Whicker: Darious Williams, the Rams’ ‘other’ cornerback has been a revelation

Rams defensive back Darious Williams returns an interception 42 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of their playoff victory over the Seahawks last weekend in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Rams defensive back Darious Williams returns an interception 42 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of their playoff victory over the Seahawks last weekend in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Rams defensive back Darious Williams looks back at Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf and quarterback Russell Wilson, right, as he scores on a 42-yard interception return during the first half of Saturday’s playoff game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Rams defensive back Darious Williams, left, celebrates with teammates Jalen Ramsey, center, and defensive end Morgan Fox after Williams returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter of their playoff game against the Seahawks on Saturday in Seattle. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Rams quarterback Jared Goff, left, and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, right, celebrate with defensive back Darious Williams (31) after his 42-yard interception return for a touchdown during the second quarter of their playoff game against the Seahawks on Saturday in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

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Darious Williams had barely taken his interception across the Seattle goal line when Bill Clark grabbed his cellphone.

“You’re the real-est, too,” Clark texted.

That was a reply to Williams’ text to Clark, the UAB head coach, when the Blazers had beaten Marshall. Williams had congratulated Clark for being the “real-est” that day.

“I was laughing about that,” Clark said. “You know, you have to keep up with the things they say.”

Clark knew Williams was real long before the NFL did, long before Williams had begun teaching the league’s quarterbacks to be careful for what they wish.

As they avoid All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey like an eye-damaging eclipse, they throw to the other side and inadvertently make Williams famous. He had four interceptions in the regular season, the most on the Rams, and then made that brazen move to ruin a bubble screen and take the interception 42 yards, a major ingredient in the Rams’ 30-20 victory.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Rams’ secondary No. 1 in the league and ranks Williams fourth and Ramsey seventh in coverage among cornerbacks.

But Sunday’s play dwarfs all others. Williams saw the play so quickly that he blasted through Freddie Swaim, the blocker, and took Russell Wilson’s throw in stride (the third time he intercepted Wilson this season). Not even DK Metcalf could run him down.

“He returned one like that for us against Southern Mississippi in 2017, just a mirror-image play,” Clark said. “He’s been playing press coverage for a long time. I used to get irritated when they said he was raw. Obviously, he’s not 6-foot-2 (he’s 5-9) but he’s got long arms, he’s so good with the ball in the air. I thought he was a major miss when he didn’t get drafted.”

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Source:: Los Angeles Daily News