rizzy Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Carnell Williams runs away with Offensive Rookie award By BARRY WILNER, AP Football WriterJanuary 4, 2006NEW YORK (AP) -- Carnell Williams, appropriately enough, ran away with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Tampa Bay running back nicknamed "Cadillac" was the sleek, fast and powerful model the Buccaneers needed to spark their offense. He became a starter immediately, rushed for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns, and was the catalyst in the Buccaneers' turnaround from also-ran to NFC South champion. Williams drew 47 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. His running mate at Auburn, Ronnie Brown of the Dolphins, received one vote, as did tight end Heath Miller of Pittsburgh and offensive lineman Logan Mankins of New England. "It's always been my dream to play on this level," said Williams, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft. "Ever since I was a kid, playing football in the backyard, middle school, high school, college, I was working to get to this level. To come out here and be named offensive rookie of the year is an amazing accomplishment. That's a great honor." He earned it by having a team-record six 100-yard games. His season high was 158 against Green Bay, and he had 150 vs. Atlanta. Williams piled up the yards despite a left foot injury that forced him to miss two games early in the season and part of a third. When he got healthy, the Bucs surged past Atlanta and Carolina to win the division title at 11-5. The Bucs host Washington on Saturday in the wild-card round. The Redskins will need to keep after Williams all game. He gained 449 of his yards in the fourth quarter, when he averaged 5.7 yards per carry -- far above his average for the first three periods. Four of Williams' six TDs came in the fourth quarter. Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden was thrilled Williams was available in the draft after Brown went No. 2 overall and Cedric Benson of Texas went to Chicago with the fourth pick. Now the entire league has seen why Gruden was so excited. "W really felt that he was a great, great running back, to be honest with you," Gruden said. "Tommy Tuberville (Auburn's coach) felt the same way. Everybody I talked to in Alabama said: `This is the greatest running back in the history of high school football in Alabama.' Better than Bo Jackson, better than most of these guys have ever seen. I'm not saying he's better than Bo. But everybody I talked to said he's a hell of a back. `Get him on your team, somehow, some way.' "I think he's proven to everybody what he's all about." Williams has no complaints about where he wound up in the NFL, either. "I'm dead happy the way the draft went, me landing in Tampa," he said. "This is where I wanted to play. But after everything was said and done, looking back on things, I was like: `Man, I was the third back taken. I was the fifth pick, but I was the third back, so people still don't believe, or for some reason doubt me."' Not anymore. Williams is the second Tampa Bay player to win the award. Running back Warrick Dunn won it in 1997. Last year's winner was Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Next_Big_Thing Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Where's the news on DROY DARNIT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LABengalsFan09 Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 thursday DROY is announced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Next_Big_Thing Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 thursday DROY is announcedIf it's freaking Merriman, I'm going to be very freaking annoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Then sadly, I'd reccommend you prepare yourself to be very freaking annoyed. The chances that our beloved Odell will take the award have dwindled to very little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Next_Big_Thing Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Then sadly, I'd reccommend you prepare yourself to be very freaking annoyed. The chances that our beloved Odell will take the award have dwindled to very little.But Merriman shouldn't win it because he had one good freaking game against the Colts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 It'll be Merriman...but I have him third on my list....not being a homer but Odell's INTs are worth more to me than Merriman's sacks....also ahead of Merriman I have Tatupu from Seattle.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LABengalsFan09 Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Merriman is in the Pro Bowl, it'll be hard to overcome that, especially since players and coaches votes weigh so heavily into that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShulaSteakhouse Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 I don't see how you guys can rate Odell so high given the state of this defense and the major role he plays in it. I would give it to Tatapu then Merriman then Odell I guess.If Odell was a better run stopper he'd be getting this award I think. But right now, while a good tackler, hitter, and decent in coverage - he misses too many plays at the LOS and is the king of over pursuit still - he really hasn't improved much there, even Marvin eluded to that in his press conference today. (he has his moments)INT's against the craptastic QB's the Bengals' have faced this year aren't nearly as impressive (although signficant) and haven't come for a while so he has just kind of faded and is probably tired and worn down from his first 16+ game season as a player.Still love the guy, but he HAS to improve, and he needs better protection upfront, and some DE threats who draw more attention on a consistent basis. Odell has to play smarter more than anything and stop being so flashy and trying to make a big hit or play every single time he gets to the POA. I assume that will come with time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LABengalsFan09 Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 AP jumped the gun.... Merriman won...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalindian Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 I don't see how you guys can rate Odell so high given the state of this defense and the major role he plays in it. I would give it to Tatapu then Merriman then Odell I guess.If Odell was a better run stopper he'd be getting this award I think. But right now, while a good tackler, hitter, and decent in coverage - he misses too many plays at the LOS and is the king of over pursuit still - he really hasn't improved much there, even Marvin eluded to that in his press conference today. (he has his moments)INT's against the craptastic QB's the Bengals' have faced this year aren't nearly as impressive (although signficant) and haven't come for a while so he has just kind of faded and is probably tired and worn down from his first 16+ game season as a player.Still love the guy, but he HAS to improve, and he needs better protection upfront, and some DE threats who draw more attention on a consistent basis. Odell has to play smarter more than anything and stop being so flashy and trying to make a big hit or play every single time he gets to the POA. I assume that will come with time.I agree with everything you said. He was maybe the first half DROY, but the run defense is anchored on the middle linebacker, and even though it's not totally Odell's fault, the run defense has sucked of late. And usually the factor is "What have you done for me lately?" and Merrimann has done more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjb10588 Posted January 6, 2006 Report Share Posted January 6, 2006 Cadillac really deserved the Offensive Rookie Award hes the kind of guy who can change a team you saw the RB they were working with before Michael Pittman not saying hes bad but then again he could not do 1/2 the s**t Cadillac could do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.