Raiders’ Williams: Versatility ‘overlooked’
Raiders receiver Tyrell Williams says that early in his NFL career, “people didn’t think I could go up and get contested catches.”
He describes his ability to run shorter routes as “overlooked.”
So it was telling to hear cornerback Daryl Worley’s response when asked recently to name his toughest matchup so far in training camp.
“Tyrell Williams for sure,” Worley said. “He can run quick routes and long routes. He’s definitely a highpoint guy, always competing for the ball. He’s very underrated, but he can do it all.”
Williams, a key part of the Raiders’ offseason overhaul at receiver, was cast as a deep threat as an undrafted rookie with the Chargers in 2015 because of his size (6foot4) and speed. It served him well the next year when, with top receiver Keenan Allen sidelined by an injury, Williams led the Chargers with 1,059 receiving yards and tied for the NFL lead with six 40plusyard catches.
After his numbers dipped in 2017, Williams sought to broaden his game by “being able to run everything.” Which led him to Steve Calhoun, a personal coach in Southern California.
Calhoun had trained Allen since the latter was in high school. He met with Williams for the first time in spring 2018 and quickly diagnosed Williams’ routerunning.
“He was a speed guy, a real takethetopoff guy,” Calhoun said in a phone interview, “and he really struggled to get in and out of his cuts.”
With the Chargers, Williams’ role often had been to run deep routes and clear space for Allen or tight end Antonio Gates underneath. It behooved him on such plays to reach top speed quickly.
Calhoun’s first advice to Williams was to ease back the throttle.
“I said, ‘OK, Tyrell, if you run a 4.3, you don’t have to run that all the time,’” Calhoun said. “If you run a 4.5, (defensive backs) are still going to open their hips and start running, and that allows you to transition easier in and out of breaks.”
That offseason, Williams worked on ankle stability — important for planting his feet to cut — and sinking his hips to get in and out of breaks. Gradually, Calhoun said, Williams worked back up to running crisp routes at full speed. That gave him the option of varying his speed within a route.
“When Tyrell comes off the ball (at full speed), he’s taking long strides and gobbling up (a defensive back’s) cushion,” Calhoun said. “He’s in drive phase for the first four steps, but then he’s actually just maintaining that speed and now he can get in and out of his cuts.”
Calhoun said Williams “really started to put it together” in their final few workouts before camp last year and “put it on display” in Week 7 against Tennessee. Williams had four catches for 118 yards, including a 75yard touchdown.
This offseason, Williams focused on intermediatelevel routes and getting open against man coverage. Early in camp, Williams has made a number of catches on short or midlevel routes, often with a defender in his wake.
“I feel like at any time, I can run by people,” Williams said. “That just sets me up to be able to run any other type of route. Just getting an opportunity to run those routes has been like the most important thing to me, getting those opportunities and proving I can do it.”
In a practice last weekend, Williams made a difficult catch in the end zone by tapping both feet at the sideline while securing a throw from Derek Carr. Afterward, Carr said his confidence in Williams has grown from his “consistently” making catches. Carr also remarked on Williams’ “effortless” speed.
“He and (tight end) Darren Waller are similar — they have such long strides it doesn’t look like they’re really trying that hard,” Carr said. “The first couple of balls you throw them are behind them and you’re like, that doesn’t make sense. Then you turn the film on and see the kind of ground he’s covering.”
Williams has been perhaps more visible in camp with top receiver Antonio Brown sidelined by a foot ailment. Head coach Jon Gruden and others have made a point to laud Williams, whom the Raiders signed in March to a reported fouryear deal worth up to $47 million. Coordinator Greg Olson said the Raiders “targeted (Williams) as a No. 1 wide receiver” before trading for Brown.
“I think everyone that’s been at practice is seeing Tyrell not just as a No. 2 receiver,” Carr said. “He can easily take the featured role and be a 100catch, 1,000yard guy.”
Williams declared himself a “No. 1 receiver” at the end of last season. But he said last week it “really doesn’t bother me if I stay under the radar or not” playing alongside Brown.
“Obviously, (Brown) is going to demand a lot of attention,” Williams said. “That’s going to open up a lot for me to be able to go and win 1on1. So I think it’s just going to be good.”