Why to be excited for Maxx Williams coming to Baltimore

[TXRavensFan]

Good information on Maxx, but he was looking for a source about using Waller as a TE.

[RealChampsFan]

This link says some see Waller as a TE and he typifies Trestman's big receiver corps from the past.

 

Harbaugh said the same thing but I haven't found the quote. I'll just save this and say I told you

so when it happens. It won't be long now.

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/darren-waller?id=2552408

Edited July 20, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[RealChampsFan]

I just read that Maxx was injured the last couple of days of mini camp and Nick Boyle filled in for him and

did a credible job although SR got on him for this.

 

The Ravens wide receivers had a solid practice today. ... Rookie tight end Nick Boyle made a catch but had the ball taken away from him by ... Boyle walked off the field and was scolded by Steve Smith Sr. for doing so after.

Edited July 20, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[FlackAttack]

I just read that Maxx was injured the last couple of days of mini camp and Nick Boyle filled in for him and

did a credible job although SR got on him for this.

 

The Ravens wide receivers had a solid practice today. ... Rookie tight end Nick Boyle made a catch but had the ball taken away from him by ... Boyle walked off the field and was scolded by Steve Smith Sr. for doing so after.

 

Source? Link?

[JoeyFlex5]

I'm not sure who you wanted a source on, Maxx or Nick since he was last person mentioned. So since the

thread is on Maxx I'll post this scouting report on Maxx which says he should get some decent amount of starts as rookie and he has big hands and long arms and can block with power or finesse. I also quoted a Sun article above that Maxx moved the chains in mini camp.

 

Note the link says Maxx is quality insurance if Pitta doesn't return and I meant to compare him to Heap

as this report does. Maxx had almost 1,000 yards and 13 TDs last year as The Big 10s TE of the year.

 

 

Ravens traded up with the Cardinals to select Minnesota TE Maxx Williams with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Williams (6'4/249) made 17 starts in two seasons at Minnesota, parlaying 61 catches into 986 yards (16.2 YPR) and 13 TDs. He was the 2014 Big Ten Tight End of the Year and a second-team All American. A flex/move tight end who also blocks competently, Williams' game has similarities to former Ravens TE Todd Heap. Williams tested in the Brent Celek range with a 4.78 forty and 34 1/2-inch vertical at the Combine. Still an at-times dynamic receiving threat, Williams has huge hands (10 3/8") and long arms (33 1/2"), and can win with power or finesse. He's quality insurance should Dennis Pitta not make it back from his severe hip injury. Williams is sure to see the field a decent amount as a rookie. May 1 - 9:08 PM

 

• Ravens trade up for Minnesota TE Maxx William 

  May 1 - 9:08 PM

• Gophers' TE Williams bringing with upside 

  Apr 15 - 5:59 PM

• Brinson: Williams would be a big help in DEN 

  Apr 9 - 3:55 PM

•  

Ravens

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/133486/maxx-williams

the bolded and underlined part saying the ravens are using waller at TE. being 6'7" doesnt automatically make a player a TE, and with his natural ability to move at that ridiculous size it would be a bit of a waste of talent when he gets roughed up at the line and cant dominate those big guys the same way he could against dbs. also, williams racked up those numbers over 2 seasons, not just in 2014 lol

 

edit: also, not trying to be rude, but NFL.com scouting report making a very vague mention of 'some' seeing 'potential' is not something to go off of. most TE's are 1-3 inches shorter than waller, and weigh about 20-30 lbs more. jimmy graham is considered soft for a TE and weighs around 40 lbs more than waller. using him at TE would not only end him up on the practice squad or magically IR'ed for the next 2 years while he bulks up, but there is a solid chance that he wont be able to move as effectively after gaining 30 lbs, and then of course theres the whole thing where they are 2 very different positions and he would be an unknown as a inline blocker, the closest he would get to TE is a temporary slot receiver who runs the seam and forces coverage to the deep middle, other than that he is a threat down the sideline and can excel on the back shoulder fade, and trestmans favorite thing to do is throw the back shoulder fade to stupidly tall wr's

Edited July 20, 2015 by JoeyFlex5

[RealChampsFan]

No, it doesn't automatically mean he's a TE at 6'7, it just means they want to try him out. I think those were

HARBs words to get him on the field and utilize that size and frame. If he makes the team he's gonna be

at the bottom of the depth chart at WR.

