Could the Redskins be replacing one Tennessee defensive tackle with another? It's possible that with the new front office looking to unload Albert Haynesworth before the draft, another Tennessee alum could be making the trip to the nation's capital. In fact, Dan Williams already has visited Redskins Park. When I interviewed him Tuesday for an upcoming pre-draft feature, Williams told me that he spent two days with the Redskins last week - specifically, Wednesday and Thursday, March 31 and April 1. He spent a lot of time talking to the coaches about his specific scheme fit as a two-gap tackle in a 3-4 front, and called meeting Mike Shanahan a "once-in-a-lifetime experience".
At 6-foot-2 and 327 pounds, Williams hovers just below the Big Two - Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy - on most draft boards, but he's the highest-ranked defensive tackle that teams are projecting as a two-gap nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Most draft experts have him going on or around the 11th or 12th pick; that's where Denver and Miami, two 3-4 teams trying to fill that two-gap tackle spot with veterans, could use a long-term solution.
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
So, the Redskins would have to do some moving to get Williams, especially if they also want to bag Chris Samuels' replacement in this draft. While Williams played mostly inside alongside another tackle in Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defense in 2009, he does have experience in certain packages as the sole nose tackle. He also told me that some teams are eyeing him for use as a five-technique (3-4 end) defender.
Watching the film tells you that Williams has outstanding strength at the point of attack - he can take on double teams without collapsing and he plays with a wide base. He can also explode off the snap and get into the backfield, and possesses the one trait all two-gappers must have if they are to pursue with consistency - he's very good at sliding off an initial block and slamming through to the ball. This isn't just a random big guy. Williams can make a real impact inside. And with more NFL teams moving to the 3-4 defense, guys like Williams, who can make that transition seamlessly, find themselves more valuable than ever.
Williams and Haynesworth actually know each other -- Williams told me that he worked out with Haynesworth in 2009 and got some NFL tips from the veteran. "I got the chance to talk to him last summer ... I haven't had the chance to talk to him during this [pre-draft] process, but he told [me about] how the game is a lot faster. He told me a few things to improve my game, with extension and shedding blocks. He showed me a couple of pass-rushing moves."
Playing on the same front line with Haynesworth would obviously be a dream come true for Williams, but the way things are looking lately, the soon-to-be rookie might have to shoulder the load on his own.
