November 19, 2024 • 19 mins
On this episode of Rams Revealed, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams details his NFL journey, breaks down his experience playing behind a dominating young pass rush, and talks about how he has grown as a person since returning for his second stint with the team.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
How's going everyone?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to you, Rams Revealed, presented by a Sleep number,
the rams official sleep and wellness partner.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm your host, JB. Long.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
The Rams are five and five, coming home for a
prime time shot against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have won
six in a row. And our guest is the perfect
person to talk to in this moment, here with the
preview and to reflect on his NFL career as a
fan favorite, Darius Williams.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Good to see you too.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
This is actually your second appearance on RAMS Revealed. Not
that you remember the first one, but I do. I
went back and looked you were episode forty four, believe
it or not, before the twenty twenty season. We did
that via zoom that pandemic season. Now we're at episode one,
twenty seven, so we've come a long way as of you.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
It's good to see you. Good to see you too.
Good to be here, do you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, Let's start with your thoughts on week eleven. What
stood out to you about beating the Patriots and getting
back to five hundred.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I mean, the main thing is taking them each week
at a time. Obviously, the main thing is when one
at a time, defense played good offense, played good and
starting to build this thing together. Obviously there's always things
to correct and critique, but moving in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
The offense has been good at times, but it's been
largely defensive driven. I think, right this come back from
one in four, was it nice to see them sort
of take that baton and.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Go out and throw for four touchdowns? Oh yeah, that's explosives,
absolutely so that always takes a lot of pressure off
of us. But at the same time, as a defense, like,
what defense doesn't want to be gritty? What defense doesn't
want to be out there? What defense doesn't want to
have the time to close out the game? So I
think having that mentality is a defense. It doesn't really
matter what your offense does.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
All right, let's dig into that a little bit, because
the defensive EPA, which is like a measurement of overall
success in the first four games for the Rams, was
thirty one out of thirty two in the league. It
wasn't very good, and I'm bringing that up because Darius
wasn't playing during that time. Since his return and especially
since the buye, they've been phenomenal. Third in the league.
What do you think, besides your own contributions, have helped
(01:57):
with that turnaround.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Man, I think pressure again home. You know, Jared Verse,
we got Fisk, We got all these guys up front
there are just causing havoc. So makes it easier on
the back end if we do our job. You know,
we can let those guys get home and it just
helps out our whole defense.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, give us a sense of how that plays out
on game day, right, like the clock in your own
head when you know that you got pocket cavers impacting
the opposing quarterback? What's that like in coverage?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I mean, it's good. You know. I talked to Verse
all the time. He's like, man, just just give me
a second. I'm gonna get there. So as sticky as
I can be on coverage, is as blurry as I
can make it for the quarterback or us as the secondary.
You know, obviously it helps those guys out. Big talk.
You can get a word in edgewise with Jared Verse.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Oh yeah, well that might be the most impressive thing
I've heard because he never stops for jumping in there.
The Eagles have one six straight, as I said, and
you look at their roster you can understand why, and
especially from your vantage point, whether it's a J Brown,
Davonte Smith, Saekwon Barkley dealing with all three of those
guys and more in the same week. I know it's
early in your game planning, but you know what's coming.
(02:55):
As a veteran in this league, what's it going to
be like on the Sunday night lights.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I mean, we know, we know that they got playmakers everywhere,
but you know that's that's the challenge we love. You know,
that's the challenge you love on a Sunday night football
is going up against those guys, good quarterback, good receivers,
good running back. But we're also a good defense. So
we've got a good, good little test coming trying to
prove ourselves on the challenges.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
There are so multiple though, right I Mean, you're not
just locking in to take on one particular receiver. Depending
on who comes to your side, you could have a
whole array of challenges.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Absolutely, and that's where film study comes in. Trusting the coaches,
trusting in what they prepare for us, and just going
out there letting it, just letting it go.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
One thing that we tout during RAMS games is your
run support. I think it's one of your probably underrated skills.
To have it in a game like this. How essential
will that be to stopping the likes of Hurts and Barkley.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Oh yeah, that's gonna be big. So obviously containing is
one thing. But you know it's not just on those
guys up front. You know it's dbs. We got to
do our job too, So, you know, any it's not
just as defensive backs just garden balls down the field.
You know, we got to show up in the run
game too. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
There's one sequence from earlier this season that I think
epitomizes what we're talking about here, and I'm sure you'll
remember it. Thursday night football against the Vikings and Justin
Jefferson makes just this outrageous catch, But you were with
him step for step, and then you got to respond
on that next angle situation you get the tackle for loss.
That was that was a four point play in my estimation,
in your mentality. How do you set up that sequence
(04:19):
going against one of the best in the world and
helping your team get the victory.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, I was pissed. I was I was hot because
you know, I was right there. I didn't see the
flight of the ball and then I saw him bobbling
it and I wanted to go go, but you know,
these good receivers got a good concentration. But the whole time,
the rest of the drive, I was pissed. I was busy.
