Rascal
10-07-2006, 09:04 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4454046
New England wasn't a breakout game for D.J. Williams.
It was a blast from his rookie year's past.
Bronco fans remember the relentlessly pursuing, hard-hitting Williams. Or had they forgotten about the talented outside linebacker?
After posting four consecutive double-digit tackle games near the end of his rookie season in 2004, Williams experienced a sophomore slump. He didn't disappear so much as he was sent to the sideline on nearly every passing down. And with the Broncos playing with a lead in nearly every game last season, opponents passed, and Williams sat, frequently.
But against the Patriots two weeks ago, with Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson bothered by a pulled hamstring, Williams got another chance to become an every-down linebacker.
The result was 10 tackles, his first game in double-digits since Christmas Day of his rookie season, a span of 19 games.
"It was just by chance," Williams said. "Al was a little dehydrated a couple plays, and I went in to back him up."
Anytime Williams is asked about a particular game or performance, he invariably refers to the mental part of his job. His fine play against the Patriots was largely the result of carrying out assignment responsibilities, Williams said. His at-times disappointing play last year, he said, was the result of mental mistakes.
It's as if Williams, an otherwise athletic, 242-pound specimen, has been ingrained with the importance of following orders.
"You're not going to get to this level unless you're already physically gifted," Williams said. "I think I proved the last two years that I'm physically capable of doing the job. It's just little things I needed to improve on."
Rule No. 1: Adjust
The Ravens have been so defense-oriented in their eight seasons under coach Brian Billick, it's not easy to remember he was the offensive coordinator of the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who set a still-standing NFL season record of 556 points - 16 more than the 2000 St. Louis Rams scored at the height of their "Greatest Show on Turf."
"God has got kind of a cruel sense of humor to give me the defenses I've had and give people like Tony Dungy and Marvin Lewis the offenses they've had," Billick said, referring to the defense-minded coaches of high-powered Indianapolis and Cincinnati, respectively. "I think it's kind of a payback, the football gods' way of saying, 'Ha, ha, we got the last laugh."'
New England wasn't a breakout game for D.J. Williams.
It was a blast from his rookie year's past.
Bronco fans remember the relentlessly pursuing, hard-hitting Williams. Or had they forgotten about the talented outside linebacker?
After posting four consecutive double-digit tackle games near the end of his rookie season in 2004, Williams experienced a sophomore slump. He didn't disappear so much as he was sent to the sideline on nearly every passing down. And with the Broncos playing with a lead in nearly every game last season, opponents passed, and Williams sat, frequently.
But against the Patriots two weeks ago, with Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson bothered by a pulled hamstring, Williams got another chance to become an every-down linebacker.
The result was 10 tackles, his first game in double-digits since Christmas Day of his rookie season, a span of 19 games.
"It was just by chance," Williams said. "Al was a little dehydrated a couple plays, and I went in to back him up."
Anytime Williams is asked about a particular game or performance, he invariably refers to the mental part of his job. His fine play against the Patriots was largely the result of carrying out assignment responsibilities, Williams said. His at-times disappointing play last year, he said, was the result of mental mistakes.
It's as if Williams, an otherwise athletic, 242-pound specimen, has been ingrained with the importance of following orders.
"You're not going to get to this level unless you're already physically gifted," Williams said. "I think I proved the last two years that I'm physically capable of doing the job. It's just little things I needed to improve on."
Rule No. 1: Adjust
The Ravens have been so defense-oriented in their eight seasons under coach Brian Billick, it's not easy to remember he was the offensive coordinator of the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who set a still-standing NFL season record of 556 points - 16 more than the 2000 St. Louis Rams scored at the height of their "Greatest Show on Turf."
"God has got kind of a cruel sense of humor to give me the defenses I've had and give people like Tony Dungy and Marvin Lewis the offenses they've had," Billick said, referring to the defense-minded coaches of high-powered Indianapolis and Cincinnati, respectively. "I think it's kind of a payback, the football gods' way of saying, 'Ha, ha, we got the last laugh."'