Getting a running back who’s coming off a 17-touchdown season, as the New Orleans Saints have done with the signing of former Detroit Lions back Jamaal Williams, would seem to be a total slam-dunk. And it is in a lot of ways, but there are come questions about Williams’ running style that would complicate things were the deal not so team-friendly — three years, $12 million, with just $8 million guaranteed.
It’s not that Williams is a bad running back — he’s obviously not, and that’s not really the point. The point is that if the Saints want him to be their workhorse guy — and they may have no choice if Alvin Kamara serves any kind of suspension based on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm — New Orleans’ offensive line will have to be expert in opening gaps for Williams. If that’s the case, he’s great. But Williams, even at 6-foot-0 and 224 pounds, is not a guy who’s going to rule the game after contact. Last season, he forced just 30 missed tackles on 262 attempts — for context, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders led the league with 90 missed tackles forced — and Williams’ average of 2.78 yards after contact per carry is similarly average to below-average.
The Saints ranked 12th in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards metrics, which tie offensive line and running back performance together, while the Lions ranked seventh, so that works in Williams’ favor. What you don’t want is Williams getting cinched up behind a line that can’t create.
Williams does have the vision and acceleration to take advantage of those gaps when they’re open, and as long as that continues to be the case, the Saints got themselves quite the bargain here.
