Florida State football’s Amaree Williams is starting to carve a consistent role on the defensive side of the football, and he could help spark the Seminoles’ pass rush against Pitt.
Williams has been playing on both sides of the football for the Seminoles (3-2, 0-2 ACC), at defensive end and tight end, but has found himself gaining more opportunities on defense. In the 28-22 loss to Miami, Williams played 11 snaps and recorded a pair of tackles and a quarterback pressure on Carson Beck, dislodging the football from the Miami gunslinger as he went to throw a pass.
It’s rare to see a player play two ways so close to the football, and it seems like, at least for now, Williams’s immediate future is on the defensive side of the ball, listed behind starter Deante McCray as a co-backup at defensive end with Jayson Jenkins.
“He’s probably the only person I’ve ever seen go effectively and be able to impact the game on offense and defense. He’s one of a kind. I’m excited to work with him,” McCray said. “Working with him, if I’m inside he’s outside, it’s a great feeling to have more talent added to the D-line.”
Williams has primarily been a rotational piece on both sides of the football, but when he’s at defensive end, he’s got pressure home. He has a sack this season, recorded in the same game he caught a touchdown, and he’s taken 15 snaps in the pass rush of 21 total this season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Tight end coach Chris Thomsen said that Williams remains involved with the offense, despite his increased role with the defensive unit, and said the sophomore’s football smarts have put him in a position to be successful no matter where he lines up.
“He’s probably focusing more on defense right now, but we still give him anything new in the offensive game plan. If something crazy happened, we could grab him back. He’s a smart guy, he can handle that,” Thomsen said. “Closer to the ball, playing both ways is more involved than for a corner. The majority of his focus is on one side, with packages on the other. He’s done a really good job picking all that up.”
Williams could be in line for more opportunities against Pitt, especially with the Seminoles’ pass rush in need of something different to create pressure.
FSU has 80 pressures this season, with 13 sacks, but in the last two games against Virginia and Miami, the Seminoles have recorded just 29 pressures, with a season low of seven pressures generated against the Hurricanes, with Williams’s recording one of them.
Facing a Pitt team with a true-freshman quarterback in Mason Heintschel, a good pass-rush is crucial for the Seminoles to create havoc against the young signal caller. Williams could be a key part of that, and McCray thinks he can be a long-term answer to the pass rush as he continues to develop.
“Seeing him grow is impressive because he has a lot of natural, raw talent,” McCray said. “He can win reps off of that. Once he hones it, I’m sure he’ll be a great, effective pass rusher.”
How to watch FSU football vs. Pitt
When: Saturday, Oct. 11, noon
Where: Doak Campbell Stadium / Tallahassee, Florida
Watch: ESPN
Watch FSU vs. Pitt with a free trial on Fubo!
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Games with an asterisk are ACC games.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football’s pass rush needs a boost. Amaree Williams could help that vs. Pitt
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
