‘Duke’ embraces his role as go-to receiver
With 31 catches this season, he’s become a difference-maker for Eskimos’ O-line
Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly insists he looks for more than just one receiver in times of need this season.
Yet coming off their first CFL bye week, and heading toward an encounter on the road against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, Reilly seems to have found a preferred target in D’haquille (Duke) Williams.
Williams has a team-high 31 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns through five games this season to lead a talented Eskimos receiving corps, which also includes Derel Walker, Kenny Stafford and Nathaniel Behar.
“First, it’s just because of his talent. That’s always the biggest part of it with wide receivers: when they have talent, they have success,” Reilly said of Williams. “It is also in large part because of the team. The O -line is doing a great job of blocking, giving me time to find the open guy.
“But the reason those guys have success is because they work hard at their craft, they work on their routes during, before and after practice trying to figure out all the little details of how to get better. Duke is a prime example of that, he’s a big, strong receiver that has a great catch radius, but he’s gotten faster this year than he was last year and he’s gotten better at the details of running his routes.”
Williams, 25, is in his second year with the Eskimos. The Los Angeles product, who attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before moving on to Auburn University, was outstanding in a 16-15 win against the Toronto Argonauts prior to the bye week, catching nine passes for 123 yards with a touchdown.
“That was great, but it’s over now, we’re ready to start over,” Williams said as the Eskimos returned to practice this weekend. “Me and Mike are starting to get better acquainted with each other, we’re starting to get more confidence, and he’s starting to get more confidence in me. All I’m trying to do is earn his trust, be a (safety) blanket for whenever he needs me. That’s what I’m coming to do, come into practice every day and work hard, just show him that I’m getting better, show the coaches that
The reason those guys have success is because they work hard at their craft, they work on their routes during, before and after practice ...
I’m trying to get better each and every day.”
Signed as a free agent prior to last season, Williams had an excellent rookie year with 46 receptions for 715 yards and four touchdowns. He came into this season looking to improve on those numbers and decided to trim down in the offseason to be better suited for the CFL.
“It’s helped a lot,” Williams said. “I’m not heavy, I get to run long and I don’t get tired after certain drives. And when the DB is tired, I actually have more energy than them, so that helps me out on other plays too. But the weight loss is definitely in my favour right now.”
Also in his favour is Williams’ desire to be the Eskimos’ big-play receiver. He wants the ball in pressure situations.
“I like pressure, I’m built for pressure, and if Mike needs to come to me, I’m willing to make the play,” Williams said. “But we also have other receivers that don’t mind getting the ball under pressure too. Whoever it goes to, I’m sure that guy will come down with it.”
Reilly has shown confidence in Williams all season, and due to his six-foot-three, 225-pound frame and impressive wingspan, the Eskimos quarterback just needs to get the ball in his vicinity.
“We have a lot of guys like that,” Reilly said.
“Of course, Derel is one of the best at that as well. Kenny is a speed guy that can get over the top of any coverage, but he also isn’t scared to run any crossing routes or anything like that.
“I’ve got faith in all of our guys. There are times that I’m going to take chances that normally I wouldn’t take with a different set of receivers just because I have confidence they are going to come down with the ball. Duke has definitely earned my trust in that regard, but all of my guys have too.”
The passing game has been one of the Eskimos’ strengths this season, which is not a surprise considering the league’s most outstanding player is throwing the ball. And for the time being, Williams is finding himself at the other end of passes in important situations.
“It just so happens that he’s getting open because he’s running really good routes,” Reilly said. “The other guys understand that too, and they know that in any game any of our guys can be that 10-target guy with 100 yards, that’s just how it goes.”