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Talking laud
Lions WR Williams says Harris is best cornerback
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 13, 2006
Green Bay - They've only played against one another four times, but Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris and Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams have a nice little rivalry going.
Emphasis on nice.
The two don't play nice when they're on the field, but when it comes to complimenting each other, they aren't shy about it. Especially Williams, who last year called Harris the best cornerback in the NFL and continues to consider him that.
"Everybody asks me who I think the best corner in the NFL is and Al Harris is the best corner in the NFL," Williams said on a conference call with state reporters. "I love to play against him twice a year and it's always a matchup. He's going to win plays, I'm going to win plays. We're just out there competing."
There are few cornerbacks who can handle the 6-3, 220-pound Williams physically. It's one of the reasons why he ranks third in the NFL in receptions and receiving yards with 69 catches for 1,116 yards and four touchdowns, despite playing for the 2-11 Lions.
On Sunday, the two will match up at Lambeau Field, nearly three months after their last meeting in Detroit.
In that game, Williams had a huge day, catching seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. However, unlike previous meetings when Harris shadowed Williams all over the field, the Packers only matched Harris on the young Lions receiver on third down.
Harris gave up completions of 14, 13 and 20 yards to Williams in that game. The big play, a 42-yard touchdown, came when linebacker A.J. Hawk and safety Nick Collins messed up the coverage and let Williams run open into the corner of the end zone.
Lately Harris has been playing very good football. He has given up just 1 ½ touchdown passes all season, none since allowing a 6-yarder to St. Louis receiver Torry Holt in Week 5. He leads the team in penalties, but much of that has to do with the way he plays cornerback.
Harris doesn't carry much weight at 6-1, 185 pounds, but he has long arms, tight muscles and very little body fat on his narrow frame. When he wants to be physical, he uses his strong hands to redirect receivers and disrupt their timing as they run routes.
At times, Williams has been too strong for Harris, but he always knows he's in for a battle.
"He's 8 feet, 12 inches," Williams said. "His arms are 36 feet long and he's so strong with those long arms. His arms drag on the floor and when he puts those arms on you, you're not going anywhere. It's really like a boxing match. You have to fight, using your hands. He's so skinny, yet so strong and that's what makes him so good."
Harris was disappointed that he didn't get to match up with Williams down after down in the previous meeting, a 31-24 victory at Ford Field. Fellow cornerback Charles Woodson is battling a sore shoulder that requires him to wear a harness and it might be in the Packers' best interest to let Harris handle Williams full-time on Sunday.
"He's matured a lot. You can tell he understands what's going on," Harris said. "My job is pretty much the same every week, so if it's Roy or whoever we're playing, I don't focus on what they're doing good. I just try to do what I do and take it like that."
Williams said no one else in the league other than Harris matches up with him down after down, and he has come to appreciate that fact.
"I vote for him for the Pro Bowl year in and year out," he said. "He's not the corner who is going to get you interceptions. By no means is he going to do that. He will shut down that No. 1 receiver, whoever he is matched up with. They may leave the game with two catches for 29 yards. That's just the type of player he is.
"He's my measuring stick for how good I can be against him because like I said, I think he's the best corner in this league."
Roy Williams on Al Harris
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