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Willie Gay Jr. earns comparisons to Derrick Johnson and Deion Jones on film

By Grant Tuttle

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals looks to pass while under pressure from Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals looks to pass while under pressure from Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 21: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tackles running back Kavosiey Smoke #20 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – SEPTEMBER 21: Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tackles running back Kavosiey Smoke #20 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Incredible potential in coverage:

Willie Gay’s greatest asset may come in the passing game. While there is room for growth here, it is easy to see why he could be an excellent coverage linebacker in the NFL. For Kansas City, this is what they will expect from him on day one at the WILL position as he competes with Ben Niemann for the starting role.

In this play, the entire defense does its job and Tua Tagovailoa makes a mistake. Lined up at tight end is future first-round pick Irv Smith Jr. Tasked with guarding him in man coverage is Gay. Smith is intended to be Tagovailoa’s safety valve, but that is erased by how smooth Gay is in coverage.

With a few quick shuffles and great quickness, Gay breaks on the route and gets in the throwing lane. Tagovailoa sees the quick burst from Gay and feels uncomfortable throwing the ball in his direction and instead tries to pull it down and get out of the pocket. It does not work out well for him.

The Chiefs have had their struggles covering players in the flats. The reason for this video is to illustrate Gay’s ability to play out-routes in the flats, but that is certainly not his only contribution against the pass. Gay’s innate ability to get in throwing lanes in zone coverage is genuinely impressive. Steve Spagnuolo will enjoy his instincts there.

In deeper man coverage, however, Gay looks uncomfortable backpedaling which may be a liability against quicker receivers that he is tasked with covering at the next level. Overall, his coverage is strong.

High Motor:

Simply put: Willie Gay flies around the field with reckless abandon and does things that the other linebackers for the Chiefs cannot do. His athleticism is truly jaw-dropping and a spectacle for anyone that loves the NFL.

On this play, Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham takes a quick drop and finds an open receiver on a quick comeback route. The receiver gets away from the would-be tackler and it appears as though he is about to waltz into the end zone for the touchdown when Gay comes flying upfield to make the tackle after spending time at the line of scrimmage about 12 or 13 yards away

. Gay never gives up on the play and never quits. This athleticism is what the Chiefs have been sorely lacking at linebacker and now they finally have it at the WILL position.

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