A lot of people want to see more of and from Leonard Williams since as a 3-4 DL he doesn't really flash the way a 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 DE would, so for this week instead of doing the general observations I thought why not go over just one player instead, it's more detailed and less work for me. Originally I was going to go with Sheldon because he's just fun to watch (see the first GIF) but Leonard deserves some more exposure, the stat sheet doesn't tell you anything when it comes to 3-4 linemen so here we go. Also, I'm trying to be objective here so there will be positive and negative plays. Not trying to make him look perfect or terrible. Note: I'll probably go 5 GIFs or so per post because of the board limitations (rest should be up within the next hour). Not sure how many yet, maybe 10-15. Some Stats first: 4 Solo Tackles 3 Assists 4 For A Loss / No Gain 1 QB Hit 3 Hurries He lined up at DT (4-3) for 27 snaps, 14 snaps at RE (3-4), 3 at NT (3-4), 2 at RE (4-3), 1 at LE (4-3) and another 2 in a new formation with only 2 down linemen (see GIFs). 1. I love this play because it shows you how incredibly stout Leonard is when he stays low, you just can't move him. He doesn't flash until you rewind and watch the play again. From the 3-4 he lines up at RDE, takes on a double team (as if arguably the best LT in the game isn't enough), he stands his ground, pushes Tyron Smith to the side and makes the tackle for no gain. Two guys couldn't move him. Also, watch Sheldon Richardson. Puts his shoulder into Jason Witten and gives him a nice spin, with no effort really. That's how you set the edge. 2. This play is just pure hustle. He didn't quit on the play, hustled downfield 30 yards and made the tackle on the receiver. Credit also to Wilkerson who was even further downfield to prevent the TD. Sheldon loses containment on this one, he should have made that tackle there for a loss or no gain, but he got sucked in and freelanced a little too much. Same goes for Demario Davis who reacts way too late and basically took himself out of the play. 3. Leonard shows good quickness here, taking away the outside and forcing McFadden to run up the middle. Good penetration against an elite tackle, even though Smith likely just had to prevent Leonard from beating him inside. You don't see that type of quickness from a lot of 3-4 linemen, he almost got McFadden from behind. Our D-Line does a great job of moving laterally. 4. Textbook run defense from Leonard. Once again, stout vs. the run, he splits the double team, gets into the backfield again, gives McFadden nowhere to run and makes the tackle for no gain. Can't play it any better than that.
5. Key play right here by Leonard, and again he gets no credit whatsoever. Skrine got most of the credit because he read the screen perfectly, then they went to blame Cassell for a terrible throw, and then it was Revis for making the interception. No mention of Leonard. Here he lines up at LE, he bullrushes RT Doug Free back a few yards, gets in Cassel's face and forces the interception, otherwise this is a sack. 6. LG La'El Collins got the best of him on this one. He locks on, got both his hands on Leonard's chest and that's that. He has to do a better job using his hands, he's a tall guy with long arms, he shouldn't let a Guard get both his hands on him. Good play by Collins nonetheless. 7. A few plays later he redeems himself with a tremendous play. Takes on Collins head to head, shoves him aside and explodes into the backfield, just barely misses Turbin for a big tackle behind the line. Sheldon does a nice job as well containing this time around, learning from his previous mistake. Snacks finishes Turbin off and Demario...well he was involved somehow...a little. 8. This one doesn't start out well as Leonard got a good shot from the RT after going head to head with the RG. He's off balance, gets pushed aside and usually he'd be out of the play, but he still manages to make the tackle for very little gain.
9. Great job of recognizing the stretch play. Separates from LG Collins, hustles to the sideline, fights through trash, doesn't lose an inch and actually uses Tyron Smith as a prop to push McFadden out of bounds. 10. Here's another negative one but I think he was taken out of the play here when somebody fell on his ankle. Still, he lost the gap-battle and there's a huge hole and an easy 10 yards for McFadden. 11. Easy work right here. Fights off a double team again, gets to Turbin in a hurry and makes the tackle for no gain. Superb run defense.
on the first play its designed to go to the 5 hole or outside the t and inside the te. they block down with the te on the dt and the tackle is supposed to be able to push him down. then the h back comes across and kicks out the olb, while the te goes second level. the play got screwed up because williams did not allow them to push him down, he stood his ground against the tackle and te down block. the ball is supposed to be run to the outside of the tackles ass but thats assuming the tackle gets his guy pushed down. he does not. then sheldon comes up HARD and really makes sure there is no hole there in that 5 hole which pushes the back back down inside the tackle into the 3 hole where williams is just waiting for him. great job by both guys.