He caught the ball, so you know, I knew I
had to make up for it some way. And then
every time I think like I give up a play,
you know, I gotta, I always tell myself like, I gotta,
(04:44):
I gotta give back somehow. I gotta get my give
back somehow. So so that was fuel to your fire.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Oh yeah, rise up in the red zone and ben
not break.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So You've been around this league several times, You've played
against the best of the best. Who's on that short list,
whether it's Jefferson AJ whomever that you've battled.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, my favorite, personally just skill set routes is
a Mario Cooper. I'm a Mario Cooper fan. But obviously
you know when you look at stad lines, Jefferson, he's
real good, uh man. I mean, I played Davante already,
Devonte Smith, but you know those those guys, Jefferson, Jefferson's
pretty far there.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Any reason to study like the rookies at your position,
and I'm thinking of the two on the Eagles in particular,
who have had great start to their career, Like, do
you ever look at draft class or look at opposing
players in the league who play on your side of
the ball as opposed to just getting ready for your matchups?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh yeah, I'm just I'm just a favorite of talent.
So I look at everybody. I like, I like seeing
people be successful. Obviously those guys Obviously I don't want
to be successful because oh sure, you know, I like
I like seeing just just talent Sean, you know, and
those guys are doing a hell of a job over there,
and I think that's just a credit to him.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Who'd you grow up? You know, either idolizing or mimicking
or modeling your game after.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So I'm like a mix. I'm like, I like a Darrell.
That's probably my favorite corner. But I love like the
mindset of like an assante Samuel, So I love how
aggressive he was just chasing, chasing down guys, just anticipating.
But just the technique of revs.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Was that drew me, Darius, I said earlier, And I
mean that, like, You've long been a fan favorite around
here ours and the fan base, and so knowing you
were gonna come sit with us, you know. I asked
some of our most loyal fans if there's anything they
would want to ask you at this stage of your career,
and I selected a few, including that last one. Here's
another one that made me smile. I'll just read it verbatim.
(06:33):
What's your favorite play from your career? And why is it?
The pick six against Russell Wilson in the playoffs?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Man, that's my favorite? Really? Because is it your favorite? Yeah? Yeah,
it is. It is because you know, they couldn't get
him started. They couldn't get the Russell DK connection started.
So obviously we had Jalen on one side. Obviously he
did his thing, so they tried to bring it on
my side, and I was just like, no, I'm not
gonna let it get started over here. So it just
happened to be. I was just just being instinctive and
(07:03):
just shot my shot when it was time to go.
But I mean, that was that was my favorite play
for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You're talking about instincts there. Does that come from the
film room though? Like knowing the battles those two have
had your history that season when DK motions away from
Jalen's side, I'm sure alarm bells are going off.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Right right, But I'm more so thinking how the game
is going. So the flow of the game is like
they haven't really connected, they haven't really been hitting, so
I know they just want to get something just to
get it going, just want to put it right right right.
And I know they weren't just gonna run over and
just run deep because as a lower centers ball so
I just knew something was something was clicking, and I
(07:39):
just shot my shoes. I just had a feeling. I
was like, if this dude, don't take off, I'm going It's.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Not like you had a clear path to the football, right,
You had a battle through to get your hands on that.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I came up with a shortlist because I didn't want
to just land on one. There's some others that we
can relive here. This is like the d Will mixtape.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
You ready.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Shortly after the Rams traded for Jalen, there was that
fumble recovery in the end zone and Atlanta right off
the punt.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Oh yeah yeah, touch it off of that one. Yeah,
that was cool.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
The diving interception season is what I think of twenty twenty. Yeah,
Carson Wentz against the Eagles in that pandemic season.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Now let's stand out to you. Yeah yeah, post across
the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Huh what about Daniel Jones and the Giants helped save
that game at Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean I like that one too, but not
my favorite was for sure. It is okay.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I was just gonna try and sell you on
something else, but our hearts are on that one. I mean,
it wasn't the first time against Russell Wilson either. You
had that multiple pit game at SOFI, but the game
saving PBu against Lockett two in the back of the
end zone comes to mind as one of your all
time greats. So look in my book, You'll always be
a twenty twenty all Pro. Yeah it doesn't say that
on your Wicked page, but it should. Like you and
(08:47):
Jalen were elite that year. Truly elite. Was one of
the coolest things I've ever seen. What was it like
reconnecting with him when the Dolphins came in.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I mean, it was cool just to see an old face.
I mean we're still obviously we still are clothes just
in general, just that whole group, So it was just
cool seeing him on the opposite side. Now, just balling,
just being him and then just seeing me do my
thing on our side.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
How special was that to team with him and to
win a championship before you went your separate ways in
chapter one of your RAMS career?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Right? I mean it was cool because you look back
and when you play with people like him, you know
what I mean, Like you got to keep up with
that energy, You got to keep up with that passion.
