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Having never met Chris Williams before, I was a little surprised by him.
It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that someone who sat out a season in a contract dispute, as Williams had done while a Hamilton Ticat in 2013, might be a bit of the hardened type, and maybe someone with a little bit of attitude.
Seated at a table at the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ team breakfast on Thursday, Williams presented anything but. He was warm and friendly, relaxed and laughing easily. As he gets ready to hit the field against the Edmonton Eskimos in the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw, the 2015 Eastern All-Star receiver is comfortable, and ready to talk about his skill set, his teammates, his past holdout and how his expectations have been met by an organization he loves.
“It’s a true family atmosphere,” he beams, when asked to describe what it is he likes about being a REDBLACK. “This team has been the closest team I’ve ever been on. These guys, they care about each other and they wanna help each other do everything. Not just win, but help each other with life. Help each other with family and decisions. It’s an awesome group to be around.”
Williams has not disappointed in his return to the CFL this season, unless you’re talking about the kick return game, the aspect of football he absolutely dominated as a Ticat during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The REDBLACKS have not been able to spring him with any consistency, this season, but that’s more of a function of special teams as a whole, as opposed to him as an individual, according to General Manager Marcel Desjardins, who says Williams has brought exactly what the team expected.
“If we need something to happen, he’s gonna make it happen. He’s been everything we thought he would be,” said Desjardins.
The 28-year-old speedster from Fort Worth, Texas, ended the regular season with 1,214 receiving yards on 88 receptions, placing him third among all CFL receivers. Those numbers are obvious illustrations as to why Desjardins would feel satisfied with the signing of Williams, which happened back in April. For his part, Williams says that his expectations have also been met, right up to giving those table side interviews during Grey Cup Week.
“I think if you look at my comments when I signed, a lot of ‘em were geared toward getting to this moment and having a chance to play for the Grey Cup. I truly did believe that. Otherwise I wouldn’t have signed here.”
Returning to the CFL this season, after nearly two years in the NFL, Williams has found the kind of atmosphere, both on and off the field, that he can enjoy and one that he says brings out his best. He credits his teammates and Desjardins, Head Coach Rick Campbell and the entire REDBLACKS organization for making that so.
“This team has really been very fortunate to have a head coach and a support system and a staff that has really let us be ourselves,” he says. “When you’re able to do that, you’re gonna play the best you can. You’re truly comfortable with what you’re doing.”
Comfortable is something Williams was not, back in 2013 when he decided not to return to the Ticats, after two stellar seasons. Named the CFL’s rookie of the year in 2011, Williams was named the league’s best special teams player the following season when he chalked up six touchdowns on returns. Williams sat out, fought the Ticats in court and was eventually released in October of that year, signing with the New Orleans Saints.
“All that stuff was done for a reason,” he says, with no trace of detectable bitterness. “It was done, based on my beliefs and what I chose to stand for. It needed to be done. There were things that weren’t going the way it was supposed to go.”
Williams conveys strong convictions, a characteristic that he says was fostered by his mother, Carol, and his father, Wallace. Carol is a track and cross-country coach and Wallace a basketball coach, so you can be sure discipline was a hallmark of the household in which Williams grew up.
“My mom and dad, they didn’t let us get away with nothin’. They were always on me and my brother (Marcus) because we weren’t always, probably, dong the things we were supposed to be doing,” he chuckles.
“Athletics was definitely always important. I remember being at track meets at, like, five years old. We were always doing athletics, we were always worried about our school work. Me, I was more of the student. I always did take to my school work.”
Track at five years old? Was he fast, even then? Williams grins. “Pretty fast, man.”
And on the conversation goes, just like that. Chris Williams is in a happy place as the Grey Cup game looms ever larger.
Williams a handful for opposing defensive backs
On the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ website, Chris Williams is listed as 5’9, 155 lbs. How, then, is it that he is not likely to be played in a physical fashion by Edmonton corners John Ojo (6’3″, 205 lbs) and Pat Watkins (6’5″, 205 lbs)?
Williams is almost certain to see no bump-and-run coverage, even though the Eskimos’ big corners tower above him and each outweigh him by a third of his own weight.
“There’s not a lot to hit,” laughs Williams, who has a reputation for being one of the toughest receivers in the CFL to intimidate at the line of scrimmage.
“I think I have really good releases,” he says. “It’s just one of the things that I’ve been blessed to be able to do pretty well in my career.”
“Being good with your hands is one of the underrated things. It’s very similar to being a defensive linemen. When those (offensive) linemen come to put their hands on ‘em, they’re (the defensive linemen) trying to knock ‘em off and get their shoulder by. We do a lot of the same things when a DB is trying to get his hands on us. Trying to get ‘em down and get our shoulders by so we can get into our routes.”
Ottawa coach Rick Campbell says it’s pretty simple, really. Williams’ speed is frightening.
“Speed’ll back some people off and make ‘em nervous,” says the coach. “The fear fatcor’s a big thing. If you’re nervous about people runnin’ by you, it makes you a little more conservative on defence.”
