Green Bay Packers film room: Breaking down fourth round pick Jamaal Williams

Jamaal Williams trait #3: Quick acceleration/burst

Williams may not be a classic burner, but he does have good short-area burst. While he only recorded a 4.59 forty time at the NFL Combine, he does possess enough speed to quickly get downfield and devastate a defense.

Williams can quickly accelerate and gain ground, which a majority of the time is a more important trait for a running back than blazing straight-line speed.

On this play from the Utah game Williams gets himself out of trouble by accelerating around the corner and beating the defenders to the outside.

On what could have been a run for a loss, Williams turns it into a 15-yard gain because he’s able to quickly accelerate around the corner and turn upfield.

Here’s another example where Williams’ acceleration allows him to create separation from defenders.

Against Toledo, Williams breaks through the line and then bounces the run to the outside, sprinting full speed down the sidelines.

Williams’ short-area burst enables him to get downfield quickly and press the defense.

While many criticize him for his lack of speed, the film shows Williams quickly gets into the second level of the defense and creates plenty of separation in the open field.

Williams is a big-play halfback, which makes him a dangerous offensive weapon.

Here’s one more play that demonstrates his burst through the line.

Williams gains an edge on the Wildcat defenders because he bounces the run to the outside and beats them in a sprint to the sidelines.

While straight-line speed may not be Williams’ most impressive attribute, he more than makes up for it with acceleration, burst, and short-area quickness.