So playing with him and then being able to win,
you know, just get him a super Bowl on his resume.
Guys like Staff or guys like Cup that are just
you know, we got future Hall of Famers up there,
(09:37):
so just getting them rings being a part of it
as special. All Right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
This is a bit of a stretch, but I want
it to go down in Rams lore as how it happened.
All right, a little bit of a revisionist history here,
but it's close enough that I think we count it.
And the summation is, thank you Darius Williams for Puka Nakua.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
All right? Do you have any idea how many to
get there? Nah? All right?
Speaker 2 (09:56):
So as hard as it was to see you sign
with another team, you know how the compic formula were
you signed with the Jags, Rams get compixts, and without
you signing with another team, the Rams probably don't wind
up with that last pick of the fifth round, which
became Pooka Nikou, which became the greatest rookie season in
Rams history. So you came back home and you helped
(10:17):
get Pooka Nakua.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
That's crazy. That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
That needs to be honest wikipedia. Yea, even though some
other things had to happen there. Yeah, and you have
Jacksonville roots, right yeah, yeah, yeah, So what was that
chapter of your life like to be able to go
back home and play in from some people, you.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Know, Yeah, it was cool because I was back at home,
so I was obviously my pops, my mom's like, they're
all the East Coast. They're not big flying people, so
they came to the LA Games but rarely, so you know,
that was a big reason why I went back to
just so they can just enjoy, you know, my time
in the NFL. So let's just say they enjoyed it.
They had a good time.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
And you were so good last season, like, seriously so good.
I thought you deserved another multi year contract. But were
you sure you were going to get a chance on
the wrong side of thirty to continue on in this league.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, I wasn't. So I feel like in my body,
you know, there's a lot of my body, you know,
like age, especially now when you look at nowadays, like
these players, like some of these dudes are young and
they just last forever. I feel like that's just the
way it's going. So thirty ain't being to me twenty.
But you know, I don't think that's where the falloff starts.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, Lesson needs said as much last week that you
look like a young thirty one, like some of the
guys in your position are like transitioning to safety at
that stage of your career, But you still look like
a true corner, an outside corner at that right, which
is where you're most comfortable, right right?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Is that true? Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
As you look back, how are you different, Darius than
when you first arrived in LA speaking of age, back
at twenty five, I think it was yep, rookie year,
rookie year. It was not a straight line to LA
right right right, But compared to that moment in time,
how are you different as a man as a player.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
I mean as a man as a player, you know,
as a man, I got a kid. I got a family,
you know, kid and a wife. So that's definitely, you know,
just completely turn around from obviously being a rookie, but
then as a rookie just just coming here and gaining
knowledge of football. That's not something I had in college.
You know, we were a big man team. So come here,
(12:13):
I'm hearing all these different coverages. I don't know what
they are even when I get to the Ravens. So
I come here in LA and they just they teach
you football. And that was one thing that that you know,
I've kept throughout my entire career. Just learn how to
break down film, learn what to see, what to do
just being pro added you prefer maner zone. I'm a
big man guy. I like to be sticky.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, but you have to understand the other part of
it right right right to play every dawn in the
national football What about the Rams as an organization? So
you've grown on one track, right, They've evolved too as
you came back to LA. Any observations other than like
the physical space that we're in about what's different.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Nah, That's that's the thing about this place is I
think you know, les Sean, they do a real good
job of just keeping a culture here, a culture that's
that's unchangeable. Like from my rookie year till now. You know,
we've been about family. We've just been about you know,
it's our dB room. Just being close, you know, we
don't look at each other. Is just like this dies
off from my job. You know. It's more like can
(13:14):
we help each other be the best. And I think
they do a real good job of just understanding that
we're here to win, but it's also enjoyment winning.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I want to ask you about that, you know, kind
of young foundation of this roster, especially on defense. In
just a second, but first let's take a moment for
the liningdown brought to you by Sleep number. Each week
here on RAMS Revealed, we get a player insight into
how sleep and recovery impacts his performance in the National
Football League. And if we rewind time to this summer,
I'm curious how you went about overcoming that training camp injury,
(13:45):
the hamstring that kind of recurred and cost you the
first month of this season.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, so, I mean it is what it is. I
just I'm a big guy in faith. If people don't
know that already, so I think whatever happens, is is
God meant for it to happen. Obviously they were bring
It was frustrating, but at the same time, you know,
I is keep faith. I know things happen for a reason.
I know they're always good. So I mean that was
just it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Hamstrings are tricky. I know, rehabs no fun, but especially
when your team is struggling while you're in the training room,
what's that like?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, that's that's where it's tough, and it's tough just
being on the side, just watching people compete, all their
joint practices, just all the reps that you miss out
on just not being there, the competitiveness. I think all
that is is where you just got to blot it
out and be like, look, this thing happened for a reason.
