KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, November 19, 2004 6:00 pm
Tackling LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk. Slamming quarterback Brian Griese to the ground for a sack.
"It is so cool to be playing on Sundays and then getting to tackle guys I had only read about, is even more cool," said Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Demorrio Williams.
"Speed kills and no matter how big you are, we figure we can get you and bring you down."
Former Nebraska All-Big 12 standout Williams is the starter on the Atlanta nickel and dime pass defenses. He also is getting plenty of playing time early in games behind Keith Brooking.
"We like Demorrio. We really like him," said Falcons defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. "This kid can play football. I coached with Bo Pelini (former NU coach) at Green Bay and he spoke so highly of Demorrio and I can see why.
"He is explosive and athletic. We ask for our players to be explosive and to attack and he fits right in with that plan."
Williams, who was a Husker team captain last year, was picked in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last spring.
He was stuck with the label of being too short for this, too small for that, not the right size for this something he battled since his days in high school at Beckville, Texas, and even at Kilgore Junior College.
But Williams made a big impact on the Nebraska defense as an outside linebacker most of the time and defensive end in special situations. The 6-foot, 232-pound (note: he was listed at 6-1, 210 at Nebraska) has filled in everywhere he can for the Falcons.
"I'm enjoying myself because I'm making a lot of plays, making some mistakes and I'm getting better," Williams said. "I don't even think about being in the NFL until I'm on the field and I'm wearing a Falcons uniform and I'm playing against guys I know are pros.
"It's a lot of work and it's a lot of fun."
Williams has played a key role in the rebuilding of the Atlanta defense this year.
The Falcons have gone from the 31st-ranked defense second to last, last season to 21st in the NFL this season.
The Falcons have also flown to the top of the NFC South Division with a 7-2 record.
"We're doing a lot of things well, but we like to believe the defense has been as important as anything we've built," said Donatell. "Guys like Demorrio, who work so hard to fit in make us a pretty happy coaching staff.
"He is a great practice player and he's a part of this team's success," he said.
Williams, who was third-team All-American set a school single-season record with 83 solo tackles last year at NU. He has 29 tackles, including 27 solos this year.
His 21 tackles for loss last year were fourth all-time for a single season at Nebraska. He already has a quarterback sack with Atlanta.
That's a big jump from five years ago when Williams was done with high school and working in the oil fields near his home. "I wouldn't have even dreamed of the NFL, or anything else, other than a life with the pipes in the oil fields four or five years ago," Williams said last spring.
"Now, I just try to make the plays and make a career out of playing football for some time," he said last week. "You've got to know your stuff, like the coverages and how to read plays. I'm learning that pretty well. Nebraska was a good situation for me in the way I learned defense."