Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams is not a happy camper right now playing in Rex Ryan’s 3-4 scheme.
The Bills hosted the red hot Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, losing by a score of 34-21. During the contest, Ryan called plays which featured Williams as a cover man, which isn’t something the All-Pro pass-rusher feels comfortable with. He’d much rather simply pin his ears back and rush the quarterback.
“I think I probably set a record on dropping today, but that’s part of the scheme for us to go out and be put in a position to win,” Mario Williams said, via Syracuse.com.
After stating the fact, he then alluded to how much money the Bills have invested into the front line, which was designed to be disruptive.
“Whatever’s called you have to go out and do it. … The three guys you said, including myself, a lot is put on our shoulders as far as the amount given out to players on this team as far as income. I would assume, those four guys, a lot is on their shoulders to go after the quarterback or stop the run, be disruptive. Like I say, if the call is three-man this or that, dropping, things like that, that’s the call.”
That’s the call.
Clearly, Williams believes he’s getting paid to rush the passer and not drop into coverage. He never did like the 3-4, and it seems six games into the 2015 season he’s getting rather sick and tired of the system.
Williams only registered one solo tackle on Sunday against the Bengals. For the season he only has two sacks and hasn’t been nearly as dynamic as he has in years past when he was a pure defensive end.
The Bills need Williams playing at his best, and they need him rushing the passer. The Bengals didn’t allow a single sack on Sunday, which allowed Andy Dalton to stay comfortable in the pocket and have a nice game passing the ball. Clearly, as the scoreboard indicates, Ryan’s conservative strategy didn’t work.
Now the team heads to London for a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s a game the Bills should win, especially if quarterback Tyrod Taylor returns. However, any bitterness Williams has over his role within the offense must be snuffed out if this team is going to remain a contender in 2015.