Here are the two plays of the "new package" Bowles has installed last week. Leonard and Mauldin at DE and then you just crowd the LOS with a bunch of guys (Marcus Williams, Pryor, Mo, Sheldon, Erin, Pryor). Guys move around like crazy, the offense can't identify the Mike, they can't set/adjust their blocking scheme to pick up the right guys because nobody knows who's rushing and who isn't. Looks like an all out blitz, Marcus however drops back in man coverage, Pryor rushes off the edge and forces the interception. The second GIF is very similar. Douzable is in for Mo but that's about it. Marcus again lines up inside but instead of dropping back he's in spy since Witten stays in the backfield for pass protection.
2nd play drove me nuts when i watched it, i was watching davis alot that first drive and he went hard after the ball not reading his keys, if you see the backside guard block outside rather than trying to reach or go second level chances are pretty damn good the play is coming back that direction. williams actually slowed down a little in pursuit but picked it back up again quickly when it became evident he had a chance to make the tackle.
Good stuff! 1. In the first gif, notice that Pryor had run to the other side of the formation, but hustles and also gets in on that tackle. 2. Amazing hustle and speed to be able to get downfield and take down the WR. 4. Even more impressive, Williams got there while being held by #77. Actually he should only get credit for half the tackle. #94 got there at the same time. 5. Great spot! Williams totally caused that interception. 6. I disagree that Collins got the best of him. He was holding. I agree that Williams could have used his hands to disengage, but notice that Williams eventually twisted and got by Collins, and Collins was still holding onto Williams as he fell down. 7. Once again, Williams was held. If he hadn't been, he would have made that tackle. 8. The RT could easily have been called for a block in the back. His right hand was on Williams back. 10. IMO there's no way Williams could have gotten to his gap the Dallas OL fell on his ankle at the beginning of the play. Notice that Davis could have made the tackle, but he overran the play, and Pryor just flat out whiffed on McFarren. 11. Actually, Erin Henderson made the tackle and Williams finished it off.
Yes, I think with him it's just about learning blocking schemes and figuring out what O-Lines are trying to do to him. Right now he's still thinking a little bit too much which is to be expected for a rookie but he's playing on a similar level as Sheldon and Mo did in their rookie years. Hopefully he keeps getting better, if he does he should be right up there with those two in about 2-3 years.
I'm confused as hell and even some of our players look confused so i know for DAMN sure Kellen Moore young ass was panicking in his mind lol. Dallas o-line is really great though they gave that kid a lot of time saturday.. we've been beasting o-lines since since week 9.
I like how all Leonard is asked to do in that first gif is to tie up the LT. If he does that it's an automatic sack/interception or incompletion because Pryor gets through unblocked. He was blitzing all day long, too. His timing and anticipation is very impressive. He should have had 5 sacks or so by now if he had a little more luck. Speaking of...I loved his interception. Plays in zone, reads the QB perfectly, jumps the route and attacks the ball. Upon further review: I'm glad Moore didn't notice how the WR broke Cro's ankles there on the right side, that's an easy touchdown.
Gonna dump off the rest of the GIFs in this thread so enter at your own risk. Winters continues to struggle if he doesn't get inside/outside help vs. quicker DTs. Erin Henderson's strong run defense. Wide angle view of the Revis interception. When Skrine read that screen (say that 5 times) and then jumped the route it was as if Matt Cassel saw the Boogeyman. Brilliant play.
Thanks for putting this altogether! Williams has had a very good rookie season. A season that was very similar to the one Sheldon Richardson had his rookie season. Hopefully Williams can do Richardson did and become a better pass rusher. Speaking of Richardson, fans should give him a lot of credit. The guy has played out of position for many games now because it is what is best for the team. He's a 300 pound outside linebacker and doing a much better job that Coples was doing. This may not be very popular, but what about trading Wilkerson? We could easily get a 1st rounder for him and it would allow us to not have to spend so much money on our dline. Let Williams progress and put Richardson back at original position and get a real OLB.
Wilkerson is worth a lot more than a 1st round pick (Raiders gave up a 1st for Seymour). Definitely a top 5-10 pick, value wise. So a low 1st round pick ain't gonna cut it, they'd have to give up two #1's. But is that really worth it? I mean I guess if we can find a MLB and LT in the 1st round that we really like I'd be all for it but you don't just trade Mo to get a pick or two and not know who you're gonna pick. If we end up with another DL and some bust LT that trade would be a disaster and could potentially cost Macc his job.
