MINNEAPOLIS — Milton Williams stood inside the visitor’s locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, one stall down from fellow defensive tackle Christian Barmore, and thought about the future.
Williams played sparingly in the Patriots’ 20-12 preseason win over the Vikings, and Barmore didn’t play at all. But the big-ticket free agent signed this offseason has seen enough this summer to have a sense for what kind of impact they can make as a pair when the regular season begins.
“I already told him,” Williams said, “it’s gonna be how it was last year with me and [Eagles defensive tackle] Jalen Carter. They’re going to have to pick where they’re going to slide to. Somebody’s gonna be 1-on-1, you know?
“We’ve been on each other to win. Whoever you’re going against, it don’t matter. You got to figure out a way to win, especially in game times. It’s just the bottom line. Winning 1-on-1s and go from there.”
Day 2 of joint practices against the Vikings wasn’t as productive as Day 1 for the Patriots defense. There were uncharacteristic breakdowns in coverage, and they had trouble generating pressure consistently.
But over the course of three days in Minnesota, Barmore and Williams stood out as difficult to block. If they can approach something close to what Williams and Carter gave the Super Bowl-winning Eagles defense a season ago — lofty expectations given the heights they reached in Philadelphia — that would go a long way in helping Mike Vrabel’s attacking-style defense find sustainable success.
“What we do defensively is gonna ride through us all season long,” Williams said. “We know that. We come in every day, trying to set the tone. Hopefully we can do that and carry it throughout the season.”
Williams had one of the highlight plays for the Patriots in their win over Minnesota, generating pressure (along with outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson) on Vikings backup quarterback Sam Howell. The resulting poor throw fluttered and was intercepted by corner Alex Austin.
For Williams, however, he has his sights set on standout plays in bigger moments.
“Preseason,” he said, shrugging. “We’re gonna look at it. Flush it. It really don’t count for nothing. As long as we’re out there executing the call, that’s all that matters.
“Do something good, you’re supposed to. If you don’t do nothing… I’m ready to play real football that matters and counts for something.”
When that moment arrives, Williams will form a tandem with Barmore that will carry big-time outside expectations. But perhaps none will be loftier than the expectations they have for themselves.
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