Let's just keep the faith and keep going. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I know it's been a long time since you went undrafted,
but you're one of the Rams' best stories. I think
in terms of how you know, a diamond in the rough,
however you want to frame it, can become what should
have been an All Pro a Super Bowl champion. This year,
five undrafted rookies made the first fifty three man roster.
A lot of them are on defense. We're talking about
Omar Spates and Tank McCullough and Josh Wallace and Charles Woods.
(14:58):
How are you growing them up, either verbally or by
your example.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, so I know for sure, Josh Wallace and Tank.
You know, they were in my ear, both ears, left
and right the whole entire summer. Just ask me, you know,
how can I make the team? What can I do?
And you know they're they're balling, they're shining. I just
tell them, like, you know, these are the first steps.
Just make sure you knock out these first steps and
make sure at the same time you're still taking it.
Don't make the same mistakes we make as vets. We
(15:25):
might get a little leeway, don't come in here and
make the same mistakes we do. And that's one of
the big things. And I think just the growth of
these guys, the maturity already that they have just ready
to come in, learn, ready to come in and be
on the field. Like I wasn't ready to be on
the field my rookieyear, and I think that was a
big thing. But you know, they're ready to come out
here and ball and they're showing it.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
My broadcast partner DeMarco farr is another great former college
free agent. Want a championship in college? Want a Super
Bowl Championship. He's always said that you never shake the
reputation the mentality of being a free agent, that it's
just like a year to year existence.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Have you walked that life too?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Do you resonate with that centense?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah? Absolutely, I mean, I mean, and that's not everybody's
got their story, right, So everybody gets drafted. Everybody's got
their story. But you know, being undrafted, you got that chip.
You always got that chip because you know you got
to work twice as hard to get somewhere. You gotta
work twice as hard to earn the respect because you
know you don't get it, just like the fan favorite
guys that are drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yours is special though, right like your stands out and
we've covered it on this platform, on this show and
many others. But for our new audience, Like, here's just
one piece of the puzzle. Do you remember the days
when you're delivering flowers? Oh yeah, that's for ACE Hardware
while your UAV program was shutting down football.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Absolutely, So that's when I went back home and my
homeboy actually had a job, and he was like, man,
I'm about leaving. I'm doing something and I have a
job at the time, and I just wanted some money.
So I was like, yeah, let me just do it.
Let me just hop in this van, deliver some flowers,
three trips a day. Good to go.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I mean, that's work ethic right there. But now on
the other side of it, you made what over thirty
million dollars in this league. You've got a ring, Like
how fulfilling is that?
Speaker 1 (16:56):
That? That is your journey, right, I mean, that's that's
all faith, right. So, like I said, like, I'm a
big person of faith, and I just everything that happens
is is for good. It's for a reason. So I
just always think, like what is what is God telling me?
What is he putting me through? And I think ultimately
that let me hear because I never waited. I never
thought the negative. I never was you know, well, why
(17:17):
is this person or why is this person? I just
stayed in my zone, kept doing what I was doing,
and worked out.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
When this game finally tells you it's over, any sense
of what you might want to do next.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I mean I want to get in the front office
stuff for sure, really Yeah, Yeah, I want to I
want to get in a I was talking to Jordan
to the reporter, so, uh, you know, I just like
the talent like Scout, and I like just giving people opportunities,
seeing opportunities, and then I just like just just the
atmosphere of just being around just a team, just seeing
teams win.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Wait, that's a really cool intersection of just about everything
you've told us, right, Like, you value culture, you can
identify it, you can foster it. You like studying other people,
whether it's who you modeled your game after, who's kind
of up and coming in this league. I really liked that, right,
I really like that. Okay, cool, Well, we're looking forward
to having you around football for a long time. But
let's extend your Ram's career for as long as possible.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Serious.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Okay, before I forget, because I forgot last week. And
apologies to our audience who didn't get to see Omar
Speeds Omar Spates's grease spot drawing. Here's Fairs d Will edition.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Darius Will. Let you take a look.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
There is since we last had you on the show,
something that we like to close out it. G's your
autograph on it.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
That's accurate. You got any artistic talent? Absolutely? I mean
my daughter does she Yeah, what's she into? You said?
She's four? Man, she's she's good. She's good at drawing,
she's good at she's for fourteen going on fourteen. Yeah,
but man, she's good. She's she's just a talent. She's
crazy athletics. So our teachers already tell us like she's the
(18:54):
most athletic person in her class, which is crazy. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Did she get to see Saquan do that reverse hurdle
by any chance? Because that's what my four year old
is obsessed over?
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Nah? Okay, No, I want to show her too, because
I don't want her to be looking at him on
the field a whole time.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Make sure he doesn't get that against the rams seake. Okay,
d Well, good to catch up with you at this
juncture of your career. Like I said, you truly are
a Ram's favorite and your journey is one to celebrate.
