Los Angeles cornerback Darius Williams (31) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks tight ... [+]
The Los Angeles Rams look for revenge when wrestling with the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC West showdown on Sunday.
Darius Williams, the Rams’ other cornerback, seeks to continue his stellar play which has him poised for a hefty payday.
Teammate Jalen Ramsey, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback with a $105 million deal, starts opposite of Williams. But Williams is earning his team-friendly compensation of $750,000 by being more than a complementary piece to Ramsey.
“He’s got all the skills and characteristics you’re looking for,’’ L.A. coach Sean McVay said about Williams, mimicking observations often made about Ramsey. “I love his mental makeup and you just see the athleticism.’’
Williams’ rise wasn’t an overnight success. He caught coach McVay’s attention in 2018 when disrupting the high-powered Rams attack as a backup while duplicating opponent’s defensive schemes.
“He was locking our guys down when he was on the scout team,’’ McVay said. “You’d almost have to tell him, ‘Hey, take it easy, man. You’re going to shake our confidence going into this game.’’’
Scout’s honor, Williams has taken a significant step in his unlikely career while back peddling in coverages. He prepares to slow down the 49ers after clipping the Seahawks’ wings in a recent 23-16 win.
Williams intercepted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson twice, giving him four aerial turnovers in 10 games. That leads the Rams, is tied for second in the NFL and his 12 passes defensed is among the league’s top 10.
“All four of his picks have been huge parts of three wins that we’ve had this year,’’ McVay said.
The Rams (7-3) try to avoid the 49ers (4-6) from completing a season sweep when they come to L.A. to cap the holiday weekend.
Before Williams flashed in 2020, few not associated with the Rams had a vision of the 5-foot-9, 187-pounder becoming an impact player. The third-year pro played at Alabama-Birmingham, but only after his collegiate career started at Ohio’s Division III Marietta College.
When first trying to walk-on at UAB, but was ran toward the door. When it brought in new coaches the following year, Williams pounded on that door again and he was granted a roster spot.
But he didn’t hear his name called in the draft, landed with the Baltimore Ravens and played four snaps.
The Rams signed Williams after he was released by the Ravens and they’ve been crowing about it since. Opposing quarterbacks leery of heaving offerings in Ramsey’s direction, have been picking on Williams.
Make that trying to expose Williams, who’s gone from being an undrafted underdog to getting praise from one of the Rams’ biggest defensive dogs.
“It’s time to start talking about D-Will in this league as a household name, a guy who could potentially be All-Pro, as a guy who should be a Pro Bowler,’’ Ramsey said.
That makes sense and it will translate into dollars and cents for Williams. He’ll be an restricted free agent after the season, with the Rams putting a high tender offer on him to discourage others from stealing McVay’s fantastic find.
“I think he is just a clutch player,’’ McVay said. “He’s a guy that if he gets his hands on the ball, he’s usually going to catch it.’’
Williams has also snagged a reputation for being a playmaking cornerback, a rise in statue that will lead to a raise.
