Cadillac on pace to become all-time great Buccaneer

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 10:13 AM EDT

If he never got injured, think of where he’d be. If his knees held up, imagine the conversations we’d be having.

As expected, Cadillac Williams accepted the Buccaneers’ one-year tender early this week to remain with the team. This, after completing his first injury-free campaign in 2009. After two patellar tendons and an unlikely comeback, Williams looks to be back on the track he set for himself when he won Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2005. When he set an NFL rookie record with 434 rushing yards in his first three games. When he became the first rookie to rush for 100 yards in each of his first three games. When his shoes and gloves went to the Hall of Fame.

Oh, the expectations.

But it’s not too late for Williams to become one of the all-time great Buccaneers. Last year he passed Buccaneer greats Errict Rhett, Ricky Bell and Reggie Cobb to move to fifth on the franchise's all-time rushing list with 3,240 career yards. Up next is Michael Pittman with 3,362 career yards, a mark Williams will likely hit early in 2010. The others will take more time. Warrick Dunn ranks third with 4,986, and his former teammate Mike Alstott is second with 5,088 career yards.

In the three seasons in which he played 14 games or more, Williams averaged 933 yards and almost four yards per carry. At that pace, he would pass James Wilder’s franchise mark of 5,957 career yards in the final weeks of the 2012 season.

The only things that stand in his way are health and his impending free agency.

At 28 years old and entering his sixth NFL season, Williams is likely at the peak of his career. And while Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham will still steal some carries, the Buccaneers are better when Williams carries the ball early and often. The Bucs are 8-1 when Williams rushes for 100-plus yards and 11-0 when he carries the ball more than 22 times.

After proving in 2009 that durability is less of an issue, he is poised to carry the load at running back moving forward. If Williams stays in Tampa Bay, and he stays healthy, we will inevitably be talking about perhaps the greatest Buccaneer running back of all time.

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Comments

I would love to see Williams excel as a Buc the next several seasons.

They need to run block better though, or the reincarnation of Walter Payton wouldn’t rush for more than 75 yards a game. Our backs got hit behind the line or at the line far too often last year. When I see the best running teams, their backs aren’t getting even touched until they have gotten a yard or two.

by terp12 on May 14, 2010 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

You couldn't be more right

Cadillac can only do so much. If the o-line can give him some space, he could be dangerous.

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Do we want Caddy to have a monster season?

If he runs for over a 1000 yards he is going to command huge jack as a free agent. Seems like if we want to keep him for his next contract we might be better off if he only has an average season this year. Then we could have a great and experienced feature back when this team is fully rebuilt. Just a thought to bring up for discussion.

"Football is not a game but a religion, a metaphysical island of fundamental truth in a highly verbalized, disguised society, a throwback of 30,000 generations of anthropological time." ~ Arnold Mandell

by LeeCaz on May 14, 2010 10:51 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I don't agree with that reasoning

Caddy will be 29 after next season when he hits free agency, and a 29-year-old back is already close to the end of the year. Caddy’s play last year was solid but nothing special, and there’s little reason to believe that if he does have a huge season next year that he’ll be able to keep playing at that level for much longer.

by Sander on May 14, 2010 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Aww

but was it not just yesterday you were saying that because of his past injuries he is essentially two NFL years younger? It may have been someone else. Like I said, Im just bringing it up for discussion. I actually hope Caddy runs for 1200 and gets paid, preferably by us.

by LeeCaz on May 14, 2010 11:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Glad you had the last sentence in there...

worry about the players performance first and then try and get them signed. At 28, I believe he is actually entering his peak years. I would expect 3 more solid years and then a precipitous drop.

Boom. Outta Here.

by Ryan Gilliss on May 14, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

That was me

And it’s true, kind of. But the key part isn’t that he has less wear and tear, the key part is that he’s never performed nearly as well as in his rookie season. So if he does blow up, how likely is it he retains that form vs regressing? Basically I think it’s likely he’s already reached his peak and an increase in performance may just be due to an increase in line-play.

by Sander on May 14, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

or carries.

Give Caddy the rock Olson!

by LeeCaz on May 14, 2010 11:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

My favorite stat in that article

The Bucs are 11-0 when Caddy carries the rock more than 22 times. Seems silly not to do it.

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

It's a horrible stat

And here’s why: RBs get more carries when the team is ahead, as they try to run out the clock. When teams are down, they start passing more. Hence losing teams tend to pass a lot and winning teams tend to run a lot, but that’s not necessarily how they got the lead in a game in the first place.

This is probably the most well-know statistical falsehood around the statheads on the NFL.

by Sander on May 14, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Do you have to point out every flaw everytime someone says something?

It is one thing to politely correct someone. It is entirely another to try to make people look bad because they typed an innocent comment. People are going to be wrong or disagree with you often, and while debate is fun it is okay to let someone say something you disagree with without challenging them on it every single time.

With that being said, Ialso realize that I should take my own advice sometimes.

by LeeCaz on May 14, 2010 12:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I see something I disagree with, I say that

That’s all there is to it. It’s not about making people look bad at all, I just dislike seeing people claim things that are, in my opinion, false.