So thanks for coming back to RAMS Revealed. Thank you
all right, looking forward to seeing everyone at so Far
this Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Pre Darius, I'm JB. Long.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
This is RAMS Reveal presented by Sleeping Number
How's going everyone?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to you, Rams Revealed, presented by a Sleep number,
the rams official sleep and wellness partner.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm your host, JB. Long.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
The Rams are five and five, coming home for a
prime time shot against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have won
six in a row. And our guest is the perfect
person to talk to in this moment, here with the
preview and to reflect on his NFL career as a
fan favorite, Darius Williams.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Good to see you too.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
This is actually your second appearance on RAMS Revealed. Not
that you remember the first one, but I do. I
went back and looked you were episode forty four, believe
it or not, before the twenty twenty season. We did
that via zoom that pandemic season. Now we're at episode one,
twenty seven, so we've come a long way as of you.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
It's good to see you. Good to see you too.
Good to be here, do you.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, Let's start with your thoughts on week eleven. What
stood out to you about beating the Patriots and getting
back to five hundred.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I mean, the main thing is taking them each week
at a time. Obviously, the main thing is when one
at a time, defense played good offense, played good and
starting to build this thing together. Obviously there's always things
to correct and critique, but moving in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
The offense has been good at times, but it's been
largely defensive driven. I think, right this come back from
one in four, was it nice to see them sort
of take that baton and.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Go out and throw for four touchdowns? Oh yeah, that's explosives,
absolutely so that always takes a lot of pressure off
of us. But at the same time, as a defense, like,
what defense doesn't want to be gritty? What defense doesn't
want to be out there? What defense doesn't want to
have the time to close out the game? So I
think having that mentality is a defense. It doesn't really
matter what your offense does.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
All right, let's dig into that a little bit, because
the defensive EPA, which is like a measurement of overall
success in the first four games for the Rams, was
thirty one out of thirty two in the league. It
wasn't very good, and I'm bringing that up because Darius
wasn't playing during that time. Since his return and especially
since the buye, they've been phenomenal. Third in the league.
What do you think, besides your own contributions, have helped
(01:57):
with that turnaround.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Man, I think pressure again home. You know, Jared Verse,
we got Fisk, We got all these guys up front
there are just causing havoc. So makes it easier on
the back end if we do our job. You know,
we can let those guys get home and it just
helps out our whole defense.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, give us a sense of how that plays out
on game day, right, like the clock in your own
head when you know that you got pocket cavers impacting
the opposing quarterback? What's that like in coverage?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I mean, it's good. You know. I talked to Verse
all the time. He's like, man, just just give me
a second. I'm gonna get there. So as sticky as
I can be on coverage, is as blurry as I
can make it for the quarterback or us as the secondary.
You know, obviously it helps those guys out. Big talk.
You can get a word in edgewise with Jared Verse.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Oh yeah, well that might be the most impressive thing
I've heard because he never stops for jumping in there.
The Eagles have one six straight, as I said, and
you look at their roster you can understand why, and
especially from your vantage point, whether it's a J Brown,
Davonte Smith, Saekwon Barkley dealing with all three of those
guys and more in the same week. I know it's
early in your game planning, but you know what's coming.
(02:55):
As a veteran in this league, what's it going to
be like on the Sunday night lights.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I mean, we know, we know that they got playmakers everywhere,
but you know that's that's the challenge we love. You know,
that's the challenge you love on a Sunday night football
is going up against those guys, good quarterback, good receivers,
good running back. But we're also a good defense. So
we've got a good, good little test coming trying to
prove ourselves on the challenges.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
There are so multiple though, right I Mean, you're not
just locking in to take on one particular receiver. Depending
on who comes to your side, you could have a
whole array of challenges.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Absolutely, and that's where film study comes in. Trusting the coaches,
trusting in what they prepare for us, and just going
out there letting it, just letting it go.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
One thing that we tout during RAMS games is your
run support. I think it's one of your probably underrated skills.
To have it in a game like this. How essential
will that be to stopping the likes of Hurts and Barkley.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Oh yeah, that's gonna be big. So obviously containing is
one thing. But you know it's not just on those
guys up front. You know it's dbs. We got to
do our job too, So, you know, any it's not
just as defensive backs just garden balls down the field.
You know, we got to show up in the run
game too. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
There's one sequence from earlier this season that I think
epitomizes what we're talking about here, and I'm sure you'll
remember it. Thursday night football against the Vikings and Justin
Jefferson makes just this outrageous catch, But you were with
him step for step, and then you got to respond
on that next angle situation you get the tackle for loss.
That was that was a four point play in my estimation,
in your mentality. How do you set up that sequence
(04:19):
going against one of the best in the world and
helping your team get the victory.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, I was pissed. I was I was hot because
you know, I was right there. I didn't see the
flight of the ball and then I saw him bobbling
it and I wanted to go go, but you know,
these good receivers got a good concentration. But the whole time,
the rest of the drive, I was pissed. I was busy.
