Don't be alarmed if you come across Jaguars defensive end Julius Williams turning the corner in your local Winn-Dixie or Best Buy, and he tries a swim move on you.
Williams begins each day getting out of bed and practicing a pass-rush technique, often "ripping" his way around the wall leading to his living room. It's all part of the mentality instilled by first-year defensive line coach Joe Cullen for a group that is trying to erase memories of a 2009 season.
"Everything we do, we always talk about rushing the passer," Williams said. "Almost every wall I come around I'm working it or slapping it, doing moves and just thinking about getting to the quarterback every second of the day. You have to set the standard. We are going to get to the quarterback this year."
Cullen, who loses his voice practically every practice from yelling, has demanded accountability among the defensive linemen from day one. He is constantly hovering around the drills, screaming instructions, and he plays no favorites.
"He demands you to be great," Williams said. "You have to come to work every day and put your best foot forward. When we start with individual drills everything is full-throttle. You have to come ready to work and that is the mentality that he expects. We always stop and look around at what everybody else is doing because we have to set the standard as defensive linemen. Everybody gets it. He is going to push everybody to be their best."
Williams is hoping to build on a rookie season in which he played in 11 games after making the roster as an undrafted rookie from Connecticut. He joined linebacker Russell Allen as the only two undrafted rookies to make the opening day roster.
Williams made his only start of the season at San Francisco on November 29, playing on a season-high 28 snaps.
"It was really cool," Williams said. "I didn't know for sure and I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. I had heard a couple of things. I was excited. It was a great experience and I learned a lot from my first year, period."
General manager Gene Smith has stocked the defensive line through free agency and the draft this offseason. The Jaguars' first four draft picks were defensive linemen, with two of them defensive ends in Larry Hart and Austen Lane.
The club added veteran Aaron Kampman in free agency, acquiring a proven veteran whose resume includes 54 career sacks and two Pro Bowls. Kampman, who was held out of drills this offseason while rehabbing from knee surgery, has been a sounding board for young players such as Williams.
"It's been great just picking his brain," Williams said. "He's a real cool, down to earth guy. You can talk to him about anything on or off the field. You can talk to him about family problems. You can pick his brain and sometimes you don't even have to. He'll come to you and say something he saw that could improve your game and help you out. He's a great guy to have around and I'm going to continue to try and learn as much as I can from him."
With a year under his belt, Williams has been a mainstay in the club's offseason conditioning program. His goal was to become more lean, which has resulted in a quicker burst off the line of scrimmage.
"I feel like a totally different player from the aspects of learning fundamentals and learning more about the game," Williams said. "I learned how to study opponents and break down film. I feel like my game has matured."
While he worked his way into a roster spot in 2009, he realizes he will need to do the same in 2010, beginning with training camp.
"I have worked for everything I have had in my life," Williams said. "Nobody has ever given me anything, beginning when I was a young kid. I'm going to continue to keep that attitude and put my best foot forward, whether it's the weight room, film or in practice."
