Ebony Bird
FanSided

Brandon Williams vs. Rick Wagner: Who Stays And Who Goes?

By Joe Schiller

Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) pass rushes towards Baltimore Ravens tackle Ricky Wagner (71) in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) pass rushes towards Baltimore Ravens tackle Ricky Wagner (71) in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next

The Case for Williams

Ozzie Newsome has a knack for finding small school talent and Brandon Williams is a perfect example. The Ravens took Williams out of Southern Mississippi in the third round of the 2013 draft. He fit right into Dean Pees’ defensive system and started to make an impact immediately. In only his second year, Williams became a full time starter and had a breakout season with 54 tackles and a fumble recovery. With his contributions, the Ravens had one of the best run defenses last season. They finished fourth in the league, only giving up 89.4 yards per game.

The nosetackle position is very important to a defense, especially one like the Ravens. They have a reputation built on stopping the run. Williams may not always show up in the stat sheet, but he does a lot of the dirty work that goes unnoticed. He constantly commands double teams, which opens up holes for the defensive tackles and linebackers to make plays.

If Williams leaves in free agency Michael Pierce would be the man to fill in. While it might be a good replacement, the Ravens want to keep the three man rotation of Williams, Pierce, and Jernigan.

Home/Ravens News