 12 million a year ) in 2017 as a free agent. When healthy he's worth it, but the $64,000 question is can come back and stay healthy.

I don't know. It's a wait and see. Until then Williams is playing like a pro bowl back!
 
jitter77 said:
I think that Bell is too patient at times. I think that would work better if we had a monster oline. If Williams sticks around he should see more playing time when Bell is healthy. I think they should both be on the field in some sets. Both can catch the ball and would be a nightmare for defenses trying to cover everyone. We would have 2 RBs and Heath as safety valves along with our other threats. No one could cover that consistently.
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Post of the week !!!!!!
 
He has been great for us, and since he has always worked in a time share he knew how to deal with that properly as well. If someone hadn't signed him the season would already be over with the garbage we had behind Bell before. This year is survive and advance with all the injuries and suspensions they've had to deal with from week one. I still think we let a couple games get away, but considering all the issues we are still alive and kicking.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Just wanted to show some appreciation for what a PROFESSIONAL this guy is. Leading the AFC in rushing when Bell comes back and he is demoted to almost afterthought status. D-Will never complained. Never "showed out". Never walked away from the team. He just quietly waited his turn in the rotation; and was ready whenever he was called on.

Today's performance was not the performance of a guy trying to say "SEE, I told you so". It was the performance of a man saying "I'm here when you need me." I appreciate that. It sets a great example for all the youngsters on this team.
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Completely agree. He's a pro and a talent
 
papillon said:
Here's the stat that matters almost as much as what they produce.

Bell's age: 23
William's age: 32

Papillon
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Sometimes Running backs are best measured on injuries sustained. Williams spilt a lot of time with someone else in Carolina. He's not your typical 32-year-old running back.

His career rushing average of 4.8 is very impressive, and his career average as a pass catcher is 10.8

Now that he's on a better offense team, he's playing like a pro bowl back. Amazing free agent catch!
 
Coach said:
Sometimes Running backs are best measured on injuries sustained. Williams spilt a lot of time with someone else in Carolina. He's not your typical 32-year-old running back.

His career rushing average of 4.8 is very impressive, and his career average as a pass catcher is 10.8

Now that he's on a better offense team, he's playing like a pro bowl back. Amazing free agent catch!
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Williams production is particularly impressive when you consider how some of the other backs the Steelers have tried have not looked good. We've known that Williams as a good back from his time in Carolina, but he's been terrific this year for us when surrounded by the offensive weapons. What's even more impressive is how he's doing it at his age, whether he has the mileage of a typical 32 year old back or not.
 
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