The Packers corps of tight ends is a deep and undeniably talented group. But it’s also an offbeat bunch of characters, to say the least. There’s brash starter Jermichael Finley, a journalist’s dream who freely speaks his mind, as controversial as that often tends to be. There's block-first backup Tom Crabtree, who is inked to the brink with body tattoos and is an absolute stitch on Twitter. There's special-teams junkie Ryan Taylor, a seventh-round pick in 2011 and a towel-snapping good ol’ boy from North Carolina. He once told reporters swarming around Aaron Rodgers’ locker that the real story wasn’t with the MVP quarterback but with the fifth-string tight end.
And then there’s D.J. Williams, who until Friday hadn’t exposed much of the eccentricity shared by the rest of his position group. But, after his second straight standout practice, that changed when Williams described how he'd gotten stronger in the offseason.
“I wrestle cows every day," he told a pack of reporters.
Wait, what?
"I roomed with a whole bunch of country people in college,” he said. “Back home in Arkansas, we don't have anything else to do."
Wrestling cows? To train for football? “That works out real good, especially if you get them with the baby calf, they’re really aggressive. That really helped. It starts out as cow-tipping, but once they start charging, you have to go to defense mode. It's very difficult to put him on the ground. If you can wrap the hind leg with the front leg, you have a good chance. If you get enough push."
Williams said cow wrestling is good for three things -- "A good time, for football, obviously, and it's a good way to impress a girl. It's very impressive. Usually, you say, 'Let's go cow tipping' and (girls) feel it's a good rush when the cows start chasing you and stuff. They think it's to impress them, but I'm really working on my football stuff at the same time. Two birds, one stone."
Asked if he had any pictures or proof of his cattle capers, Williams replied, "Y'all get lucky and find yourself in Arkansas, you might see it."
Crabtree, with a wry grin, said he may just make the trip. “Maybe I’ll have to get down [to Arkansas] next offseason and try the cow-tipping program."
Regardless of how Williams really spent his offseason, it’s clear the work paid off. Coach Mike McCarthy said Williams was playing with much more balance and strength.
"D.J. is stronger, more comfortable," McCarthy said. "He’s doing a lot better job of attacking the middle of the field. I’m excited to see him put the pads on and do the interior stuff."
The “interior stuff” is what will determine whether Williams makes the next step as an NFL tight end. Last year, he shone early in training camp, displaying the fluid route-running and soft hands that won him the Mackey Award trophy, given to the nation’s top tight end, after a senior season at Arkansas in which he caught 54 passes for 627 yards and four touchdowns. But the 6-foot-2 Williams never showed much inclination as a blocker, and his progress stalled. He caught just one pass for six yards in his rookie season and was inactive for four games, including the playoff loss to the Giants.
No one doubts Williams’ ability as a receiver, especially after the two highlight-reel, one-handed catches he's made early in training camp. But it will be the gritty, in-line blocking and special teams work that will determine how many snaps he can pry from his able comrades at tight end, fullback, H-back and in the slot.
“I just want to establish my role first, no matter what that may be,” he said. “Whether it’s coming in when [Finley] needs a break or being that utility back that the NFL is starting to use."
Williams said he’s going to be more focused on the fundamentals of blocking this season, rather than trying to just knock somebody over.
And, hey, if he can take down a cow, there's no reason to believe he can't refine his blocking technique.
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