 

Trying him out at TE would get him more snaps and just think of someone at that height crossing the middle

vs the slower and shorter linebackers and as fans said in the comments of the link, Waller can also bulk up

to out- muscle those guys especially on jump balls. I've seen several links calling him the steal of the draft.

He can be as good as we wants to.  Tommy Streeter had similar size and was a project that never developed

here or with Panthers so no, there's no guaranttee just on size, but theres no doubt that Waller has more

talent than Streeter.  He was in an offense that had 2 RBs using up most of the plays so he didn't get that

many snaps at Tech.

 

Pro football focus rated him high for yards after the catch vs premier 5 teams and at the very top

for drops. He had none.

 

As for those comments about TE, they're mostly coming from Georgia from people who admire him and HARBs

and Trestman obviously feel the same way if they want to try him out at TE.

 

I just read that Waller is good in run blocking which will help him get on the field and that would

especially serve well as a second TE on running plays.

 

 

We'll see. Others and I here have seen the Harbaugh quote even if I can't find it.  When and if it happens I'll

give you a shout and say I told you so but good post above and discussion.

Edited July 20, 2015 by RealChampsFan

[Tenacious Faulker]

Why are we debating over Waller being a TE??  We're stocked at TE right now - loaded if Pitta can play again.  There mught be times Waller lines up to bump and run for a pass over the middle, but I don't see him in the picture at TE unless something really serious happens with the current group.  

 

We've gotten by with 3 TE's since 2011.  We have 4 is Pitta plays and he's 50/50 at ever playing again (imo).  Gillmore is the encumbent and looking Gronk-like in size with athleticism and hands to be at least a poor man's Gronk.  Williams was the top TE prospect of the draft.  I had my reservations, but if Ozzie Newsome thought he was worth a 2nd round pick (highest Ravens TE selection since Heap), then I got to think that he's worth it - at least as a pass catcher.  Boyle is already looking like a beast as an in-line blocker but has flashed some decent hands in pass plays.  He's already the size od Gillmore.

 

So where is there room for Waller then?  At wide receiver naturally.  He could be a TE in a pinch like Marques Colston was at 225, but he was a hybrid for years before making the switch to WR permenantly.  

Edited July 20, 2015 by Tenacious Faulker

[January J]

The source was the psl interview for the season ticket holders. Don't have the link but I remember harbaugh saying something about the possibility of experimenting & lining up Waller at tight end in certain formations or in the redzone. Can't remember the exact quote.

[RealChampsFan]

Thank U.

 

Rack that post.  Thats where the quote was.

[izvoodoo]

The source was the psl interview for the season ticket holders. Don't have the link but I remember harbaugh saying something about the possibility of experimenting & lining up Waller at tight end in certain formations or in the redzone. Can't remember the exact quote.

the only time you'd use waller as a TE is if you can put him in motion to bring in a corner.  

[beasy2487]

the only time you'd use waller as a TE is if you can put him in motion to bring in a corner.

I could see a RZ package with Waller at TE across from Gilmore lined up against a safety.

[izvoodoo]

I could see a RZ package with Waller at TE across from Gilmore lined up against a safety.

Yeah but if he's in RZ I'm almost certain he's going to be split out to the slot or wide.  So he'd still be a WR.  

