Trent Williams received a video from his head coach on Sunday after the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Arizona Cardinals. It was the block he had on linebacker Jordan Hicks during the game.
"Wow, it's good to have you back," Kyle Shanahan said in the message that included the highlight.
That block went viral on Sunday, and rightfully so. Williams absolutely obliterated the defender on the play, which featured tight end George Kittle on an end-around run.
Williams spoke with reporters after practice on Thursday and was asked where the block ranks among the many he's had over his illustrious career.
"I think that's one of the best ones I've probably had, probably put on tape," Williams said. "I've had some good shots where out on a screen, you kind of catch a little guy. But in the box, it's a lot harder to get those types of blocks. So I think it would probably rank at the top of my career."
Williams' new teammates enjoyed watching the block this week. That includes defensive end Nick Bosa. But Williams' block on Hicks wasn't even what impressed Bosa the most from watching his teammate during the game.
"He destroyed that guy," Bosa said on Thursday. "I think that's super impressive, and that's something that not many tackles do, but I'm more impressed with how he held up against Chandler Jones the entire game. He made Chandler look like an average dude out there, which is almost impossible to do. And for him to do that, first game back, that's pretty unbelievable.
"It's really cool to have somebody that's the best at what they do, bar none, number one best at what they do on your team. I watch him every day, and I'm just happy he's on my team."
As for the block itself, Williams broke down the play.
"It's a gap-scheme play," the offensive lineman explained, "and we had what's called a guard bubble with nobody over the guard. So it frees me up to go straight to the linebacker.
"I knew I would have a kill shot on him. I just knew I had to get there quick because if you wait on him, they'll make you miss. They're a lot smaller.
"I just wanted to try to get to the second level as fast as I can and take away the option to go either way and, for the lack of a better expression, just kind of lay him out."
