Dorian Williams in the Hoecht/Lorax role?

[nosejob]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

This is just a thought.  In Joe Marino's All-22 this week he pointed out that Hoecht and Williams were being used in a similar manner.  I understand that Williams is about 30 lbs lighter than Hoecht's reported weight (couldn't find anything definitive) and about 15 lbs lighter than when Lorenzo Alexander was used in a similar role, but as far as strength and athleticism go, it seems like Dorian Williams could be used similarly as Bernard/Milano/(hopefully)Shaq Thompson man the true LB positions.

 

Tangentially, I'm mainly asking because along with the importance of Hoecht, McDermott's been pretty brilliant defensively since he took over play calling.  If anyone listens to The Athletic Football show, the show today was about the 10 people/entities that are changing the NFL this season (very Bills-centric... the very first thing they talk about is Jackson Hawes and they spend a lot of time talking about it) and at one point they Robert Mayes poses the question to his guest Nate Tice asking if we'll look back in 2-3 years at the Bills vs. Chiefs game this week and see that as the game where defenses started changing.  (It was all about the dime looks last weekend).  

 

So... it sure seems like the "chaos creator" role Hoecht and Alexander years ago can play is pretty darn useful to McDermott.  I guess I'm just looking at the players on our roster and wondering if that player for the rest of this season with Hoecht out isn't Dorian Williams?

 

That may be a super weird thought, so I guess I'd direct it to the more knowledgeable among you like @GunnerBill and @Buffalo716 along with anyone else who can chime in.

I think the key is having someone with some meat. Not Williams or Solomon even. Someone that's 6'6 270, played in the SEC at all DL spots and OLB?

We need a big, bald, batcrap crazy redneck. Do we have that?

[BearNorth]

8 minutes ago, nosejob said:

I think the key is having someone with some meat. Not Williams or Solomon even. Someone that's 6'6 270, played in the SEC at all DL spots and OLB?

We need a big, bald, batcrap crazy redneck. Do we have that?

I think that describes Landon Jackson, even looks the part.  6-6 264. Texarkana, TX, don't get much more redneck that that.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by BearNorth

[NewEra]

Seems like a good fit on pass plays, would probably be big trouble vs the run centric teams.  Seems like it could work when we’re working with leads.  Would like to see Solomon and AJ to do a little bit of that too.  

[Buffalo716]

13 minutes ago, nosejob said:

I think the key is having someone with some meat. Not Williams or Solomon even. Someone that's 6'6 270, played in the SEC at all DL spots and OLB?

We need a big, bald, batcrap crazy redneck. Do we have that?

Are you trying to insinuate Landon Jackson 

[Captain_Quint]

36 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Dorian has immense physical talent 

 

Sometimes it's the recognition and the other stuff that he lacks in

 

He does have a great combination of linebacker size and speed.. he certainly is pretty explosive 

 

I'd have to go back and watch some of his college tape again to see how his pass rushing was.. but he is better when he's just attacking 

 

So getting him closer to the line of scrimmage right on the ball might help him get involved

 

He's not going to have a bull rush like hoecht... But he might be good blitzing up the A b gap

Remember how good Klein looked a few years ago towards the end of the season when we had him in this role? He looked 5 years younger since all he had to do was react and rush through an assigned gap. 

 

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, elroy16 said:

They've moved Solomon inside at times as well.

Whoever they use, they have to keep up the movement up front and continue to confuse offenses as opposed to the sit back and read and react. 

 

 

This is my guess. I don't see Dorian being able to handle the "play like a lineman" part of the Hoecht role. But Solomon yesterday did seem to maybe have the "quick as a linebacker" abilities. 

 

But it may have been more surprise than ability for Solomon the other day.

 

We'll see. You have to be a really special guy. Not sure it's on the team at all.

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Thurman#1

[nosejob]

33 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Are you trying to insinuate Landon Jackson 

I'm gonna choose to live with my fantasy that they are keeping him under wraps with plans to unleash him when the time comes.

Edited 1 hour ago by nosejob

[ngbills]

Hoecht is listed as 300lbs

[Pete]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

I would like it...Williams is violent and sudden, something we lack mostly. Reminds me a lot of Bradham in that way.

Nice comparison.  Word association - Bradham- Violent, Williams-Explosive.  Williams always pops during games. He stands out for sure

[BearNorth]

1 minute ago, ngbills said:

Hoecht is listed as 300lbs

Yeah but all the articles suggest he's 265-275.  He bulked up at Brown to over 300, but cut weight in the pro's.

[transplantbillsfan]

1 hour ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Is this "The Players and Coaches Defining The 2025 NFL Season" episode?  Going to wrap up work checking this one out. 

 

 

 

Yes... that's the episode

[nosejob]

Just now, BearNorth said:

Yeah but all the articles suggest he's 265-275.  He bulked up at Brown to over 300, but cut weight in the pro's.

Same size as Bosa. We need the element of power/ violence with that role.....what we just saw Sunday. THAT is what's gonna finally put us over the top.