He caught the ball, so you know, I knew I
had to make up for it some way. And then
every time I think like I give up a play,
you know, I gotta, I always tell myself like, I gotta,
(04:44):
I gotta give back somehow. I gotta get my give
back somehow. So so that was fuel to your fire.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Oh yeah, rise up in the red zone and ben
not break.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So You've been around this league several times, You've played
against the best of the best. Who's on that short list,
whether it's Jefferson AJ whomever that you've battled.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, my favorite, personally just skill set routes is
a Mario Cooper. I'm a Mario Cooper fan. But obviously
you know when you look at stad lines, Jefferson, he's
real good, uh man. I mean, I played Davante already,
Devonte Smith, but you know those those guys, Jefferson, Jefferson's
pretty far there.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Any reason to study like the rookies at your position,
and I'm thinking of the two on the Eagles in particular,
who have had great start to their career, Like, do
you ever look at draft class or look at opposing
players in the league who play on your side of
the ball as opposed to just getting ready for your matchups?
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Oh yeah, I'm just I'm just a favorite of talent.
So I look at everybody. I like, I like seeing
people be successful. Obviously those guys Obviously I don't want
to be successful because oh sure, you know, I like
I like seeing just just talent Sean, you know, and
those guys are doing a hell of a job over there,
and I think that's just a credit to him.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Who'd you grow up? You know, either idolizing or mimicking
or modeling your game after.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So I'm like a mix. I'm like, I like a Darrell.
That's probably my favorite corner. But I love like the
mindset of like an assante Samuel, So I love how
aggressive he was just chasing, chasing down guys, just anticipating.
But just the technique of revs.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Was that drew me, Darius, I said earlier, And I
mean that, like, You've long been a fan favorite around
here ours and the fan base, and so knowing you
were gonna come sit with us, you know. I asked
some of our most loyal fans if there's anything they
would want to ask you at this stage of your career,
and I selected a few, including that last one. Here's
another one that made me smile. I'll just read it verbatim.
(06:33):
What's your favorite play from your career? And why is it?
The pick six against Russell Wilson in the playoffs?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Man, that's my favorite? Really? Because is it your favorite? Yeah? Yeah,
it is. It is because you know, they couldn't get
him started. They couldn't get the Russell DK connection started.
So obviously we had Jalen on one side. Obviously he
did his thing, so they tried to bring it on
my side, and I was just like, no, I'm not
gonna let it get started over here. So it just
happened to be. I was just just being instinctive and
(07:03):
just shot my shot when it was time to go.
But I mean, that was that was my favorite play
for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
You're talking about instincts there. Does that come from the
film room though? Like knowing the battles those two have
had your history that season when DK motions away from
Jalen's side, I'm sure alarm bells are going off.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Right right, But I'm more so thinking how the game
is going. So the flow of the game is like
they haven't really connected, they haven't really been hitting, so
I know they just want to get something just to
get it going, just want to put it right right right.
And I know they weren't just gonna run over and
just run deep because as a lower centers ball so
I just knew something was something was clicking, and I
(07:39):
just shot my shoes. I just had a feeling. I
was like, if this dude, don't take off, I'm going It's.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Not like you had a clear path to the football, right,
You had a battle through to get your hands on that.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
That was awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I came up with a shortlist because I didn't want
to just land on one. There's some others that we
can relive here. This is like the d Will mixtape.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
You ready.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Shortly after the Rams traded for Jalen, there was that
fumble recovery in the end zone and Atlanta right off
the punt.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Oh yeah yeah, touch it off of that one. Yeah,
that was cool.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
The diving interception season is what I think of twenty twenty. Yeah,
Carson Wentz against the Eagles in that pandemic season.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Now let's stand out to you. Yeah yeah, post across
the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Huh what about Daniel Jones and the Giants helped save
that game at Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean I like that one too, but not
my favorite was for sure. It is okay.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah, I was just gonna try and sell you on
something else, but our hearts are on that one. I mean,
it wasn't the first time against Russell Wilson either. You
had that multiple pit game at SOFI, but the game
saving PBu against Lockett two in the back of the
end zone comes to mind as one of your all
time greats. So look in my book, You'll always be
a twenty twenty all Pro. Yeah it doesn't say that
on your Wicked page, but it should. Like you and
(08:47):
Jalen were elite that year. Truly elite. Was one of
the coolest things I've ever seen. What was it like
reconnecting with him when the Dolphins came in.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I mean, it was cool just to see an old face.
I mean we're still obviously we still are clothes just
in general, just that whole group, So it was just
cool seeing him on the opposite side. Now, just balling,
just being him and then just seeing me do my
thing on our side.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
How special was that to team with him and to
win a championship before you went your separate ways in
chapter one of your RAMS career?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Right? I mean it was cool because you look back
and when you play with people like him, you know
what I mean, Like you got to keep up with
that energy, You got to keep up with that passion.
So playing with him and then being able to win,
you know, just get him a super Bowl on his resume.
