Draft Profile: Tyleik Williams
Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
6’3, 335 lbs.
Projected: Late First-Second Round
Steelers fans- we are getting closer to the draft! We’re now officially in April and I’ve upped my Ghost Energy drink intake to 6 per day and watched Draft Day 7 times already in preparation. I may or may not have a small, folded up piece of paper in my pocket that says “Emeka Egbuka no matter what” just in case I get that call from Omar.
Admittedly I may be stretching the truth a little, but one thing I can say for sure is that at this point I have put in way more work towards the Steelers than Aaron Rodgers has. Seriously make a decision already! Of course, Pat McAfee’s “Big Night Aht” is in Pittsburgh next week so I’m guessing that is when he makes the big announcement. Lame. Maybe he’ll even throw a new teammate under the bus while he’s there!
Now back to the good stuff- the Draft. We know the Steelers will draft a defensive lineman at some point in this draft. Possibly two and the betting odds favor defensive line in round one. Mike Tomlin prefers versatility and wants a player that can play across the defensive front on first and second down, but who can also be disruptive in passing downs. One intriguing player that has shown the potential to do just that is Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.
Strengths:
Tyleik Williams is a big and powerful defensive tackle but also has explosiveness and athleticism that is surprising for his size. At 335 pounds he is great at stuffing the run and he also has good lateral footwork in pursuit. He has a powerful bull rush and a strong punch. Williams has the versatility to be moved around the defensive line. He plays nasty with a lot of power; his track background and success in the shot put speak to how strong he’s always been. Williams is a rare athlete for his size.
Weaknesses:
While there is no questioning Williams’ physical prowess, he has room to work on his technique. Williams bull rush is great, but he doesn’t utilize much else and his pass rush suffers. He also tends to play too high which allows blockers to get under his pads. On top of that, he has shorter arms so offensive lineman with superior technique can gain an initial advantage. To start his college career Williams weighed in at 360 pounds. He’ll need to put work into a strength and conditioning program in order to reach his full potential and get through a much longer NFL season.
How he fits:
Tyleik Williams is another player that may possess the versatility to give the Steelers the option to move Keeanu Benton outside while also not being a liability in passing downs. He’s a bit raw, but his natural gifts could make him elite if he can be coached up. Williams will need a solid strength and conditioning program as well as some veteran mentoring. His potential is off the charts, however.
Player Comp:
Due to his size and versatility, Tyleik Williams reminds me of former Washington Redskins (at the time) DT Chris Baker. Baker played all over the defensive line, initially at defensive end then later at nose tackle. He was stout against the run but also flashed the ability to get after the quarterback.
Conclusion:
Cam Heyward continues to defy the odds and play at a high level. My hope is that the Steelers take advantage of this and find a mountain of a player to man the middle of the line. Moving Benton to defensive end will give the opposing offense more pressure to worry about while also clogging up running lanes in the middle. Freeing up all of the linebackers is key, and I really miss the days of having a feared defense. Afterall with a dominant defense it takes pressure off of a quarterback whose heart might be more into his next darkness retreat than playing for this team. Not that I’m pointing out anyone in particular.
