How to contain Caleb Williams? Top defensive prospects share how they did it

How to contain Caleb Williams? Top defensive prospects share how they did it originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

INDIANAPOLIS – What’s it take to stop Caleb Williams? That’s a question that figures to be on many minds from now through his arrival in the NFL. GMs who are building their draft boards, fans who are trying to keep up with the latest draft info and defensive coordinators who will be tasked with keeping him in check.

Based on the level of hype surrounding Williams at this point you’d imagine he’s an unstoppable force. An offensive god running past mere mortals on the field. Obviously that’s not the case. While scouts almost all agree that Williams is a rare talent and one of the most tantalizing QB prospects in years, he’s not an infallible football machine.

On Wednesday, some of the players who managed to stop– or at least slow– Williams spoke at the NFL Combine and they shared how they did it. In speaking with these players two things became apparent: all the players had a healthy respect for Williams’ game-breaking ability and all the players were laser focused on doing the little things correctly.

“You gameplan on everybody, but for someone like him that can make every throw on the field… he’s an unbelievable talent,” said UCLA defensive lineman Gabriel Murphy. “He’s hard to take down. Thick build.”

In two games against USC, Murphy sacked Williams 1.5 times. Washington pass rusher Bralen Trice played against Williams just once and notched half of a sack in the lone meeting. He echoed Murphy’s sentiment.

“Caleb is a great athlete,” said Trice. “Freak athlete. He’s a generational talent, I think. He’s one of those quarterbacks that we’re out there praying for– just seeing him out there running around and throwing the ball, it’s like ‘Sheesh, this guy’s good.’”

Williams racked up over 300 passing yards and scored four touchdowns against the Huskies defense, but they managed to contain him and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/contain-caleb-williams-top-defensive-205102158.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-02-28 20:51:02

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