2017 NFL Draft Pro Comparisons: The Edge Rushers
By Erik Lambert
Tim Williams (Alabama)
One of the reasons Alabama made their late surge last season to win the national championship was the establishing of a dominant pass rush. Chief among the names who made that happen was Tim Williams. The outside linebacker became a terror with his explosive first step and violent hands. If given any sort of leverage on the outside he would consistently blow past blockers to the quarterback. While limited as a run defender he tackles well and has the athleticism to drop in coverage.
Comparison: Bruce Irvin
The linebacker who acts as a situational pass rusher. That is what Williams looks like. There is no doubt that he mirrors much of what Bruce Irvin became for the Seattle Seahawks. He would play linebacker in certain situations but became an edge rusher when the down and distance were right. Though he never produced a ton of sacks, he was a presence that other teams couldn’t ignore. It looks like Williams is made for that type of role.