Joel
10-23-2011, 06:09 PM
Tebow played fantastically well in the last 5:00 (well enough to make me wonder wtf he was for the first 55:00, but no complaints about success) yet DJs clutch hat trick to set up the FG should not be overlooked: Sack, forced fumble AND the recovery. Considering the offense didn't get a single first down in OT and netted 0 yards on that drive, that was a HUGE play: It won the game. DJ really stepped up, as he always has. At this point he's one of our oldest veterans, a top producer year in and year out, despite having played no less than FOUR linebacker spots under three coaches.
DJ lacks the size to play Sam and it was cruel to make him try, and the same applies to a lesser extent with MLB--but he tried anyway without complaints despite being a Pro Bowl caliber player at his natural Will position. Enter a new coach and a 3-4 and DJ found himself critically needed at inside linebacker in a whole new defensive system, where he quickly adapted and played well on a defence where few did. He always plays his heart out without grumbling, even when asked to do the impossible, and, IMHO, does not get nearly the appreciation he deserves for that. It was... disapponting to see so many ready to throw the teams leading tackler to the wolves over a single DUI; I won't pretend that's anything to be proud of, but since I can't watch a Ravens game without being told a guy who literally got away with murder is a lock for the Hall of Fame, he could have done far worse. It wasn't a pattern, he took his lumps for it and he's kept his nose clean since.
One of the few memorable plays for me last season was DJ diving to tackle a runner for a two yard loss THROUGH an offensive linemen almost right at the snap. That's how DJ Williams played on a 4-12 team under an interim coach in the aftermath of Spygate II. He plays like that every down of every game because that's the kind of committed player he is, not because he's "looking for a big pay day" or building a highlight reel for another team. DJ's spent his entire career in Denver and doesn't look likely to go anywhere else, even though a lot of teams would be glad to have a quality coverage linebacker in the era of spread offenses, check down receivers and huge wide outs. I'm certainly glad we still have him, and very glad to see him on the field, healthy and winning games for us; I can only hope to continue seeing it for many years to come.
For today, my enthusiastic thanks to DJ for yet another job very well done and the kind of game winning play I've come to expect without ever taking for granted. :salute:
DJ lacks the size to play Sam and it was cruel to make him try, and the same applies to a lesser extent with MLB--but he tried anyway without complaints despite being a Pro Bowl caliber player at his natural Will position. Enter a new coach and a 3-4 and DJ found himself critically needed at inside linebacker in a whole new defensive system, where he quickly adapted and played well on a defence where few did. He always plays his heart out without grumbling, even when asked to do the impossible, and, IMHO, does not get nearly the appreciation he deserves for that. It was... disapponting to see so many ready to throw the teams leading tackler to the wolves over a single DUI; I won't pretend that's anything to be proud of, but since I can't watch a Ravens game without being told a guy who literally got away with murder is a lock for the Hall of Fame, he could have done far worse. It wasn't a pattern, he took his lumps for it and he's kept his nose clean since.
One of the few memorable plays for me last season was DJ diving to tackle a runner for a two yard loss THROUGH an offensive linemen almost right at the snap. That's how DJ Williams played on a 4-12 team under an interim coach in the aftermath of Spygate II. He plays like that every down of every game because that's the kind of committed player he is, not because he's "looking for a big pay day" or building a highlight reel for another team. DJ's spent his entire career in Denver and doesn't look likely to go anywhere else, even though a lot of teams would be glad to have a quality coverage linebacker in the era of spread offenses, check down receivers and huge wide outs. I'm certainly glad we still have him, and very glad to see him on the field, healthy and winning games for us; I can only hope to continue seeing it for many years to come.
For today, my enthusiastic thanks to DJ for yet another job very well done and the kind of game winning play I've come to expect without ever taking for granted. :salute: