After a disappointing final year with the Buffalo Bills, defensive end Mario Williams is excited to finally “cut it loose” with the Miami Dolphins.
“I think the biggest focal point and exciting for us is knowing that [we can] cut it loose,” Williams said, via ESPN. “It’s almost like saying, ‘Go! Every time, just go. We’re going to put you in the best position for you to get after it and everything else is going to trickle downhill from there.’”
The Bills released Williams after he produced just 5.0 sacks in 2015, his lowest total since 2011. The former No. 1 overall pick openly voiced his displeasure with the Buffalo scheme, a version of the 3-4 which asked him to do things other than put his hand down and rush the quarterback.
The Dolphins gave Williams a two-year, $17 million deal in March. According to Williams, Miami defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is planning on giving him the freedom to attack the quarterback.
“[Joseph is] really relying on the guys up front to turn it loose and get after it, which is what most of us [are] accustomed to doing,” Williams said. “The difficult part is changing old habits in general, especially with the new acquisitions and stuff that we have. We’re players who have done different things in the past as far as schemes and stuff like that, but it’s exciting to cut it loose, turn loose.”
The Dolphins are hoping the old Williams shows up in Miami.
Over his first three seasons in Buffalo, Williams notched 38.5 sacks—earning two Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro nod in the process. Still only 31, Williams should have plenty of gas left in the tank for productive seasons.
The Dolphins will team Williams with Cam Wake and Ndamukong Suh, giving him a chance to put up big numbers in Miami.
More importantly, Williams will be playing in his preferred kind of scheme. Throw in the new talent around him and he could heat back up in a hurry with the Dolphins.
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