Dec 20th 2008 9:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Panthers, NFL Coaching, NFL Real TalkDeAngelo Williams has had plenty of promise since he was drafted as a first rounder in 2006. But after two so-so years in terms of totals (his YPC were still stout) toiling behind DeShaun Foster — for whatever reason — he has finally exploded onto the scene in 2008, racking up 16 total touchdowns and 1,229 yards on the ground.

It was entirely possible that Jonathan Stewart could have taken over the roll of primary back this year too, keeping Williams from starting … but obviously he didn’t. So something must have happened, obviously, to spark this change in Williams’ play. Turns out, it was a convo with Vinny Testaverde. Really.
[…]the once ageless quarterback who, before finally retiring at the end of last season, sat down the young running back and gave some wise, fatherly advice.

“I think he’s probably impacted my season the most this year than anybody because of the conversation that we had before he left,” Williams said Wednesday.

[…]”We had a lengthy conversation and everything he said to me made perfect sense,” said Williams, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2006. “From the film room down to work ethic and everything of that nature. He really left me with some things that really touched me and stayed on my heart, as you can tell from this season.”
It makes complete sense — Testaverde didn’t have a 4,000 year NFL career by not preparing. But it’s still odd to think about Vinny, who only played in Carolina for half a season, having such an impact on Williams, when they’re two totally different players from, well, different generations.

The lesson, as always: Vinny >>> Mittens.