The Cowboys boast a deep and talented pool of players at the defensive end position. Led by All-Pro Micah Parsons and 2022 Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas has arguably the best starting duo in the NFL. Sam Williams wants to make that a trio.
Williams, the Cowboys second-round pick in 2022, burst onto the scene as Dan Quinn’s pet project of sorts. Quinn worked Williams out during the pre-draft process and banged the table for Williams when the Cowboys went on the clock at 56.
As Quinn predicted, Williams hit the ground running as a rookie, forcing his way onto the field for 273 defensive snaps en route to 22 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.
His explosion off the snap was impossible to miss and despite playing with little polish or technique, Williams found a high degree of success rushing the passer.
While fellow EDGE reserve Dorance Armstrong finished No. 2 on the Cowboys in sacks (after Parsons), Williams logged a better pressure rate (per PFF tracking), indicating his success is far more sustainable than Armstrong’s. As discussed previously this offseason, Armstrong could be in store for a regression in sacks (8.5 in 2022) and Williams is likely to challenge him for the third-most EDGE snaps in 2023.
Williams’ defensive line coach Aden Durden recently discussed his development and mentioned all the changes in Williams’ game:
“You can see that he’s learned how to develop himself and that’s not to say that we don’t develop them, but the biggest jump for Sam is he’s becoming a true professional,” Durde said of his second-year pass-rusher. “I see the work that he puts in and the structure that he’s put in off of the field…his flexibility has changed, his coordination has changed, his stance is better. The things he’s needed to work on, he’s gone out and worked on and improved.”
By the sound of the offseason, things appear to be heading in the right direction for Williams. Given the high degree of success he’s already had and his dedication to the task in 2023, big things could be in his near future.
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An underdiscussed factor working in Williams’ favor is his play against the run. Given the two best teams in the NFC have elite running games, the Cowboys made a concentrated effort to address their run deficiencies. They retained the mammoth DT Johnathan Hankins and also added DT Mazi Smith with their top pick.
What probably comes as a shock to many is Williams was one of the best run-stopping EDGE players in the NFL last season. PFF graded him in the 92nd percentile in run-stop percentage, making him and Lawrence the Cowboys best run-stopping DEs.
It stands to reason strong play against the run will earn more opportunities on defense. And if Williams can continue his progression as a pass-rusher there’s no reason to think he can’t cross that double-digit sack barrier in just his second season.
“I need 10 sacks,” Williams said during OTAs. “10 sacks will open up a lot of opportunities for me. Obviously, the team goal is to win a championship but my personal goal and what I’m working towards is getting better with my hands and I need 10 sacks.”
Opportunities will clearly be key since the Cowboys rotate Parsons, Lawrence, Armstrong, Williams, and Dante Fowler at EDGE. But if Williams can build on his top-3 pressure rate and keep his top run-stopping rate in the process, he could see his snaps explode in 2023, paving the way for double-digit sacks.
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