Health Of Demetrius Williams Is Ravens 2009 X-Factor

The player known as “Spiderman” is officially on the hot seat, and he knows it.

Having reportedly bulked up this off-season, adding 15 pounds to the upper body of his relatively narrow frame, Demetrius Williams may be poised for a break-out season in this, his upcoming fourth NFL season. Possessing incredibly strong hands, short-area quickness that belies his lanky build, and a knack for the big play, Williams’ potential is immense.

Yet his inability to stay healthy thus far in his NFL career is most certainly a red flag.

In week eight of the 2008 season Williams hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass from rookie passer Joe Flacco against the Oakland Raiders, his most significant breakthrough in an otherwise lukewarm start to the Ravens season offensively. Only a few plays later, his season was derailed seemingly before it ever got off the ground, as he sustained an ankle injury that landed the talented, but maligned pass-catcher on injured reserve.

87’s injury revealed itself to be a devastating blow for a franchise that would go on to challenge for a once thought-to-be improbable Super Bowl appearance. In his absence the Raven passing game showed tremendous signs of progress as the season wore on, and though their rookie passer grew more comfortable with every game, the team was severely hampered strategically by Williams’ injury.

In today’s NFL, third receivers are as important to a successful passing offense as are the two traditional starters. In that vein, the league’s truly great offensive units routinely take advantage of the mismatches their third receiver can create.

With rules changing over the last decade limiting the physicality of defensive backs in coverage, there is perhaps no better mismatch a team can orchestrate than lining up their third receiver against an opposing defenses' third cornerback—often times their nickelback.

Third corners are traditionally a team's third-best pass defender, and the nickel position is itself historically defined by players known more for their physical play than their finesse in coverage.

For the Ravens, Williams’ injury not only affected his personal production and promise last year—it restricted their offensive flexibility and forced two tremendously raw reserves into William’s underrated, yet vital role. Inexperienced rookie receiver Marcus Smith and slight return specialist Yamon Figurs were incapable of filling that third receiver void left in Williams’ wake with any consistency. Without a competent player manning the number three slot, and with protection deficiencies that further hamstrung the team’s offensive versatility and manpower, the Ravens passing offense slowly became predictable and therein far easier to defend.

Riding the strength of their defense in last year’s playoff run, the Ravens were able to keep games against good competition close, and managed to win two road games in Miami and Tennessee largely on the strength of a defense that turned the ball over relentlessly against substandard offense.

Yet the Ravens offense itself struggled to find its footing for most of their playoff run, clearly restricted by their lack of depth at the receiver position. 

It caught up with them in Pittsburgh.

In the waning moments of last year's AFC Championship game, the team’s lack of flexibility allowed a championship-caliber Steelers defense to key-in on the only personnel that threatened them—starters Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton. With those two taken out of the equation, and on the strength of a tremendous front seven, the Ravens were boxed in and knocked out.

The final blow; a Joe Flacco interception thrown into near triple-coverage intended for Derrick Mason, returned for a decisive zig-zagging touchdown scamper by Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.

The trickle down affect of Williams' injury loomed larger than perhaps anyone could have imagined, for a team that was hit as hard by the injury bug last season as perhaps any other in the league.

In 2009, the key to the Ravens success may again rest squarely upon the health of a purple-clad Spiderman.

Will the Ravens’ superhero save the day?