The Vikings Corner Capable of Going Toe-to-Toe with the NFL’s Bully Receivers
At 6’3″, 212 pounds, Vikings corner Joejuan Williams is a towering defender.
There aren’t too many defensive backs with better size. Presumably, Brian Flores loves that part of Williams’ game, especially given who is on the schedule. In Week 1, the Vikings will get to square off with Mike Evans. In Week 2, the Vikings will have a shot at A.J. Brown. Week 3 features Mike Williams (plus Quentin Johnston) and Week 4 will feature Laviska Shenault.
Are you seeing a trend, folks?
On a nearly weekly basis, the Vikings will be tasked with matching up with huge receivers. Having a corner who is large enough to mix it up with these pass catchers is necessary.
Joejuan Williams, The Towering Vikings Corner
Only 25, Joejuan Williams has encountered a lot across his 4 seasons in the NFL.
He was originally a 2nd-round selection of the New England Patriots. His frame offers reason for optimism even as his 4.64 forty is a bit underwhelming. Ideally, Williams is being tasked with guarding D.K. Metcalf instead of Tyler Lockett. Yes, the vision is to let the long & strong corner go toe-to-toe with the NFL’s humongous pass catchers while someone like Byron Murphy takes on the smaller, shiftier receivers.
While in New England, Williams failed to distinguish himself. Williams has just a single start in his career but he has played in 36 games. Unfortunately, he missed all of last season due to an injury.
So far, Williams has been creating some optimism at training camp. Take a look at the clip below for a rep he lost:
The first thing one notices with Williams is his size. His long arms allow him to get his mitts on his receiver while pushing him toward the boundary. In true man-to-man coverage, the corner wants to work the receiver toward the sideline. Getting one’s body in-between the receiver and the QB makes the throw more difficult to complete, especially if the receiver gets squeezed toward the sideline.
Now, Williams lost the rep, but that shouldn’t hinder us from seeing the positives. He didn’t bite on the receiver’s release that sought to get him moving inside. He stayed square, eventually putting himself in a nice position to cover the receiver. At times, you just have to tip the cap to the QB/receiver for making an outstanding play. More often than not, Williams would win that play.
During an interview with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Joejuan Williams spoke about his approach to training camp. “Overall, I’m just thankful to be here really. It’s a great program, great organization,” Williams explained, “I’ve been learning and growing a lot here over OTAs, over our minicamp, and now training camp.”
“We got a long way to go,” Williams said when asked about getting 1st-team reps. He notes his desire to keep improving and to keep approaching things on a daily basis. Even keeled and level headed, Williams certainly speaks like a veteran. His temperament lends itself well to corner since it’s a position that has dramatic highs and low.
Since the offseason began, Vikings fans have spent no little time worrying about the defense. Hiring Brian Flores looks like an A+ decision but there are legitimate concerns about whether there’s enough talent to even get into the NFL’s average for defensive play.
Overcoming the widespread doubt must involve certain players performing well above expectations. Williams has a path toward becoming that player. His size beckons the defensive coordinator to let him wrestle with some of the larger receivers on Minnesota’s schedule. Being able to slow those players down will go a long way in resurrecting the defense.
Williams goes into the season on a 1-year deal with a $1.035 million cap charge. Just $25,000 is guaranteed. Given his age, Williams could be a long-term help at corner if he can stay healthy and play well.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
