Any thoughts on Dorian Williams about to be starting again?

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

On 9/15/2025 at 8:15 PM, Simon said:

 

All of which is compounded by being without our best DL and having to run a LOT of snaps with green rookies and with DE's out of position to fill that hole. 

Fortunately, Miami's defense is a sieve.

 

If the offense gets ahead 14-17, the injury factor on defense should be fully mitigated

[Simon]

3 hours ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Fortunately, Miami's defense is a sieve.

 

If the offense gets ahead 14-17, the injury factor on defense should be fully mitigated

 

With so many quality guys suspended or on the sidelines in civvies, they're probably going to need to be up more than that. 

 

[Beck Water]

On 9/16/2025 at 6:08 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

I believe that Dorian Williams might be the Bills best LB. The emphasis is on “might.” Milano was playing well but he can’t stay healthy. I don’t think Bernard is very good (but he does have a nose for the football). Williams feels like he could take off if given the chance. I’m absolutely fine with him playing. This is probably the injury that the Bills can most easily survive. 

 

Kirby, respect your ball knowledge, but Williams had an 11 game chance last season and he didn't "take off" as far as I can tell.    Bills were still adjusting their D to cover for him.  He's athletic and he can *thump*, but as someone said upthread: "when he can play a downfield, attacking style he's a playmaker. But when he has to read and react, he's illiterate."

 

Bernard had a much better year in 2023.  Why?  Well, in 2023, Bernard started next to Milano and looked great for 4 games.  After a 2 game Dorian Williams experiment, the Bills started Dodson platooned with Poyer on passing downs.  Dodson not nearly as athletic as Williams, but could read and react.  That's one difference.

 

Last year IMO, Bernard spent 12 games thinking for 2 people, himself and Dorian Williams.  He's a quiet guy who takes responsibility on himself, but when Milano came back he said something that I thought spoke volumes.  It was something like "it's nice to play next to someone who sees the game the same way I do."  But then Milano was rusty AF and many thought Williams had been playing better, so there was that.

 

I think Williams has improved, but curious how many games we need to see this "taking off" phenomenon?  He looked fine against the Jets, but their QB didn't seem to make us have to think too much.

Edited September 17 by Beck Water