Vikings vs. N.Y. Giants: Kevin Williams’ numbers down, but Pat Williams is benefitting

A statistical analysis of Kevin Williams' performance this season compared to a year ago would lead to this conclusion: The Pro Bowl defensive tackle isn't living up to the $33.2 million, five-year contract extension he received last December.

Of course, Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar would be more than happy to tell you where to put your statistical analysis. He says the numbers don't begin to tell the story.

First, the figures. Through 10 games in 2006, Williams had 60 tackles (37 solo), five sacks, six passes broken up, seven tackles for a loss and 29 quarterback hurries. This season, Williams has 33 tackles (23 solo), two sacks, four pass breakups, four tackles for a loss and 24 hurries.

"Teams are double-teaming him," Dunbar said. "We go into games and look at the people who are blocking other people's 3-techniques [a technical term for Williams' position] and when they come and play Kevin it's totally different. Everybody tries to point to him, they've got backs chipping him. ... They change everything they are doing to try to take him out."

Opponents are faced with a "pick your poison" scenario when it comes to deciding how to block Kevin and Pat Williams -- the leading reason the Vikings were No. 1 in the NFL against the run last season and are atop the league again heading into today's game against the Giants.

Last season, many teams elected to put two blockers on Pat Williams, and Kevin was the beneficiary. This year, it's Kevin who is drawing a tackle and a guard, freeing up Pat to have some huge games at nose tackle. In last week's 29-22 victory over Oakland, Pat Williams had a season-high 10 tackles. Kevin has yet to be in double figures for tackles in a game this year, although he does have 11 over the past two games.

"Individual things are great, but I'm still playing good, solid football and doing my responsibilities," Kevin Williams said. "If you look at a lot of tape, they are running at Pat more than they are running at me. When they do, it's cutting back to Pat. Pat and Ray [Edwards, the right end] and most of the those guys on the backside are making a lot of tackles."

One reason middle linebacker E.J. Henderson leads the Vikings with 103 tackles and might be heading to the Pro Bowl is because of the attention Kevin Williams draws.

Williams explains his predicament in a tone that contains no hint of frustration. While Pat Williams is a constant vocal presence and is more than willing to fill reporter's notebooks with potential bulletin-board material, Kevin Williams is happy to fly below the radar.

That's why as Pat Williams talked last week about how the Packers' success on the ground against the Vikings on Nov. 11 would be a one-time thing, Kevin Williams quietly went about the job of making sure there would be no repeat.

"I don't want to sit here and tell you what I'm going to do," he said. "You'll see it when I play on the field. I felt the same way he does about what was going on and the way they ran the ball against us. I don't think we'll ever allow that again this season. As much pride as we have on defense, we're going to clean that stuff up."

Given Williams' natural talent, staying completely out of the spotlight isn't realistic. Since being selected in the first-round of the 2003 draft, he has started in two Pro Bowls and twice earned Associated Press All-Pro honors.

Dunbar was Williams' position coach for two seasons at Oklahoma State (2002-03) and now is in his second year in that role at the NFL. He calls Williams "hands down, the best player I've coached."

But could continued double-teams keep Williams from making a return trip to Hawaii this season? Last year, he and Pat Williams were able to go as a tandem for the first time.

Kevin Williams doesn't seem to be sweating it.

"The numbers are not as high as before and the defensive tackle spot, nobody really watches it," he said. "All they know is how many sacks you've got or whatever. You can have 12 tackles but if you've got 15 sacks, they think you're wrecking and killing. A lot of times that gets overshadowed as to how good and how well players play."

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com