Dan Williams

[mgteich]

I saw one mock with us drafting Dan Williams, with Odrick and Graham long gone. Obviously, we would have an improved redzone and short yeardage run defense.

Can he play a 3-4 DE?

Obviously, we would listen to trade down options.

 

[stinkypete]

Most scouting reports have Williams pegged as a NT or a 4-3 DT. I've yet to see him mentioned as a possible 3-4 DE.

Of course, I'm less than clear on exactly what athletic skills are needed of a 3-4 DE that would separate him from a NT. Williams is known as a pocket penetrator, so lack of a pass rush isn't keeping him from from playing DE. Could it be a height/weight issue?

 

[Nonentity]

I don't think Williams fits here. We're not replacing Wilfork, and we're not switching to the 4-3. If we do switch to the 4-3, we already have Myron Pryor.

He looks like a 3-4 NT or a DT who can play either of the 4-3 tackle positions. I don't think he's a 3-4 DE, he doesn't have the build.

 

[Metaphors]

Most scouting reports have Williams pegged as a NT or a 4-3 DT. I've yet to see him mentioned as a possible 3-4 DE.

Of course, I'm less than clear on exactly what athletic skills are needed of a 3-4 DE that would separate him from a NT. Williams is known as a pocket penetrator, so lack of a pass rush isn't keeping him from from playing DE. Could it be a height/weight issue?

In the Pats 3-4 two-gap system, Wilfork is a 0 technique NT controlling the gaps between the center and either guard. The DEs are 5 technique controlling the gaps between the tackles/guards and tackles/TEs. The NT is a short-area warrior (which makes having an elite one priceless) while the DEs have to be:

a) Stout enough to not get washed out when blocked by a tackle/TE or tackle/FB combo
b) Strong enough to collapse the pocket on passing plays
c) Quick enough to react to a fairly wide area, from the guard to the TE
d) Fast enough to pursue backside on rollouts or wide runs
e) Tall enough to disrupt passing lanes

While you certainly don't need all of these to be effective, that is what the Pats are ideally looking for. Where Williams would have issues as a 3-4 DE would be c), d) and e). He really is suited to be a NT with potentially some position flexibility when needed, like for short yardage, but not full-time.

 

[larryo]

In the Pats 3-4 two-gap system, Wilfork is a 0 technique NT controlling the gaps between the center and either guard. The DEs are 5 technique controlling the gaps between the tackles/guards and tackles/TEs. The NT is a short-area warrior (which makes having an elite one priceless) while the DEs have to be:

a) Stout enough to not get washed out when blocked by a tackle/TE or tackle/FB combo
b) Strong enough to collapse the pocket on passing plays
c) Quick enough to react to a fairly wide area, from the guard to the TE
d) Fast enough to pursue backside on rollouts or wide runs
e) Tall enough to disrupt passing lanes

While you certainly don't need all of these to be effective, that is what the Pats are ideally looking for. Where Williams would have issues as a 3-4 DE would be c), d) and e). He really is suited to be a NT with potentially some position flexibility when needed, like for short yardage, but not full-time.

Awesome post. Love this type of information. Thanks a lot.

 

[Nonentity]

Just wanted to post my agreement. Great post.

 

[BlueThunder]

Is you a coach or a player?

Good solid analysis of a NT

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

a) Stout enough to not get washed out when blocked by a tackle/TE or tackle/FB combo

Lets not forget the ever popular G/T combo.

 

[Metaphors]

Lets not forget the ever popular G/T combo.

Great point and it illustrates the beauty of the Pats scheme. Consider:

- Wilfork demands a double-team
- Both tackles have to engage the DEs

That leaves one guard left to deploy. If that guard helps with a DE, that DE will almost certainly be neutralized (happened to Seymour all the time). While that opens a hole, you've now dedicated 4 blockers against 2 interior defenders to open that hole. The defense now will hit that hole with both ILBs and a safety close behind...all moving at full speed.

While I loved the Seymour trade for a 2011 1st rounder (Patrick Peterson), it definitely affected the Pats ability to be dominate in their base 3-4 set. Now a guard gets to the 2nd level more often and that hole looks much cleaner to the RB.

So to your point, it would be fantastic for the Pats to have a player at RDE that demanded a guard/tackle combo like Seymour used to. I don't see that type of player in this draft...but then again I didn't see that in Seymour or Warren at the time.