Rams sign Cadillac Williams

The Rams signed RB Cadillac (Carnell) Williams yesterday. He'll hit the roster as the #2 RB on the depth chart.

The 5'11", 217-lb Williams is 29 and in his 7th season in the league. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2005 and was the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Scouting reports say he is equally good as a power runner or as a fast, elusive runner. He's a violent runner with the patience to let the hole develop, and he stays low and finishes off his runs. Pro Football Focus confirms Williams' cred as a power runner; they ranked him the best running back in the league last year in third-and-short situations. The 2010 Rams sure blew more than their fair share of those.

Williams may be used most here as a second battering Ram to Jackson, but that's not his whole game. He reads his blocks well and has speed to turn the corner, and he'll make defenses pay for missing tackles with big plays. He's also become an accomplished, sure-handed receiver out of the backfield. He had career receiving highs last year of 46 receptions for 355 yards, along with one TD, THE ONE THAT BEAT THE RAMS in October. So you owe us, Cadillac.

And it wouldn't be a Rams 2011 free agent signing if there weren't at least one bad knee involved. Williams definitely has that covered. He tore the patellar tendon in his right knee in 2007 and was out 14 months. He returned in '08, but at the end of that season, he tore his LEFT patellar tendon. He made it back for the start of the 2009 season, and for the first time in his career, played all 16 games in a season. He pulled that off again in 2010, but lost his starting job to rookie LeGarrette Blount.

Cadillac Williams is considered a good teammate, a team leader, and a guy who'll get along great in any locker room, so I don't expect friction between him and Jackson. He's also the best backup Jackson's had in five years. Though I wonder about the Rams bringing all these players with bad knees to play on their artificial turf, Cadillac's wheels have held up for two years now, and he looks like a good buy for the Rams. He'll make the offense better by his presence and by making Jackson better by easing his workload a notch.

Photo: Examiner.com

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