Guys like Staff or guys like Cup that are just
you know, we got future Hall of Famers up there,
(09:37):
so just getting them rings being a part of it
as special. All Right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
This is a bit of a stretch, but I want
it to go down in Rams lore as how it happened.
All right, a little bit of a revisionist history here,
but it's close enough that I think we count it.
And the summation is, thank you Darius Williams for Puka Nakua.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
All right? Do you have any idea how many to
get there? Nah? All right?
Speaker 2 (09:56):
So as hard as it was to see you sign
with another team, you know how the compic formula were
you signed with the Jags, Rams get compixts, and without
you signing with another team, the Rams probably don't wind
up with that last pick of the fifth round, which
became Pooka Nikou, which became the greatest rookie season in
Rams history. So you came back home and you helped
(10:17):
get Pooka Nakua.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
That's crazy. That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
That needs to be honest wikipedia. Yea, even though some
other things had to happen there. Yeah, and you have
Jacksonville roots, right yeah, yeah, yeah, So what was that
chapter of your life like to be able to go
back home and play in from some people, you.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Know, Yeah, it was cool because I was back at home,
so I was obviously my pops, my mom's like, they're
all the East Coast. They're not big flying people, so
they came to the LA Games but rarely, so you know,
that was a big reason why I went back to
just so they can just enjoy, you know, my time
in the NFL. So let's just say they enjoyed it.
They had a good time.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
And you were so good last season, like, seriously so good.
I thought you deserved another multi year contract. But were
you sure you were going to get a chance on
the wrong side of thirty to continue on in this league.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
No, I wasn't. So I feel like in my body,
you know, there's a lot of my body, you know,
like age, especially now when you look at nowadays, like
these players, like some of these dudes are young and
they just last forever. I feel like that's just the
way it's going. So thirty ain't being to me twenty.
But you know, I don't think that's where the falloff starts.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, Lesson needs said as much last week that you
look like a young thirty one, like some of the
guys in your position are like transitioning to safety at
that stage of your career, But you still look like
a true corner, an outside corner at that right, which
is where you're most comfortable, right right?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Is that true? Yes, sir?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
As you look back, how are you different, Darius than
when you first arrived in LA speaking of age, back
at twenty five, I think it was yep, rookie year,
rookie year. It was not a straight line to LA
right right right, But compared to that moment in time,
how are you different as a man as a player.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
I mean as a man as a player, you know,
as a man, I got a kid. I got a family,
you know, kid and a wife. So that's definitely, you know,
just completely turn around from obviously being a rookie, but
then as a rookie just just coming here and gaining
knowledge of football. That's not something I had in college.
You know, we were a big man team. So come here,
(12:13):
I'm hearing all these different coverages. I don't know what
they are even when I get to the Ravens. So
I come here in LA and they just they teach
you football. And that was one thing that that you know,
I've kept throughout my entire career. Just learn how to
break down film, learn what to see, what to do
just being pro added you prefer maner zone. I'm a
big man guy. I like to be sticky.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, but you have to understand the other part of
it right right right to play every dawn in the
national football What about the Rams as an organization? So
you've grown on one track, right, They've evolved too as
you came back to LA. Any observations other than like
the physical space that we're in about what's different.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Nah, That's that's the thing about this place is I
think you know, les Sean, they do a real good
job of just keeping a culture here, a culture that's
that's unchangeable. Like from my rookie year till now. You know,
we've been about family. We've just been about you know,
it's our dB room. Just being close, you know, we
don't look at each other. Is just like this dies
off from my job. You know. It's more like can
(13:14):
we help each other be the best. And I think
they do a real good job of just understanding that
we're here to win, but it's also enjoyment winning.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
I want to ask you about that, you know, kind
of young foundation of this roster, especially on defense. In
just a second, but first let's take a moment for
the liningdown brought to you by Sleep number. Each week
here on RAMS Revealed, we get a player insight into
how sleep and recovery impacts his performance in the National
Football League. And if we rewind time to this summer,
I'm curious how you went about overcoming that training camp injury,
(13:45):
the hamstring that kind of recurred and cost you the
first month of this season.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Yeah, so, I mean it is what it is. I
just I'm a big guy in faith. If people don't
know that already, so I think whatever happens, is is
God meant for it to happen. Obviously they were bring
It was frustrating, but at the same time, you know,
I is keep faith. I know things happen for a reason.
I know they're always good. So I mean that was
just it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Hamstrings are tricky. I know, rehabs no fun, but especially
when your team is struggling while you're in the training room,
what's that like?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, that's that's where it's tough, and it's tough just
being on the side, just watching people compete, all their
joint practices, just all the reps that you miss out
on just not being there, the competitiveness. I think all
that is is where you just got to blot it
out and be like, look, this thing happened for a reason.
Let's just keep the faith and keep going. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I know it's been a long time since you went undrafted,
but you're one of the Rams' best stories. I think
in terms of how you know, a diamond in the rough,
however you want to frame it, can become what should
have been an All Pro a Super Bowl champion. This year,
five undrafted rookies made the first fifty three man roster.
