"I don't even think we've seen the best of Pooh because we don't have pads on," Williams said.
Still, he's seen enough from Paul's mindset and physicality in a limited practice capacity to know that he has tons of potential. Roles are far from determined, but Williams would not bet against Paul forcing his way into opportunities as a rookie.
"That kid has been unbelievable as far as his preparation," Williams said. "He's a football guy. It is his number one priority. So, with that being said, I'm going with him because I think he's going to will himself to be good."
Last year's faults shaping this year's preparation
The Rams' run defense had its ups and downs last year. However, their late-season triumphs against the run were largely overshadowed by Saquon Barkley's 205-yard explosion in the team's divisional round loss to Philadelphia.
Williams is using last year's experiences as a blueprint for what the group needs to work on ahead of the 2025 campaign.
"It's been just good knowing the defense and how people are going to attack us now," Williams said. "... It gives me a better chance of going into individual (drills), putting them in situations and letting their eye progression know like, 'Okay, these are the ways they're going to try to attack you, and this is the way we need to respond.'"
Williams said they must keep better track of the ball carrier within the context of the defensive line. There are times to press the gap and times to stay home to play a gap-and-a-half – he understands those opportunities better now, and his players will too. He's confident in that because the room is full of intelligent players who can take concepts learned in the classroom and apply them to the field quickly.
"Once we started understanding the line movements and how the line is playing, now it gives us more freedom to understand where the ball should go if our d-line is doing what they're supposed to," Williams said. "... It feels way more connected."
Omar Speights is "the definition of preparation and professionalism"
Speights, a 2024 undrafted free agent signing out of LSU, burst onto the scene as a rookie after Troy Reeder went down in Week 6. He took the starting job and never looked back, starting 10 games and ranking fourth on the team in total tackles with 67.
Ahead of his sophomore season, Williams just wants Speights to continue his obsessive preparation to remain consistent all year long.
"Omar, continue to be Omar," Williams said. "There's a reason why he ended up playing and a reason why he had the success he did as a rookie because of the things that he did to prepare his body, things that he did to prepare from a game plan standpoint. So for him, I told him what I wanted out of him is to continue with the consistency.
"He is a dog. That dude, he's the definition of preparation and professionalism. And as long as he continues to do that, he's going to play in this league for a long time."
Troy Reeder provides "a comfort level"
Reeder, who started the first six games of the season for L.A. before landing on injured reserve, was re-signed late in the free agency process. For Williams, the move provided some extra familiarity and veteran presence in a group full of young bucks.
"Troy was the ultimate professional last year, (he) was playing well before he got injured," Williams said. "And then even the times when he didn't come back, he was always present in all the meetings, he was present in all the game plans and understood.
"He was like another coach on the sideline, talking to guys and able to communicate. So having Troy in the room is actually a comfort level for me as well, just because I have another guy in the room that I have a lot of respect for and will talk to about a lot of different things."
Shaun Dolac "could teach you the defense right now"
The Rams are no strangers to undrafted free agents forcing their way into snaps through grit and gumption. Dolac embodies those qualities, and the 2025 UDFA signing out of Buffalo has made a lasting impression during OTAs.
"Shaun could probably take you out here and teach you the defense right now," Williams said. "He is a quick study, man, he really is. And that's one thing you respect from him… I think from the way he plays the game above the neck and the way that he had tackled in college, (if) he does that, Shaun is going to be another guy that will be somebody to reckon with."
Dolac led the FBS in total tackles last season with 168, averaging 12.9 per game. He fell in the draft due in large part to below-average measurements. The Rams have never valued those attributes as much as tangible skill sets, and Dolac was one of the most productive players at his position in college.
Most coaches say that every position holds open competitions during training camp, but this is a group where that truly applies.