D.J. Williams is leading the way for Broncos' improved defense

DENVER - There's something different about D.J. Williams, and not just that for the first time in his NFL career he has hair on his head.

Williams is the proud owner of an increasingly-long mohawk, and the new 'do makes him "wish I could fly," he said.
Even Williams on the ground has been terrifying enough this season, especially in Sunday's 17-10 victory against Dallas.

Champ Bailey might have been a defensive star, with his third quarter interception and two goal-line pass deflections in the game's final seconds, and it may have been Brian Dawkins who made a touchdown-saving tackle in the fourth quarter, but few could argue against Williams being Denver's best all-around defensive player.

Williams, one of Denver's two inside linebackers, had nine solo tackles, a sack, two pass breakups and recovered a fumble deep in Dallas territory to set up Denver's first touchdown.

Williams is tied for the team lead with 31 total stops.

"He had a good game yesterday," coach Josh McDaniels said. "D.J.'s just a very good linebacker and could be a good player in any system, I think."

Williams is one of only two draft picks remaining from before the class of 2006 and one of only two defenders left who started the last time the Broncos went to the playoffs after the 2005 season. The other is Bailey.

He's been a star throughout his career in Denver, with 74 starts, 170 tackles in 2007, a team-high 86 tackles last year before injuring his knee in the Broncos' eighth game, despite an annual game of musical chairs with his position. He played all three linebacker positions in Mike Shanahan's 4-3 defensive scheme, and is now the weakside linebacker - away from the tight end - for McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

"I'm everywhere. I don't even call it a position," Williams said. "I'm deep, I'm blitzing, I'm on the line, I'm doing a lot of things. It all has to do with the other guys on the field. They're allowing me to roam, do the things that I do."

That showed against Dallas, when at times he blitzed Tony Romo and at other times fell back into pass coverage. The result was his first sack of the year and two pass breakups, including a brutal hit on Dallas receiver Roy Williams, who later called the hit the hardest he's ever taken.

"That's why it's great to have him, because I couldn't have made that play," said Andra Davis, Denver's other inside linebacker, who also has 31 tackles this season.

Williams on the inside and Elvis Dumervil on the outside are the two Denver linebackers who remain in the game on both running and passing downs, and it is Williams who makes the defensive calls for the linemen and linebackers.

He's no longer officially a team captain, but his leadership role has not diminished on the revamped defense.

"D.J. is very instrumental in what we do defensively," McDaniels said. "Guys listen and respond to him every day."



(projo.com)