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Jun 9
10:40
AM CT
By Tim MacMahon
IRVING, Texas – On the first play shown during Tuesday’s film session with the media, a pass-rusher made a sweet stutter-step move to leave the left tackle flat-footed.
Wade Phillips made sure we knew that it was redshirt rookie Brandon Williams, not DeMarcus Ware.
Ware has racked up dozens of sacks with that stutter-step move, which requires extreme explosiveness to be effective. Williams certainly displayed that attribute, turning the corner so quickly that Doug Free failed to get a hand on him.
Free was technically flawed on the play, but the coaches considered it further evidence that Williams can contribute in a limited role this season.
That’s the feeling they had about the Texas Tech product last summer before Williams, a fourth-round pick, blew out his knee in a preseason game. Phillips likes the pass-rushing skill and instincts of a player who led the Big 12 in sacks as a junior before declaring for the draft.
Williams, as expected, was tentative during early organized team activities. There are still times when it appears that he doesn’t fully trust his surgically repaired knee yet. But his burst is back.
"He seems to be back to where he was last year at this time," Phillips said, "and that was a good place because he's exceptionally quick off the ball."
10:40
AM CT
By Tim MacMahon
IRVING, Texas – On the first play shown during Tuesday’s film session with the media, a pass-rusher made a sweet stutter-step move to leave the left tackle flat-footed.
Wade Phillips made sure we knew that it was redshirt rookie Brandon Williams, not DeMarcus Ware.
Ware has racked up dozens of sacks with that stutter-step move, which requires extreme explosiveness to be effective. Williams certainly displayed that attribute, turning the corner so quickly that Doug Free failed to get a hand on him.
Free was technically flawed on the play, but the coaches considered it further evidence that Williams can contribute in a limited role this season.
That’s the feeling they had about the Texas Tech product last summer before Williams, a fourth-round pick, blew out his knee in a preseason game. Phillips likes the pass-rushing skill and instincts of a player who led the Big 12 in sacks as a junior before declaring for the draft.
Williams, as expected, was tentative during early organized team activities. There are still times when it appears that he doesn’t fully trust his surgically repaired knee yet. But his burst is back.
"He seems to be back to where he was last year at this time," Phillips said, "and that was a good place because he's exceptionally quick off the ball."
