Dallas Cowboys Trade Talk: Quinnen Williams is a no-brainer

Pass Rush

Williams was going to need an acclimation period once he got to the NFL. Playing with as many NFL-caliber defensive linemen on one team presents opposing offensive linemen the struggle of having to protect each one individually. As weird as it sounds, Williams joined a defensive line that was likely worse in talent than what he had on his collegiate team.

Naturally, the double teams start to pile up and the increased strength of offensive linemen start to show their true colors. At that point, seeing how controlled and disciplined the defensive lineman looks is a key indicator in projecting how they’ll fare in the league.

Fortunately for Williams, another year under his belt can do some good work for him.

EXAMPLE 1:

EXAMPLE 2:

The power we expected to see from Williams is starting to show itself at the professional ranks, but what keeps him from being a consistent nuisance in the trenches is his pad level. For someone as big as Williams, he displays good body control to contort his body in all different angles while pass rushing. This along with his solid ankle flexion allow him to bend really well for someone his size.

However, what’s the point of being a bowling ball as a pass rusher if your center of gravity is higher than the person blocking you? Allowing offensive linemen to stay put in their anchor just makes their job that much easier.

EXAMPLE 3:

The inconsistency with his pad level prevents from completing pass rush plans. He’s quick to recognize what is and what isn’t working. He’ll turn pull counter move into a hump move, and then back into a rip just by assessing his leverage on the guard, however, the effectiveness of all these moves back-to-back is mitigated by him standing taller than his opposition.

Production is a combination of athleticism, technique, and competitiveness. Williams has the athleticism and competitiveness to consistently challenge linemen. Unfortunately, the technique isn’t always there. (I am being picky here)

So what does he ultimately provide the Cowboys?