A lot of them are on defense. We're talking about
Omar Spates and Tank McCullough and Josh Wallace and Charles Woods.
(14:58):
How are you growing them up, either verbally or by
your example.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, so I know for sure, Josh Wallace and Tank.
You know, they were in my ear, both ears, left
and right the whole entire summer. Just ask me, you know,
how can I make the team? What can I do?
And you know they're they're balling, they're shining. I just
tell them, like, you know, these are the first steps.
Just make sure you knock out these first steps and
make sure at the same time you're still taking it.
Don't make the same mistakes we make as vets. We
(15:25):
might get a little leeway, don't come in here and
make the same mistakes we do. And that's one of
the big things. And I think just the growth of
these guys, the maturity already that they have just ready
to come in, learn, ready to come in and be
on the field. Like I wasn't ready to be on
the field my rookieyear, and I think that was a
big thing. But you know, they're ready to come out
here and ball and they're showing it.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
My broadcast partner DeMarco farr is another great former college
free agent. Want a championship in college? Want a Super
Bowl Championship. He's always said that you never shake the
reputation the mentality of being a free agent, that it's
just like a year to year existence.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Have you walked that life too?
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Do you resonate with that centense?
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Yeah? Absolutely, I mean, I mean, and that's not everybody's
got their story, right, So everybody gets drafted. Everybody's got
their story. But you know, being undrafted, you got that chip.
You always got that chip because you know you got
to work twice as hard to get somewhere. You gotta
work twice as hard to earn the respect because you
know you don't get it, just like the fan favorite
guys that are drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yours is special though, right like your stands out and
we've covered it on this platform, on this show and
many others. But for our new audience, Like, here's just
one piece of the puzzle. Do you remember the days
when you're delivering flowers? Oh yeah, that's for ACE Hardware
while your UAV program was shutting down football.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Absolutely, So that's when I went back home and my
homeboy actually had a job, and he was like, man,
I'm about leaving. I'm doing something and I have a
job at the time, and I just wanted some money.
So I was like, yeah, let me just do it.
Let me just hop in this van, deliver some flowers,
three trips a day. Good to go.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I mean, that's work ethic right there. But now on
the other side of it, you made what over thirty
million dollars in this league. You've got a ring, Like
how fulfilling is that?
Speaker 1 (16:56):
That? That is your journey, right, I mean, that's that's
all faith, right. So, like I said, like, I'm a
big person of faith, and I just everything that happens
is is for good. It's for a reason. So I
just always think, like what is what is God telling me?
What is he putting me through? And I think ultimately
that let me hear because I never waited. I never
thought the negative. I never was you know, well, why
(17:17):
is this person or why is this person? I just
stayed in my zone, kept doing what I was doing,
and worked out.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
When this game finally tells you it's over, any sense
of what you might want to do next.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I mean I want to get in the front office
stuff for sure, really Yeah, Yeah, I want to I
want to get in a I was talking to Jordan
to the reporter, so, uh, you know, I just like
the talent like Scout, and I like just giving people opportunities,
seeing opportunities, and then I just like just just the
atmosphere of just being around just a team, just seeing
teams win.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Wait, that's a really cool intersection of just about everything
you've told us, right, Like, you value culture, you can
identify it, you can foster it. You like studying other people,
whether it's who you modeled your game after, who's kind
of up and coming in this league. I really liked that, right,
I really like that. Okay, cool, Well, we're looking forward
to having you around football for a long time. But
let's extend your Ram's career for as long as possible.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Serious.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Okay, before I forget, because I forgot last week. And
apologies to our audience who didn't get to see Omar
Speeds Omar Spates's grease spot drawing. Here's Fairs d Will edition.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Darius Will. Let you take a look.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
There is since we last had you on the show,
something that we like to close out it. G's your
autograph on it.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
That's accurate. You got any artistic talent? Absolutely? I mean
my daughter does she Yeah, what's she into? You said?
She's four? Man, she's she's good. She's good at drawing,
she's good at she's for fourteen going on fourteen. Yeah,
but man, she's good. She's she's just a talent. She's
crazy athletics. So our teachers already tell us like she's the
(18:54):
most athletic person in her class, which is crazy. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Did she get to see Saquan do that reverse hurdle
by any chance? Because that's what my four year old
is obsessed over?
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Nah? Okay, No, I want to show her too, because
I don't want her to be looking at him on
the field a whole time.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Make sure he doesn't get that against the rams seake. Okay,
d Well, good to catch up with you at this
juncture of your career. Like I said, you truly are
a Ram's favorite and your journey is one to celebrate.
So thanks for coming back to RAMS Revealed. Thank you
all right, looking forward to seeing everyone at so Far
this Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Pre Darius, I'm JB. Long.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
This is RAMS Reveal presented by Sleeping Number
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