Leonard Williams, our “Big Cat” in the trenches, is statistically the best interior run stopper in the entire NFL through the first five weeks of the 2026 regular season. Yeah, you read that right. The man is still dominating, and we’ve got the data to back it up.
The Data Is in From Sumer Sports: Big Cat Is #1
Football data scientist Tej Seth, crediting Sumer Sports, just dropped a leaderboard on Wednesday for a stat called Defensive Impact Per Rush Attempt (DIPRA). This isn’t just some random number, folks. DIPRA aims to measure a player’s overall impact against the run, and our guy Williams is at the top of the heap. There’s no public info on how DIPRA is calculated, but it’s likely based on Expected Points Added (EPA), not just simple tackles. This innovative idea could seriously change how we look at defensive line play. We’ve all seen the Seahawks’ run defense shine, and Williams is a massive piece of that puzzle.
Williams’ Impact Goes Way Beyond the Stat Sheet
If you’re watching the film, you already know Williams’ impact can’t just be measured by tackles. This dude is constantly taking on double teams, moving offensive linemen like they’re practice dummies, and just blowing up run plays before they even start. There’s no traditional stat for that kind of disruption yet, but DIPRA seems to be filling that void. It gives us a data-based way to measure the individual “impact” of a defensive tackle in disrupting the run game. Even without a specific number for moving an O-lineman, the evidence is clear: our “Big Cat” is still as good as anyone when it comes to stopping the run cold.
This kind of play from Williams makes life so much easier for our linebacking corps. And they’re gonna need it this week. Two of our linebackers, Drake Thomas and Chazz Surratt, are gonna miss Thursday’s game against the Denver Broncos due to injuries. It’s a tough break, but knowing Williams is back there doing what he does best against the run is a huge relief.
So, get ready for Thursday’s game against the Broncos. Our defensive line, led by Leonard Williams, is gonna have to step up big time, especially with Thomas and Surratt sidelined. It’s an early season test, and we’ll be watching to see if Williams continues to prove why the data says he’s the best.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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