Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Williams Is Becoming a Star

Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams (98) prays after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

On the first play from scrimmage of the Baltimore Ravens 26-6 win Thursday, Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams got underneath the pads of three-time All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey. Williams pushed Pouncey three yards into the backfield, disrupting the running play and allowing a teammate to quickly make the tackle for a short gain.

Here, Williams turned his tremendous strength and frame into leverage. He was lower than Pouncey, extended his arms and used his superior strength to blow up the play.

A few plays later, Williams split a double team from three-time All-Pro Pouncey and left guard Ramon Foster, then sprinted down the line of scrimmage to bring down the ball carrier for a short gain.

Here, Williams displayed the kind of hand fighting prowess that made Paul Kruger a stud in 2012. Kruger did not have elite physical skills, yet was effective because linemen couldn’t win hand fights with him. Williams has elite physical skills and has started to show the ability to keep blockers’ hands off of him. Scary thought.

Physically, Williams is the perfect nose tackle. A squatty build at 6’1″, 335 pounds, with a bench press well over 500 pounds and excellent foot quickness, makes Williams the prototype.

His rookie year, Williams occasionally flashed those elite physical tools, but too often his footwork was sloppy, his hands were slow or he struggled to maintain leverage.

What a difference a year makes.

Williams has dominated thus far in 2014, showing consistent technical skills to go with his immense physical gifts. In fact, Williams seems to be in even better shape than last year. Purely from the sight test, Williams looks stronger and more solidly built. Having gone from a Division II program to the NFL, it’s not shocking NFL workouts would have a major impact on Williams.

The sample size is small, with just two high quality games to his credit. Further, Williams has only gotten a handful of snaps in each game. His 31 snaps are the same number as second-round pick Timmy Jernigan and fewer than the 37 DeAngelo Tyson has received.

Unfortunately, today’s NFL doesn’t place much emphasis on the nose tackle position. But that doesn’t change the fact that Williams has been a stud. And though the sample size is small, the skills he has shown will not go away any time soon. Williams really is becoming a stud.