Kyle Williams may not be the kind of defensive tackle whose play draws constant fan attention. Always grinding on the defensive interior, Williams is often doing a lot of the dirty work. But if you ask his teammates what kind of asset he is to the roster, they use words like dependable, consistent and reliable.
His teammates and coaches are also confident that Williams' dependable play will be a necessary component if they're to finally reach the postseason.
Following the optimistic vibe at training camp, Williams has given his all at practice so far, and plans to continue in that vein for the next several weeks in preparation for the regular season. He doesn't know how to prepare or play any other way. Teammate and good friend defensive end Chris Kelsay knows what Williams brings to the table.
"He's a multi-dimensional player. He can play the run, he can rush the passer, he's intelligent," Kelsay said. "He's very smart and knows what to do in certain situations. He's just a very reliable teammate. We're always busting his chops because he's short, but he plays with tremendous leverage. He just has great drive, he never quits. It doesn't matter who's standing across from him he's always going to give you his all."
Humble by nature, Williams didn't want to boast when asked about taking pride in being dependable.
"I like guys to know that they can count on me," Williams said. "They know that I'm going to make plays and that I'm going to play well."
In many instances, Williams has proven himself. However, he is never one to showboat. Known for being modest Williams takes all compliments he receives in stride. Rather than boosting his ego, he uses those compliments as a way to ensure he sticks to playing his game.
"I would probably make a fool out of myself if I was (flashy), so I try to stay away from that," Williams said. "I just try to work hard and do the best I can and success has come along with it. I've done well at every level I've been at, and hopefully I can continue to do it here."
Kelsay and other teammates show an incredible amount of respect towards Williams, knowing how steady he is on the field. With Williams entering his fourth season with the Bills, his teammates have come to expect and rely on him for his consistency.
"I think they know what they're going to get from me. I think they know that I'm not going to cheat them," Williams said. "And I'm going to give them everything I've got because they are my teammates and because I love to play and compete."
Like the rest of the team, Williams' main goal is to make it to the playoffs. He understands the necessity of the team working together in order to reach that goal. He believes his own play will be measured by whether the team is able to get there. That's why Williams has set specific goals for himself as far as progressing from last season.
"I want to be one of, if not the most productive defensive tackle in the league as far as tackles and stuff like that," he said. "I think I was like sixth or seventh in the whole league, so I want to be better than that and I want our team to go to the playoffs."
Williams is determined to continuously improve, and Kelsay noted some parts of Williams' game that will help him do so.
Said Kelsay, "He's a guy that you look at and you wouldn't expect the type of player that he is. He's just a blue-collar, hard-working guy. He plays with a lot of passion, plays with a lot of emotion. He's just a tremendous teammate."
After the hard work Williams has put in for the last three years some might think that he has peaked as a player. However, Williams' positive attitude and determination are likely to show in 2009 that there are still rungs to his game that he has yet to climb.
"He's just a great player, and I think he's got even more ahead of him," Kelsay said. "He's going to have a tremendous career and he's going to play for a long time. He's still a young guy, and to be playing at the level that he is as early as he has is a great asset for him, and for our team."