 

I guess my argument is when I say 'TE' I'm talking about him lined up at the line of scrimmage on the shoulder of the tackle.  That's the reason not to put him at TE in a base, because if he were lined up against a DE/LB he'd get mauled.  But if you could line him up and have him matched up against a DB then slide him in so the DB has to play him in the run at the point of attack in the run game I think that'd be a strong play against a nickel defense.  He played on GT triple option, so I'm assuming he's a strong run blocker.  

[BmoreBird22]

Yeah but if he's in RZ I'm almost certain he's going to be split out to the slot or wide.  So he'd still be a WR.  

 

I guess my argument is when I say 'TE' I'm talking about him lined up at the line of scrimmage on the shoulder of the tackle.  That's the reason not to put him at TE in a base, because if he were lined up against a DE/LB he'd get mauled.  But if you could line him up and have him matched up against a DB then slide him in so the DB has to play him in the run at the point of attack in the run game I think that'd be a strong play against a nickel defense.  He played on GT triple option, so I'm assuming he's a strong run blocker.

Not as good as you'd hope coming from GT

[RealChampsFan]

Says here Waller would be terrifying weapon as DE and he

can block and physically beat down opponents on 1 on 1

drills during the week of the East West Shrine game.

 

 

Sources speaking with TFY Draft Insider Tony Pauline believe it's a "a definite possibility" that Georgia Tech senior WR Darren Waller "could make the move to tight end this summer."

We know the 6-foot-5, 232-pounder can block a bit, as he spent most of his career doing so in Georgia Tech's triple-option attack. Waller, who runs a 4.54 forty, is inconsistent as a receiver, but he would be a terrifying weapon as a tight end. Pauline wrote on Monday that Waller "dropped a lot of passes in drills" but "dominated" in one-on-one drills at East-West Shrine Game practice. "Physically beat down opponents," the analyst added.

 

 

Source: TFY Draft Insider

[cobrajet]

the only TE's i can think of from recent memory that made a splash as a rookie is eifert and gronk, aside from that they all seem to be nearly nonexistent on the stat sheets. gillmore had a pretty superb rookie season by recent standards set by rookie TE's, and with gillmore being capable of filling all the needs of a decent TE, it takes pressure off of maxx and allows him to focus on what he does best and build confidence before he feels the need to start wading around in troubled waters by taking on blocking assignments too frequently. 

 

ive said this often, maxx isnt 6'6", he doesnt have 4.5 wheels, he doesnt have a "crutch" to lean on in terms of natural physical ability, he will need to win with precise routes and refined technique, he is the type of guy who appears to be able to pick that up with natural progression, but he doesnt have that right now, but what he does bring to the table is something that is very coveted in TE's, vice grips for hands and godlike ball skills, he can mix it up in the mid air with any db in the league and he can probably win, but he needs to learn the nuances of the position like sitting down in coverage and finding the creases and body positioning, once he masters the little things, sky is the limit. 

 

temper the expectations because he will be facing a tough learning curve being a smaller and slower TE relatively speaking.

I know he is considered a WR now but in Margues Colston's rookie year, I think he may have been listed as a TE. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2006 draft and finished his rookie season with 70 receptions, 1,038 yards, and eight touchdowns. He was a straight beast his rookie year as a TE, but for 2007 he was listed as the Saints #1 wide receiver. I had him on my fantasy football team in 2006 as a TE and cleaned up!

[uhhhh]

I've read a few times that people compare Maxx a bit with Heap, but he also reminds me a bit of Jeremy Shockey (look up his rookie season if you wanna know how he did) only a bit less athletic as Shockey was

Edited July 25, 2015 by uhhhh

[Sami84]

I've read a few times that people compare Maxx a bit with Heap, but he also reminds me a bit of Jeremy Shockey (look up his rookie season if you wanna know how he did) only a bit less athletic as Shockey was

 

Jeremy shockey was a berserker..the guy actually seemed to enjoy getting injured..made him more insane..i think pain was what made him enjoy football lol

Edited July 25, 2015 by Sami84