Williams needs to weather a bumpy road in Oakland

By Anthony Carroll  |   Friday, June 16, 2006  |  Comments( 12 )

Oakland Raiders
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The Oakland Raiders' official website includes a single biographical line describing the pro career of linebacker Sam Williams.

"Athletic young LB who has been a solid contributor to the Raiders defense when healthy."

The stat table following that statement indicates 22 solo tackles in three years with the team.

Certainly, then, the short biography crumbles with the final two words. Since being picked from the 2003 draft pool in the third round, Sam Williams has appeared in 10 of a possible 48 regular season games. In those games, the Fresno State linebacker has posted just 22 solo tackles, five assisted tackles, and three pass deflections. Williams' stat table was filled entirely during the 2004 campaign--a year in which he appeared in a career high nine games, starting four.

Holding the 25-year-old's career back thus far has been an array of unwelcoming injuries. Back in September of 2003--Williams' first season--the rookie went down with a severe knee injury, sidelining him for all but one game. In 2004, his best season, Williams injured his shoulder while throwing a block in an early morning practice. The upper-body injury prevented Williams from playing in seven of his 16 sophomore games. Finally, last season, the 265-pounder's season was halted prematurely by injury once more. This time, the piercing injury hit the anterior cruciate ligament of the third-year prospect. The injury was suffered during a practice with the Houston Texans, sending him to the injured reserve list a day later on August 29th of 2005.

Thus far, in the short career of Sam Williams it has simply been, "another year, another injury." With the 2006 season slowly rolling around the corner, the Clayton, California-native is looking to break that unruly trend.

In early May, Williams was reportedly taking reps at outside linebacker with the team's first defense. That came just a few short weeks subsequent to the 2006 NFL Draft, in which the Silver and Black drafted two rookies to play linebacker for them in the future. One, Thomas Howard fits the ideal mold in the eye of owner Al Davis. At 6-3, 240 pounds, Howard was amid the fastest linebackers in his 2006 class--running a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. The other rookie, Darnell Bing, will transition from safety to linebacker. At USC, the 228-pounder was characterized with phrases such as "hits like a linebacker." However, with safety-like quickness, Bing could pan out to be one the few position changes that actually play into Oakland's favor.

With both rookies aboard the Raiders' roster, that leaves Williams eye to eye with a door of opportunity cracked just slightly open.

By the time preseason action begins to water the mouths of NFL fanatics, the door will conceivably be shut on Williams by one of three options: himself, an injury, or his rookie teammates.

Of the three options, the centering option is the most likely to hit home. Williams is yet to go an entire season without injury, showing no morsel of indication that he can avoid one. Unfortunately, this notion extends through the events prior to the team's opening kickoff, as he as already went down twice preceding the commencement of the regular season.

If Williams can circumvent a severe injury this offseason, his next battle will then come on the playing field. As of now, Williams sits atop the throne of the third, and final, linebacking role due exclusively to his seniority. However, in due time, that seniority will be challenged ruthlessly by Thomas Howard, followed by Darnell Bing. Howard will likely step to the plate first, as his experience at the position supersedes that of Bing's.

In a position battle with Thomas Howard, it's difficult to anticipate a Williams' triumph. The oft-injured linebacker is battered and slowed from three season-ending collapses, while Howard recently outran wide receivers at the NFL combine.

At any rate, the number one priority for Sam Williams regrettably is something beyond his control.

However, if No. 54 is dealt a fortunate offseason hand and remains healthy, the next move will be to play his hand to beat out two go-getting rookies.

Unfortunately, it seemingly appears as he has already been dealt one less card.

Then again, even one card can beat two.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Get more on Sam Williams at Realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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CommentsComments: 12  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Florida Raider		10:17 AM
06/16/2006
Sam Williams in the one or two games where he has seen action actually has looked like he could make a difference. He has size,...
No.2
Djack		12:41 PM
06/16/2006
Dont count out Clark. Dont forget since coming over to the Raiders he's lead the team in tackles, then finished just a few...
No.3
Mike Gero		01:32 PM
06/16/2006
Riddle me this; why no mention of Ryan Riddle in the OLB mix if and when Williams gets broken? He looked very scrappy in...
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