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Hoecht is listed as 300lbs

I think 310 but nobody knows what he really is

[K-9]

I would like nothing more than for this to be true, but I don't have much faith in Williams at present. He is violent and sudden alright; as in he violently and suddenly goes to the wrong place more often than not. 

 

I sincerely hope he makes a liar out of me someday soon. This Sunday would be nice.

[transplantbillsfan]

17 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Hoecht is listed as 300lbs

 

that was when he came out of college.  It's widely documented lost a bunch of weight with the Rams to switch to LB.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/michael-hoecht-found-weight-plan-035900769.html

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, BearNorth said:

I think that describes Landon Jackson, even looks the part.  6-6 264. Texarkana, TX, don't get much more redneck that that.

 

Yep, hes going to force feed a lot of ppl crow around here... unfortunately i do not think it'll really be this year, but hes built for playing ball.  big nasty, physical, super human strength (I had to crop it to fit on TBD, but its him).  the dude is really raw, but hes as hard of a worker as you can find, all the drive to do it, and all the talent.

Elite genetics, younger brother is a Freshman LB at Texas.

 

 

Hes super raw, when he got to LSU he didnt look like he belonged in D-2, let alone the SEC! Had to be one of, if not THE most improved dude in college ball across his 4 years at school. Its amazing how different his game got, kid loves ball, loves smashing and the physicality.  This dude will grind non-stop until he gets there.  Hes raw for the NFL, but he will adjust.

 

Relentless Work ethic/drive + Elite Size/Strength + Serious Athlete (not just strong) + Genetics + Studious w/ film

 

Dont believe me? I don't blame you, hes barely dressed this year. But this is just him behind the curve from HS imo, ton of untapped talent, you will get 100% to his ceiling -- no matter what that ends up being.

 

(Sorry link looks weird, its NFL Film Room on Youtube, but I had to link it from Google homepage, as YT is blocked at work)

Heres him dominating & outsmarting the #4 Overall Pick last year - LT Will Campbell (New England) several times in 2024

 

Rewatching it "Dominating" is a bit hyperbolic, (but I'll leave it for criticism LOL) early on Campbell clamps him up a good amount, but you can absolutely see as the game progresses, Landon starts figuring him out. Tons of pressures, disruptive in run game. Smacks Nussmeier hard AF (@60second mark & 1:10 mark).  See a decent amount of reps from 2pt stance too!

 

https://share.google/FyzoNo5C7LNdk0bhq

Edited 1 hour ago by BillsShredder83

[Simon]

They've given him several opportunities as a pass rusher over the last couple years and he just has no instincts for it.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

He's not going to have a bull rush like hoecht... But he might be good blitzing up the A b gap

This is why personally I think it will be match-up specific.

 

They were refusing to let Mahomes step up and take off on them, and Dorian’s presence was as much about a having the speed to close when Mahomes steps up as it was rushing. 
 

When you play Tua and the fins, I don’t think this is as valuable as a trait, and like you mentioned, they might want a bigger and taller player who can help collapse the pocket from the interior. 
 

 

[Pete]

27 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Yep, hes going to force feed a lot of ppl crow around here... unfortunately i do not think it'll really be this year, but hes built for playing ball.  big nasty, physical, super human strength (I had to crop it to fit on TBD, but its him).  the dude is really raw, but hes as hard of a worker as you can find, all the drive to do it, and all the talent.

Elite genetics, younger brother is a Freshman LB at Texas.

 

 

Hes super raw, when he got to LSU he didnt look like he belonged in D-2, let alone the SEC! Had to be one of, if not THE most improved dude in college ball across his 4 years at school. Its amazing how different his game got, kid loves ball, loves smashing and the physicality.  This dude will grind non-stop until he gets there.  Hes raw for the NFL, but he will adjust.

 

Relentless Work ethic/drive + Elite Size/Strength + Serious Athlete (not just strong) + Genetics + Studious w/ film

 

Dont believe me? I don't blame you, hes barely dressed this year. But this is just him behind the curve from HS imo, ton of untapped talent, you will get 100% to his ceiling -- no matter what that ends up being.

 

(Sorry link looks weird, its NFL Film Room on Youtube, but I had to link it from Google homepage, as YT is blocked at work)

Heres him dominating & outsmarting the #4 Overall Pick last year - LT Will Campbell (New England) several times in 2024

 

Rewatching it "Dominating" is a bit hyperbolic, (but I'll leave it for criticism LOL) early on Campbell clamps him up a good amount, but you can absolutely see as the game progresses, Landon starts figuring him out. Tons of pressures, disruptive in run game. Smacks Nussmeier hard AF (@60second mark & 1:10 mark).  See a decent amount of reps from 2pt stance too!

 

https://share.google/FyzoNo5C7LNdk0bhq

Great post.  40” vertical!  6’6 Wow

[boyst]

1 hour ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Shaq Thompson is at best the same size as Dorian Williams.  I actually think he's smaller.

Thompson is 6 ft, Williams is 62. They both weigh 230. Thompson plays a lot heavier a lot more Force