Tramon Williams had done everything right.
Green Bay's Pro Bowl cornerback spent last week studying Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan until his eyes hurt. Williams understood the Falcons' tendencies, where each route was headed and exactly what Ryan wanted to do.
So late in the first half last Saturday, when Atlanta lined up three receivers to the right and Ryan rolled left, Williams was ready.
"I knew he was coming my way," said Williams, who picked off Ryan's pass and went 70 yards for a touchdown. "We kind of talked about, 'If they run this route here, we can go get this.' "
Here's the difference, though, between Green Bay's secondary and many others across the NFL. When the moment of truth arrives, the Packers' defensive backs are sublime at catching the ball.
It sounds simple. But when you consider some players wind up in the secondary because they fight the football, Green Bay's "Good Hands People" certainly are unique.
Charles Woodson. Nick Collins. Williams. All three have hands many wide receivers would kill for.
Rookie nickel back Sam Shields is improving at catching the ball, and safety Charlie Peprah has made the most of his limited chances.
While many defensive backs struggle with their hands, the Packers' group rarely drops the ball. So if Bears quarterback Jay Cutler gives Green Bay's secondary some chances Sunday, history says they'll make him pay.
"I think it's probably tops in the league," Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. said when asked how Green Bay's secondary catches the ball. "We've done a better job this year than last year.
"We dropped more interceptions last year than we did this year. We still dropped some that we shouldn't. But they can really get the ball. More than their hands, they believe that they can get it."
The trio of Woodson, Collins and Williams has spearheaded Green Bay's success in back for three seasons.
The Packers ranked second in the NFL in interceptions this year with 24. Last year, Green Bay was first with 30 picks, and it was tied for third in 2008 (22).
Williams has a team-high 21 interceptions over the last three years and has become a household name this postseason with three more. Woodson has 18 interceptions in that time and Collins has 17.
All three are natural hands catchers and bring the ball in seamlessly. Not surprisingly, the trio has combined for seven Pro Bowl appearances in the last three years and all three were named this year.
"Those guys have very good hands for defensive guys," Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson said. "And they use their hands - a lot of guys try to body catch it all the time - which I think allows them (Green Bay's defensive backs) to make more plays.
"Some of those guys, they could easily step to the other side of the ball. They could be really good receivers, but some people prefer to play defense."
That's what happened to most of Green Bay's defensive backs.
Woodson was recruited to the University of Michigan as an "athlete," then played predominantly on defense because that's where the Wolverines needed the most help. But he also was an electrifying return man and a spot player at wide receiver.
Many of Woodson's teammates swear he still has the best hands on the team. Considering Woodson has 30 interceptions since arriving via free agency in 2006, it's tough to argue.
"Everybody can pretty much catch in the back," Williams said. "Everyone's pretty much got good hands. But I think 'Wood' might have the best argument."
A case also can be made for Williams these days.
His game-saving interception in Philadelphia in the wild-card round was a highlight-reel catch. Then against the Falcons in the divisional round, Williams went over 6-foot-4 wide receiver Michael Jenkins for one interception, and then looked like Jerry Rice when he snatched his second pick in front of Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White.
"I know Tramon could be a great wideout," Nelson said.
Turns out Williams could have been. After walking on at Louisiana Tech in 2002, Bulldogs coach Jack Bicknell gave Williams the choice of playing offense or defense.
"I looked at the receiver corps and that group was really deep," Williams said. "The corners weren't. I went out there and said, 'I'm going to try corner' and it's worked out."
Collins' path to the secondary was similar. He was a wideout/cornerback at Dixie County High School in Cross City, Fla., before his coaches at Bethune-Cookman made him a full-time safety.
Collins struggled with his hands early on in Green Bay and had just four interceptions during his first three years. But something clicked since then, and Collins has become one of football's top ball hawks since the start of 2008.
"I still say I've always had great hands," Collins said. "I always had the hands. Really, they're the same. I think you can say I'm playing more relaxed, with more confidence. My hands were never the problem."
Shields, on the other hand, has struggled. It's one reason he was moved from wideout to cornerback during his senior year at the University of Miami.
But Shields has steadily improved his rookie year and has been a revelation as Green Bay's third corner. Shields has fielded the ball relatively well on kick returns and made a scintillating interception in Week 9 when he outfought Dallas' Miles Austin on a sideline route.
"It's not really a competition to see who has the best hands," Shields said. "But we just all really want to get that ball when it's in the air."
Green Bay's defensive backs have done exactly that all year. If they do it again Sunday, an NFC Championship could very well be the reward.
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