As a nose guard, Marcellis Williamson springs out of his stance and slams into the opposing offensive line every play like a wrecking ball bowling against a brick wall.
The defensive lineman has a distinct role on the Ohio defense. On running plays, Williamson must stifle offensive linemen and control rushing gaps in order to free up space for the linebackers behind him.
The role is something Williamson embraces, despite how unglamorous and physical it might be.
My job is to secure the run on early downs
Williamson said. I want to win the early downs to set up for third down passes. That's my job to set up those long passes.
The Bobcats utilize Williamson mainly on first and second down. At 6-foot-1, 327 pounds, he provides the perfect build for a nose guard.
When he comes out of his stance, Williamson gets lower than the guards and centers trying to block him. His lower center of gravity makes it difficult for the opponents to push him back.
Your base is everything. If you don't have it you have no control
no balance
he said. If you play low
you can get off blocks and go make plays. But if you play high
you get blown off the ball.
If Williamson engages blockers effectively, it allows space for the linebackers behind him and allows them to make tackles unscathed.
When he feels a double team coming, he attacks both linemen. He tries to gain leverage and get skinny
meaning he tries to slip in between the two blockers and rush through them.
If the guy behind me is making plays
then I'm doing what I need to do
Williamson said. He's running. He's free and able to make plays.
Sometimes it's not all about you. It's about doing your job the best way you can so you can set somebody up.
But no matter what
Williamson's ultimate goal remains the same: blow the play up and take down the running back two or three yards deep in the backfield.
His tenaciousness explains the attitude of the Ohio defense as a whole. The players want to be the instigators on each play.
We don't wait to be attacked, Williamson said. We attack. We play hard, fast, and together, and with everyone playing like that on defense, it's hard to stop us.
Although he has the build to succeed as a nose guard
