Watch: Marcus Williams covers almost 20 yards in seconds for TD-saving pass breakup
Saints safety Marcus Williams covered 19.9 yards while the ball was in the air to break up this Jalen Hurts pass intended for Miles Sanders.
🔹 Williams Top Speed: 20.15 mph#NOvsPHI | #Saints pic.twitter.com/nVUctP145k
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 21, 2021
How’s this for a highlight reel-worthy play? The New Orleans Saints weren’t able to do enough to beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but it wasn’t for lack of trying — some individual performances were really impressive, particularly what free safety Marcus Williams put on tape.
His best play of the day came in the second quarter, with the Saints lined up in a two-high look with Williams starting on the right hash. He backpedaled and flowed towards the near sideline as Eagles receivers hustled downfield after the snap, then correctly diagnosed the route concept and sprinted to the opposing sideline for a critical pass deflection.
And it’s a good thing he did. Marshon Lattimore misplayed his assignment and followed Kwon Alexander to cover DeVonta Smith in the flat, letting Alexander’s man (running back Miles Sanders) run free along the sideline. Sanders had time to get near the goal line and turn around for a layup from Jalen Hurts. At best, the play might have been stopped at the 1-yard line. But it looked like an easy score.
Right up until Williams interrupted it. NFL Next Gen Stats uses microchips installed in players’ shoulder pads to track in-game movement, and they found that Williams covered 19.9 yards to swat the ball out of bounds before Sanders could catch it. He was moving at a top speed of 20.15 miles per hour, or about 29.55 feet per second. He’s a rare athlete and this play is a great example of how effective he can be when combining those physical gifts with diligent film study.
It’s going to be tough for the Saints to retain their franchise-tagged player. They’re already over the 2022 salary cap ceiling by more than $56 million, with Williams among their top pending free agents (along with standout left tackle Terron Armstead). They may have to issue the franchise tag again if they can’t hammer out a long-term extension while working to get under the cap, if nothing else to buy time until more money is freed up after the June 1 deadline. And big moments like this are what Williams will rightfully point to in contract negotiations. He’s one of the game’s best free safeties and he deserves to be paid like it. Hopefully the Saints will be the team to do it.
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