2007 Outlook

The Panthers drafted Williams with their 1.27 pick in the 2006 and it was expected that he would challenge and likely overtake DeShaun Foster for the starting tailback role. After all, Williams had an NCAA record 34 rushing games over 100 yards and gained over 6000 rushing yards at Memphis. But it never happened. Instead, Williams only had 121 carries for 501 yards and just two touchdowns. He was the best receiving running back with 33 receptions for 333 yards but expectations had him gaining that much total yardage by mid-season. He suffered a high ankle sprain in week five and missed the next three games. What was hard to fathom was that the Panthers just did not use him. He had 13 carries for 74 yards at Minnesota (5.6 YPC) but then only had four carries the next week. He had a three week streak of games with 114, 63 and 74 yards starting in week 11 with at least 17 carries in each but then only was given two carries in the next two games. Then 21 carries for 82 yards. They never committed to using him for reasons unknown since the five games in which he had at least 13 carries, he averaged 4.7 yards per carry.

This year the Panthers are installing a new offense by OC Jeff Davidson that not only uses zone blocking, but has a scheme very similar to the one that Williams ran in college. The entire team is excited about the new direction for the offense and perhaps none so much as Williams. The Panthers suffered though offensive line problems for much of the year and a general sense of malaise set in offensively. 2006 was no measuring stick as to what this offense – or Williams in particular – can do. The stage is set for Williams to make good on the expectations of 2006.

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