At the end of day two of the 2017 NFL Draft, new San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was staring at the draft board. The team’s draft focus would be shifting to offense in the middle rounds, and they would have to be aggressive for players that fit their scheme. Shanahan knew that he wanted to add Joe Williams in day three of the draft. He also knew that it would take some convincing before general manager John Lynch was on board.
The Curious Case of Joe Williams
Making the Call
Williams had an impressive final year in college totaling over 1,400 yards and six yards per carry. But concerns about his commitment to football surfaced after a mysterious departure from the team. Shanahan maintained his interest in the mercurial player, but general manager John Lynch needed to find out more. Lynch connected with Williams’ college coach Kyle Whittingham to find out more.
Through that conversation, Whittingham informed Lynch that Williams had shown “mental and emotional exhaustion.” It was discovered later, that the Williams family had suffered a horrific loss with the passing of his younger sister. The remorse of not being able to save her had been weighing on Joe for ten years.
Williams knew that if he didn’t seek help, he may never free himself from it. After stepping away from the team, Williams was able to find peace with the circumstances surrounding the tragic loss.
Not Your Average Joe
He returned to the team rejuvenated. In his first game back he was able to rush for 179 yards against Oregon. Over the next six games he compiled yardage totals of: 332 (a team record), 172, 181, 149, 97 and 222.
After the productive return and a few long phone conversations, San Francisco traded up in the fourth round of the draft.
Scheme Fit and Impact
After watching Williams’ highlights, it is clear what made Shanahan so adamant about lobbying for the running back. Williams routinely ripped off long runs out of the shotgun and classic I-formations. He displays breakaway speed and the “one cut” style that has helped running backs find success in Shanahan’s offenses.
In San Francisco’s backfield, Williams can add immediate impact as the back up to current starter Carlos Hyde. The tandem of Hyde and Williams will try to emulate the effective ground attack that Shanahan deployed in Atlanta last season. Beyond last year, Shanahan’s offenses have consistently made the most of mid round running backs. That has been a challenge for Hyde in his short career which also adds value long term value for Williams.
Conclusion
Time will tell if the risk was worth the selection but the potential return with Williams is significant. Bigger picture, the collaboration between Lynch and Shanahan was evident throughout the draft process. The choice to not only draft Williams, but also trade up for him was a strong signal of the trust between the general manager and head coach. For Williams, the opportunity to compete in the NFL was all he wanted and now he has to go prove that thirty one franchises missed out.
