Packers cornerback Tramon Williams is looking forward to facing Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, because he wants to push himself against the best.
“He has the size, speed, route running, body control, hands. And he’s one of those guys who grew up around football in Minnesota with Cris Carter and guys like that,” Williams said of Sunday’s opponent, via Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. “He just has the total package. You definitely have to have the right mindset to go out and battle the whole game.”
Of course, there are receivers out there he does not hold in the same esteem.
Williams was critical of Bears receiver Brandon Marshall, suggesting he has all the same kind of talent, but skirts the rules anyway.
“If there’s anybody who likes to bend and break the rules, it probably would be Brandon Marshall,” Williams said. “Obviously as a big receiver, you want to be physical. Some of the things he does he shouldn’t be able to do against press coverage. He’s one of those guys where he wants you to put your hands on him so he’s going to grab you and throw you.
“I’m like, ‘Mr. Ref, he’s not fast enough to get on top of me. How do you think he got on top?’ He has some tricks to him. He’s a physical specimen. For a guy like that to do stuff like that also is kind of hard.”
Of course, Williams is fortunate to be able to check anyone, after the right shoulder injury that left him effectively playing one-armed last season.
“Last year, I had nothing,” Williams said. “It was like having a limb that you couldn’t use. I couldn’t lift [weights]. You had to pick and choose how you tackle. It was like, ‘I’m going to tackle this guy but I’m definitely not tackling this guy.’ It was a lot to go through, but I got through and made no excuses.”
And now, he’s back to his old shut-down status, and looking to go against the best.
So long as they play fair.