NFL Draft: Leonard Williams’ Dominance Has Paid Off

Freeway to the 2015 NFL Draft #1

This is the first installment in this series highlighting the players who played their football at USC and UCLA.

University of Southern California defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a disruptive force on the defensive side of the ball whose dominance and versatility have been on display in the Cardinal and Gold for four years. The average NFL specifications for a defensive end are 6’4”, 280 lbs. and for a defensive tackle they are 6’2”, 307 lbs. Williams is 6’5”, 300 lbs.

The former Trojan put up phenomenal numbers at this recent NFL Combine, and when NFL front offices dig deeper into Williams as a prospect, several aspects of his game will stand out. His scheme versatility will blow them away.

The DT is a rare defensive lineman, capable of dominating a game anywhere on the line… not just at the tackle position but also at defensive end.

There are generally two types of defensive tackles that NFL teams seek: the quick penetrator or three-technique in a 4-3 front responsible for the single gap or a massive run clogger who is responsible for two gaps and must be able to stack the point and come off blocks on either side. Two-gap tackles are employed by 3-4 defenses in which linebackers are asked to fill and scrape and make most of the plays.

Williams possesses’ the most desirable traits that NFL teams seek in a defensive tackle; toughness, core strength, run defense, quickness, pass rush, explosion, intangibles and tackling. In like manner, he has the strength for close combat inside, but also has the athleticism and the desired qualities NFL teams are looking to add for a defensive end.

The defensive right end; in a 4-3 scheme, is generally a more explosive pass-rushing threat. The left-hand defense end needs more base strength to stop the run. All defensive ends need excellent hand usage skills to defeat blocks, but the special ones are those that will play every down as if it were their last and are naturally athletic.

As a defensive end or defensive tackle, Williams has the strength, hand usage, explosiveness and athletic ability to split a double-team block and dominate a one-on-one matchup. For this reason; players like Williams are eminent, special and worth their weight in gold.

In the final analysis, USC DT Leonard Williams, likely the top rated defensive player in the 2015 NFL Draft will used a good showing at the NFL Combine — the biggest interview of his life so far — to confirm why he will hear his name among the top five names called in the first round on April 30, 2015.

Year               GP/GS      TKLs      Sacks      TFL      PBU      QBH      FF

2014                  13            80            6            9.5          3            2          3
2013                  13            73            5          12.5          0            4          1
2012                  13           64             8          13.5          4            0          0

*Stats via www.cfbstats.com

G/GS = Games Played/ Games Started
TKL = Tackles
TFL = Tackles for loss
PBU = Passes broken up
QBH = Quarterback hurries
FF = Forced fumbles