SANTA CLARA -- Near the end of the third quarter in the NFC Championship, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed a 4-yard pass to 6-foot-3, 227-pound receiver Allen Lazard.
Facing 5-foot-9, 185-pound nickel corner K’Waun Williams, Lazard should've been able to get at least a few yards after the catch, but that was not that case. Instead, the 49ers defensive back stopped Lazard cold in his tracks.
That wasn’t the only time Williams tackled an opponent without allowing any yards after the catch during last Sunday’s game. Four of his five solo tackles on receivers netted zero yards after the catch.
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Williams’ sixth solo tackle was of Packers running back Aaron Jones who outweighs the defender by 30 pounds.
The slot corner also has speed in his bag of tricks. He sacked Rodgers and forced his fifth fumble of 2019 which leads all defensive backs, according to Pro Football Focus.
“They don’t mention your heart, you know what I’m saying?” Williams told NBC Sports Bay Area after the game. “You just got to go out there and be aggressive. It’s a mindset thing to be able to go out there and know I got to get there.”
Every Packers player who Williams stopped outweighed him by at least 17 pounds.
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“It’s just effort,” Williams said. “You know, I just go out there and I just try to be aggressive and just try to tackle a guy. It’s just the way I’ve been tackling since I was young. I just find a way to get to the point where I can grip, and I just grab and roll.”
Williams has put together a solid fifth season, netting two interceptions and 35 solo tackles in the regular season. The 49ers defense was highly criticized for not tackling well during the last two seasons, but Williams is a prime example of how that has changed.
“I work a lot,” Williams said. “I put in a lot of work. I attribute a lot to my coaches Joe Woods and Daniel Bullocks. They do a good job every week getting our tackling right. It’s just our effort on defense and our energy. I’m just happy to be able to bring it to them.”
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It seems Williams takes great pride in playing much bigger than his actual size. His eyes light up when asked about tackling players that are taller and outweigh him. The challenge is not new to the sixth-year defensive back.
“I’ve always been this size so I don’t know no other way,” Williams said. “I just go out there and be passionate and just bring a lot of energy and secure the tackles and make the plays for the defense.”
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