How Will Mario Williams Impact The Bills Defense

Sunday afternoon marks the biggest game in Buffalo Bills history since the 2004 season finale: it’s the official debut of Mario Williams.

Buffalo paid the former number one overall draft pick $96-million to come in and make an large impact on the defensive side

Aug 25, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) sacks Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the first quarter at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

of the ball. The question is, just how will Williams actually improve a Bills defense that has been near the bottom of the NFL for the past half-decade or so?

While most will expect Williams to step on the field and just dominate opposing right tackles and pick up sack after sack, that most likely will not be the case.

Now, he may still end up getting double-digit sacks by the time the regular season ends, but most of his impact will be felt by the way his line-mates perform while he is on the field.

Williams will draw double-team blocking schemes more often than not, which will free up space for line-mates Mark Anderson, Marcell Dareus, and Kyle Williams.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kyle Williams, Dareus, and Anderson all tally 6-plus sacks on the season due to constantly one-on-one battles.

Teams have to know where Mario Williams is on the field at all times. If they lose track of him, then it could be a tough day for the offense. Especially this Sunday when the Bills go against a very suspect New York Jets offensive line.

The Jets will start Austin Howard at right tackle on Sunday, which gives Mario Williams a distinct advantage due to Howard’s inexperience as a starter in this league. If Mario Williams has his way with Howard, the Jets will likely have to use running backs and tight ends to help block Mario Williams which could greatly hurt their offensive gameplan that runs through the short game. It’s yet another impact that Mario Williams will have on the Bills defense.

Mario Williams said to the media earlier in the week that the team is going to try and get the job done by rushing just four. With the talent that the Bills have up front, it may not be that far of a stretch to say that it can happen.

“The biggest thing is we have some pretty good guys over here on this side of the ball that can get after the quarterback,” he said. “We just want to go out and put pressure with four. That is the goal. I think that is what anybody’s goal is actually. If you can put pressure with four, you have a lot better chance at winning games.”

The Bills could very well boast one of the best defenses in the NFL this season, but it all starts with what Mario Williams can do for his team.