Bills replay /By Allen Wilson
Bills Replay: Run stuffer has a full day
Williams spent time in Raiders backfield
It looks like the Buffalo Bills have more than one run stuffer on their interior defensive line.
Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud gets most of the attention, but his running mate, Kyle Williams, is making it hard for opposing teams to ignore him. The third-year pro had one of the best games of his brief career during the Bills’ 24-23 win over the Oakland Raiders.
Williams was credited with four tackles, but his impact was greater than that. He spent most of the day in the Raiders’ backfield, and when he didn’t make the tackle he created enough of a disruption to free up someone else to make the play.
Not bad for a former fifth-round draft pick.
Built like a fire hydrant with legs, the 6-foot-1, 306-pound Williams plays with excellent leverage and uses his quickness and strength to shed blockers and slice through gaps. Given his level of consistency, it’s no wonder former first-round pick John McCargo has been unable to crack the starting lineup.
Here’s a look at some of Williams’ best plays on Sunday:
• With 5:41 left in the first quarter, the Raiders line up in their base I-formation on first down. RB Darren McFadden takes the handoff and goes to the right side of the formation. In Oakland’s zone blocking scheme, it tries to get a push from the offensive line on the front side while having blockers cut defenders on the backside to create a cutback lane. Williams does a good job of avoiding LT Mario Henderson’s cut block and comes down the line of scrimmage to hold McFadden to a 2-yard gain. The possession ended with a punt.
• The Raiders are again in their base formation on first down at their 30-yard line with 12:53 to go in the second quarter. The Bills show blitz with LBs Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny close to the line flanking Williams. LB Keith Ellison follows TE Zach Miller’s motion to the right side of the formation, which happens to be the play side. Williams fights off LG Robert Gallery’s block, comes along the line of scrimmage and meets McFadden in the hole for no gain. Credit also should go to Ellison, who charges into the backfield to take on FB Luke Lawton’s block and forces McFadden to cutback inside toward pursuit. The Raiders punted two plays later.
• On a first-down play early in the third quarter, the Raiders are in a three wide receivers, single back formation. The Bills have three down linemen with DE Aaron Schobel in stand-up position and nickel CB Ashton Youboty on the left side next to DE Chris Kelsay. RB Michael Bush takes the ball and runs off the right guard. Williams gets off the snap quickly and knifes between Gallery and Miller. By Williams eating up two blockers, the Raiders have no one to deal with Posluszny, who is free to step into the hole to limit Bush to 1 yard.
• Following a Bills touchdown that cut the deficit to 16-14 in the fourth quarter, Williams makes his presence felt on back-to-back plays. On first down from the Raiders’ 16, the Raiders are in their base formation. McFadden follows FB Justin Griffith off right guard. McFadden cuts inside, but runs into Williams, who is still engaged with Gallery. That forces McFadden to bounce outside around left end, where he is brought down by CB Jabari Greer and S Ko Simpson. On the next play, the Raiders are in a tight formation with two backs. As Bush runs to the right, Williams overpowers C Jake Grove and joins Schobel in the backfield to drop Bush for a 1-yard loss.
• On the first play of the Raiders’ final possession, they bring out two backs and two wide receivers to the right side of the formation. On the snap, QB JaMarcus Russell stumbles before handing off to Bush. Before Bush can cut back to the left, Williams avoids Henderson’s attempted cut block and penetrates into the backfield to trip up Bush for no gain.
Other observations
It’s hard to believe, but RB Marshawn Lynch was almost overlooked on Sunday. Too bad because he had another outstanding game, gaining tough yards on the ground and providing some key plays as a receiver. He missed one blitz pickup that led to a sack, but otherwise it was another stellar afternoon for the second-year back.
The defense took some criticism for the Raiders’ 84-yard touchdown pass. But it didn’t appear to be a breakdown in coverage. Russell delivered a perfect throw to WR Johnnie Lee Higgins against a two-deep zone. In this case, good defense was trumped by better offense.
Coming attractions
The Bills go for 4-0 at the lowly St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
