Accomplished Williams Sets Tone for Fighters Defense
Published on March 23, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Frisco Fighters News Release
One of only a handful of returners from a fledgling Frisco crew, veteran defensive lineman Charles Williams wasted little time re-upping with the Fighters in December. The first-team All-IFL performer jumps back into things after a phenomenal showing last season.
"I loved the team that was created," Williams said. "I got so comfortable with being in Frisco ... I had a great season last year, so why not bring it back and run it back again?"
After pacing the league in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (17) in 2021, Williams notched seven takedowns and was credited with 1.5 sacks in Frisco's recent season-opener against Massachusetts. For the disruptive defender, it's simply a continuation of last year's success.
"What I try to take away from it is just that standard that I helped create, to control games starting with your defensive front," Williams said. "We need everyone to be able to rely on the front four. Us front four should want that in our hands."
Getting set beside Williams are new faces in JD Griggs, the IFL's sack leader in 2017, and Zaycoven Henderson, formerly of the Northern Arizona Wranglers. Williams feels that the group can do just as well - or even better - than it did last summer, especially if the players gel.
"That always looks a little rough in the beginning, but it tightens up as the season goes," he said. "That's really a time-sensitive thing, building that chemistry and that bond between everyone on the team."
The Fighters' first outing was an encouraging indication. They allowed the Pirates only 134 net yards and largely held Massachusetts signal-caller Alejandro Bennifield in check.
"We did our thing," Williams said. "We really held it down, for the most part. There was a couple of plays that we gave up, but that's going to come in arena football - and football, period."
Williams sees a silver-lining in the narrow road defeat to the defending champions, considering it a necessary lesson more so than a setback. Still, Frisco accomplished a goal of holding its opponent under 32 points.
That won't easily be done in Saturday's clash with Duke City. The Gladiators sport quarterback Nate Davis and pass-catcher Dello Davis, who connected for six scores in the two teams' meeting last June.
"We're expecting a lot of passing to come from that offense," Williams said. "We're just really going to be pinning our ears back and trying to get our hands on Nate ... I think we're up for a great matchup."
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