Chargers defensive tackle Sylvester Williams seems to have been a nice find as a run stuffer, but is he truly a difference-maker against the run for this defense?
Not only is Sly Williams a difference-maker against the run, but he is truly giving interior offensive linemen fits with his power rush skills as well. Williams got held multiple times, and none of them were called. In a different game with a little luck, all of them could have been called, resulting in even more stalled drives.
As a run stopper though, Williams has been phenomenal. He truly is the nose tackle the Chargers have been looking for over the last three years. Williams is a true anchor when he is on the field and single-handedly shut quite a few run plays down. Below is a good example of his run defense.
Sylvester Williams is the right side DT. Look at the push he gets in his pass rush. Pushing the pocket back towards Rodgers. Also could easily call a hold there. I love it.
Casey Hayward was as lockdown in this game as he has been all year. Zero catches allowed on 3 targets. pic.twitter.com/xlwbUtA6e2
— Jason Balliet II (@Syntari13) November 6, 2019
Above, we have an example of him being held on his power rush. Williams has been an amazing find for the Chargers, and if Mebane’s return limits Williams’ snap count, there is a big problem there. He has arguably been the best defensive lineman for the Chargers this year, and Mebane hasn’t even been in that conversation.
Add what Square has been doing, and then have Jones return next week, and the Chargers interior defensive line is not even recognizable. It’s borderline a strength of the defense now.