You’re free to respond to my inaccuracies every time I write something flawed, too.

by Sander on May 14, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Seems like a waste of time and energy

but it is your time and energy I guess.

by LeeCaz on May 14, 2010 12:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I appreciate teh defese, LeeCaz . . .

But I understand what Sander means. That’s a good point. But, It’s pretty common knowledge that Cadillac has a reputation of getting stronger as the game goes on. His yards per carry is close to five in the fourth quarter and overtime, otherwise he averages somewhere around 3.8 – 4.0. The more carries he gets, the better he is. I’d like to see more of him and less Ward.

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

What he is saying is that the wins have little or nothing to do with the wins...

The winning situation leads to more carries, but the carries don’t lead to a win.

Boom. Outta Here.

by Ryan Gilliss on May 14, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah . . .

I understand what he means, and I partially agree. My point is that Cadillac historically gets better as the game goes on.The more he carries, the higher his yards per carry average gets. If we can get Caddy going this season and open things up so teams can’t blitz the crap out of Freeman, we could have a vastly improved year offensively.

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I, too, hope Cadillac has a successful year...

and gets a lot of fourth quarter carries, because it will be a sign that the Bucs are winning games.

Boom. Outta Here.

by Ryan Gilliss on May 14, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That's something I hadn't thought of

And it’s a good point.

I wonder if this is something to specific to Cadillac and backs like him, or whether it goes for all NFL backs to an extent.

by Sander on May 14, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I would say generally backs get stronger as the game goes on.

Obviously, I don’t have anything to back this up and it is not a universal statement.

"I'm not saying this is a blowout, but updated NBA schedule has ' * - if necessary' next to Games 3 and 4." John Hollinger

by MNeilson on May 15, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

It's the type of back

If a power back does not have a back up he will wear down, A speed guy stays at the same pace it will look like he gets faster cause if he is effective when the game goes on the D will get slower, only those balanced backs with speed and power like Thomas Jones, LT, Caddy those type of backs get better the more carries they get

by keysersoze19 on May 15, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Indeed

And when the Bucs stuck with the ground game last year (finally) as opposed to putting the onus of the responsibility on a young and often struggling rookie QB, they wore down the opposition in the 2nd half and pulled off a couple of late-season surprise wins.

Cannons... fire them.

Buc'Em - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

by Craig T on May 15, 2010 6:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Exactly

those numbers are compellign give the ball to Cadillac and we win it is as simple as that

by keysersoze19 on May 14, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be nice to see him

have a nice, solid career for us here. Maybe even challenge some of James Wilders career rushing numbers. How can you not root for the guy?

by Cracker Ball on May 14, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

You shut your mouth!

We only root for the best when it comes to Cadillac. 2,000 YARD SEASON OR BUST

Realistically, I do think we want him to play well. If he plays poorly we won’t sign him or he won’t be the featured back. It’s a Catch 22

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on May 14, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Is it wrong for me to want Caddy to Succeed More

Because i got a Caddy jeresy as a Gift and right now it my primary ( read only) Bucs Game jeresy and I don’t want to pony up the money for a new one till later in the season and not some much as him going down as an All-Time Buc.. I hope he has a productive year this year, we will need all the players we can and sign him back for $0.75 on the dollar

"I've got nothing to prove,"- Warren Sapp

by ReaderM on May 14, 2010 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

I have a new found respect for you.

Caddy jersey owners, unite!

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on May 14, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

That's right!

I bought a knock-off replica at Marshalls for $20 in 2007. I was finally able to wear it this year! Haha. . .

by Paul Mueller on May 14, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting take on the career rushing yards record.

After his first knee injury, I stopped keeping track. After his second knee injury, I all but gave up hope. I would love to see Cadillac play well and stay here long term. Injury issues aside, he is and will be a productive back. Having seen Cadillac from his freshman year at Auburn until now, the dude can play. He isn’t a burner, but he’s more of a Thomas Jones type in that he will get you the 3-4 YPC early on and as he wears down a team, he then breaks loose. Think about his first few games as a Buc. He wasn’t going for 20+ yards in the 1st quarter, that came in the 4th. I think that’s the biggest issue with Caddy is he needs touches and will wear teams down.

He worked on his hands and his blitz pickup and aside from injuries there is no current reason he shouldn’t be on the field.

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on May 14, 2010 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

My favorite player

Caddy is my favorite player, and has been for years. I admit he’s lost my patience many times, and his darting around in the backfield drove me insane. Caddy is coming into his won now. He had in my opinion his best year last season. He is a much better reciever, and since those two injuries, he has starting to become a more north-south runner.

by Nick Shepro on May 14, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

Caddy will be fine

if he keeps getting better as a receiver, he proved last year that he can do some good things if you throw the ball to him, I think we will see his all purpose yards go up next year considering how this offense is operated

by keysersoze19 on May 14, 2010 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

Whatever happens with Caddy

He will go down as one of my favorite players for overcoming his injuries and fighting the whole way. Kudos to him and I hope he has a great year. If that means he gets a big payday here or somewhere else, I will be happy for him. It is good to see people actually work hard and have good things happen after overcoming horrible adversity.

by Eric9321 on May 14, 2010 8:12 PM EDT reply actions