Within a front seven loaded with new names in new places, Sam Williams has begun to carve out his own spotlight.
Through two weeks, the former second-round pick leads the team with six pressures, per PFF, flashing the burst and power that made him such a highly touted prospect during his days at Ole Miss. While Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence drew most of the attention in years past, Williams has used the opportunity now with both aforementioned names gone to emerge as a disruptive force.
The Cowboys’ formula has been constructed on pass rush depth. Williams is the new headliner, Danete Fowler Jr is the veteran stabilizer, and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku is a talent they expect a lot from moving forward. But Williams has become the high-energy, leading spark who can tilt drives with a few splash plays.
Against Chicago, and against quarterback Caleb Williams, who's internal clock continues to elongate, the Cowboys’ ability to collapse the pocket from all angles could prove decisive.
DE Sam Williams could flip Week 3 in the Cowboys' favor
Williams has shown flashes of the talent that made him the No. 1 overall pick, but he’s also been pressured heavily through his first two starts, largely due to his inability to get rid of the football and dissect coverages. Chicago’s offensive line has been inconsistent, sure, and while Williams’ mobility allows him to escape, it also leaves him prone to taking risks on the move. That’s where Williams comes in.
His quick first step and ability to flatten around the edge make him a dangerous matchup against Bears tackles who have struggled to anchor against speed, and then once an opponent oversteps to protect his outside shoulder, Williams has no issue jumping to the inside or winning through a players chest plate.
But Williams’ potential impact isn’t just about sacks. Pressure forces young quarterbacks into rushed reads, leading to incompletions or turnover-worthy plays. Even if Fowler or Ezeiruaku were to draw a double team, Williams’ opportunities in isolation could create momentum-shifting plays. A quarterback hit on third down, a hurry that forces an interception, or a strip-sack are all within his wheelhouse.
To open the game, Chicago HC Ben Johnson will likely counter by leaning on the run game and using quick throws to neutralize Dallas’ pass rush. It's also a good way to allow a young QB to get in rhythm under center.
For Williams, rush lane discipline is a must, and setting the boundary against designed quarterback runs and screens is a must-have. His growth as a more complete defender, not just a pure pass rusher, will be tested against an offense designed to keep Caleb Williams comfortable.
For Dallas, the key is forcing Chicago into predictable situations. If the Bears fall behind the sticks, the Cowboys’ defensive front can pin its ears back. In that scenario, Sam Williams’ explosiveness could shine early and often. His ability to generate pressure without sending an extra body help allows first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to keep coverage bodies deep -- a dangerous formula for a young quarterback with all the pressure in the world on his shoulders not to get to 0-3.
Week 3 offers Williams more than just a chance to pad his pressure stats. It’s an opportunity to solidify his role as a difference-maker in a defensive line rotation that thrives on pressure from a variety of different angles, even if a headliner like Parsons is now elsewhere. If he can disrupt Caleb Williams early and often, the Cowboys won’t just slow down Chicago’s offense -- they could control the flow of the entire game.