(Note: This is the fourth part of a series that will include all the Giants draft picks and some priority free agents.)

It was easy to nod and give a token confirmation of approval to the Giants' fourth-round pick. At that point in the NFL Draft, running back Andre Williams was a rather well known quantity.

The Boston College running back ran for over 2,000 yards last season and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. There was a lot to like about the pick. Williams (5-11, 230) fits the mold of a Tom Coughlin running back. He's a powerful downhill runner with speed.

"He runs outside, he runs inside, he's run the counter game, the gap scheme stuff, the power and he breaks arm tackles," Coughlin said. "He runs through people, he's strong, he's got big, strong legs that allow him to drive through people and fall forward, which is another nice thing."

When it comes to his running ability, Williams is impressive. That's why some in the building had him with a first-round grade. Vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross had him in the borderline second/third round. Value dictated the Giants had to grab him in the fourth.

Here's what they likely saw that made Williams too good to pass on with the 113th pick of the draft.

Size

The numbers speak for themselves. Williams is a solid, put together 230 pounds.

Just think for a second. The legendary Terrell Davis (Broncos) was 210 pounds. Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks) is 215 pounds. Giants great Ottis Anderson was 220 pounds. Williams is 230 pounds, and can run and cut well for a back his size.

Here he's able to get outside and use his size on a Florida State defensive back. Safety P.J. Williams has no chance since he's giving up almost 40 pounds. It results in an easy first down (and a few more yards) for Williams.

Power

Running over a defensive back giving up 40 pounds is expected. But Williams doesn't discriminate. He tries to run through defensive tackles, linebackers, basically, anyone that steps in his path.

Williams uses his size well by running with power. This was key to him being the nation's leading rusher last season. Even on well-defended plays, Williams turned a 3-yard gain into five yards. A 1-yard gain into three yards. This adds up in the long run.

This is just a basic power run. Williams blasts ahead, hits the hole quickly, falls forward and gains five.

Notice how he falls forward for another three yards after being tripped. That's because of the power he attacks the hole with on this play.

That same power also helps him regularly break tackles. Here Williams runs through three tackles on his way to the outside and the end zone. He's not an easy man to bring to the ground with his size, power and speed.

Toughness

There have been big running backs before who don't exactly run tough. Brandon Jacobs, for example, was a tough player, but not exactly a consistently tough runner. He wasn't the type to put his head down every carry and try to run over defenders.

Williams is that kind of player. He tries to punish defenders every time he touches the football.

Here Williams carries the Virginia Tech linebacker a good five yards at the end of the play. He's able to do this with good leverage (running low) and leg drive.

There's plenty of evidence that Williams uses his size and strength effectively. There is no holding back in his game.

"This guy is a big, strong, downhill violent runner," Ross said. "He is going to break tackles and pound out yards. He is going to be physical."

Just how the Giants like it, especially late in games.

Speed

It's rare for a back in the 230-range to have the type of speed that Williams possesses. He ran a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That was almost on par with speedy but much smaller draft picks Lache Seastrunk (Redskins) and De'Anthony Thomas (Chiefs).

Williams has legitimate wheels for a running back, nevertheless a big back. It allows him to break some big runs, too.

Here against Virginia Tech he blows through the line of scrimmage and even the speedy Kendall Fuller (brother of first-round pick Kyle Fuller) can't track him down. The result is a 67-yard touchdown run.

Williams is more than just a power back. He has the speed and skills to be a big play back as well.

Smarts

There is something beyond physical attributes that makes certain players special. Running backs, in particular, need a good feel for the game. They must know when to cut, when to put their head down, when to lean forward, when to put two hands on the ball and how to let their lead blocker get out in front of them before hitting the hole.

Williams seems to have these innate abilities. He runs and plays smart.

Watch here as he waits for the lead blocker, explodes through the hole and then makes a sharp cut for a solid gain. It's a simple, yet effective run aided by Williams' understanding of the game and what he needs to do.

This leaves you to believe that Williams should be able to learn how to pass protect at the NFL level. He has all the mental and physical skills, and will need to apply them if he's going to eventually be a feature back.

Right now, because of his inexperience as a blocker and pass catcher (he did neither much at Boston College), Williams is a first and second-down back. He rarely, if ever, went out for a pass. He didn't do it much in high school either.

"We think, we hope, he can develop and be able to catch," general manager Jerry Reese said. "I don't think we're going to use him in that role."

At least not for now. The Giants probably won't use him much as a blocker early in his career either. Most of Williams' blocking at Boston College came off play-action passes. He seemed to understand his responsibility, but rarely hit with the same power as he did with the football in his hands. His technique needs work.

In this phase of the game, there is definitely room for improvement. Ditto the pass catching. It's why Williams was available in the fourth round in the first place. There's plenty to work with in the run game, plenty to improve on in the pass game.