It's #GreedySZN At LSU In 2018
It's #GreedySZN At LSU In 2018
Redshirt sophomore Greedy Williams is the next man up in a long line of elite pro cornerback prospects at LSU.
If you were ever under the impression that LSU stopped being DBU at some point, I have some bad news for you.
Not only has LSU been DBU for over a decade, it looks they will continue to dominate in 2018 after the breakout freshman seasons of both safety Grant Delpit and lockdown cornerback Andraez Williams.
It will not be easy to throw the ball against Tigers in 2018 with those two sharks swimming in the deep water.
Williams, affectionately known as “Greedy,” has a chance to prove himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the country in 2018—and potentially vault into the Top 10 of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He’s the next man up in a long line of elite pro cornerback prospects at LSU.
Whether he’s in press man-to-man or off-coverage, he can adapt his play style to suit all of defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s needs.
After a remarkable 2017 season in which he finished with six interceptions and 10 pass breakups, Greedy made the All-SEC team.
His advanced stats paint an even better picture via Pro Football Focus: Of the 236 cornerbacks who played at least 50 percent of their team's snaps last season, Greedy finished first in passer rating allowed. He only allowed 25 catches on 64 targets.
When you watch the film, you see a supremely confident cornerback.
He has no problems pressing up against receivers who are bigger than him and whether the ball is thrown to his guy or not, you rarely see him out of position. His interception against Texas A&M shows the great technique he plays with plus his ability to read plays.
He starts by mirroring the release of the receiver. Previously, Texas A&M tried to run go routes on Williams, but he stays patient and then when the receiver breaks back inside for the slant he uses his inside arm to stop the receivers momentum and look for the ball.
Then he just runs the slant route instead of the receiver. A great play.
It wasn’t often, but when Williams was in off-coverage (usually after the offense motioned a receiver to his side) he was just as good. He picked off Chattanooga after jumping a quick out route and here against Syracuse, on the opening play of the game, he steps in front of a quick sit route and takes it to the house.
Greedy is slow in his backpedal as Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungy takes his drop. With one eye, Williams is tracking the receiver. With the other eye, he’s looking at the quarterback. With his body under control, he can attack the receiver when he reads the one-step drop by the quarterback.
With Aranda pressing his corners quite a bit, offenses tried to throw over the top of Williams on fade and go routes. The whole SEC tried and failed. The way he’s able to stay with the receiver, turn his head, locate the ball and get his hands on it is excellent.
Against BYU, Tanner Mangum tried to hit the fade route against Greedy. You can see Williams stay stride for stride for the receiver which affords the cornerback the ability to get his head around and locate the ball.
He loses the receiver for a moment while doing so, which is normal, but manages to reestablish position and squeeze the receiver into the boundary before going up and getting the ball.
There was really nothing that Greedy couldn’t do last season. The way he played on tape backed up his gaudy statistics.
You’d imagine teams will shy away from throwing at him in 2018. One of the questions will be if Dave Aranda moves him around to match-up against the opponent's best receiver. He played predominantly on the left side of the defense last year. Without Kevin Toliver, a veteran, platooning the opposite cornerback spot this may be what LSU decides to do.
LSU fans need to cherish Greedy while he's in Baton Rouge. Even at a program that seems to turn out first round defensive backs on a regular basis, No. 29 is special.