Player Profile: Sylvester Williams

Sylvester Williams

Height:  6'3
Weight:  313
School:  North Carolina
Position:  Defensive Tackle
Ranking:  #4 Defensive Tackle
Projection:  Top 25

Strengths
-Good size and bulk for the DT position
-Long arms (33") that allow him to keep blockers off his body
-Good strength (27 reps) that he uses to shed blockers
-Great quickness he uses to fire off the ball
-Uses speed and quickness to penetrate into the backfield
-Doesn't give up against double teams
-Good anchor.  Hard to move off spot
-Uses his big hands (10") to win hand fights and keep himself clean
-Great motor.  Always going hard.  Never gives up on plays.
-Position flexibility.  Can play both DT spots in the 4-3 and the DE in the 3-4
-Has a knack for blocking kicks

Weaknesses
-Can struggle to disengage from double teams
-No pass rushing moves.  Needs to develop something
-Inconsistent pad level.  Gets too high at times
-Raw.  Only played 5 years of football
-Can overpersue or bite on fakes
-Can disappear in games

Summary
Sylvester Williams has all the tools to be an All Pro defensive tackle.  Williams has the size and bulk that teams like and is a good athlete.  He has good quickness and explosion that allows him to fire off the ball that can disrupt the backfield.  Williams uses his strength to be a stout run defenders.  He uses his long arms to take on blockers and then shed them when he needs to make a play.  His strong anchor makes it very difficult to move him off his spot and really can clog up the middle.  The problem with Williams is that he is still raw.  He's only played five years of football and it shows up at time.  Despite his size and athletic ability, he isn't a dominant pass rusher.  A big part of that is he hasn't developed any strong moves.  But with his lack of experience he should be able to develop something with a little more coaching.  Williams projects as a 3 technique DT who can use that speed and quickness to penetrate and disrupt.  However with his strength and run stopping ability he could also play the NT spot in the 4-3 and the 5 technique in the 3-4.  That versitility will make him attractive to a lot of different teams.  Williams could go as high as Dallas at 18 but shouldn't fall past the Broncos at the end of the first round.  Teams will fall in love with his skill set and potential.

Player Profile: Brennan Williams

Brennan Williams

Height:  6'6
Weight:  318
School:  North Carolina
Position:  Offensive Tackle
Ranking: #6 Offensive Tackle
Projection: 3rd / 4th Round

Strengths
-Ideal size height and bulk for an offensive tackle.
-34" arms that he uses to keep defenders off his body
-Good athlete who moves well
-Very strong punch that jolts defenders
-Quick first step in the run game that allows him to make first contact
-Good strength that makes him able to move defenders in the run game
-Uses good athletic ability to get to the second level
-Great overall strength
-Has that nasty streak that you love out of a lineman
-Family history.  Dad played in the league for seven seasons

Weaknesses
-Very inconsistent in pass coverage.
-Lacks a strong anchor.  An average bull rush gets him off balance.
-Slow feet that don't always move.  Cause him to get beat by faster ends
-Poor footwork
-Durability.  Knee and labrum issues
-Not a natural knee bender.  Leads to him being off balance at times
-Isn't quick to recognize blitzes and stunts
-RT only at UNC

Summary
When you have an offensive tackle with the ideal frame (6'6 318) and good athletic ability he's going to be coveted by almost every team.  Brennan Williams fits that bill.  He has the height, length (34" arms), and quickness that you need to play LT in the NFL.  However Williams just can't translate those things into becoming a top tier LT.  Let alone play LT for the Tar Heels.  His biggest issue is his poor slow footwork.  Because of that he struggles in pass protection and gets beat by quicker defensive ends.  Add in that he doesn't have a high IQ when it comes to blitzes and stunts and he can get a QB hit a bunch.  But when asked to run block it's a totally different blocker.  Williams is aggressive, hits hard and is a force.  No wonder why Giovanni Bernard was able to run so successfully.  Williams fires off the ball and can move defenders off their spot to open the run lanes.  If Williams can get the pass protection figured out he could be a long time starter in the league.  Otherwise he'll be an above average right tackle or possible a swing tackle.  But because of his potential, some team (possibly a zone blocking team) looking for somebody to come in and compete for the starting right tackle spot will take him somewhere in the 3rd-4th round range.