Rockets’ receivers big targets

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DeKALB – Mid-American Conference teams haven’t had any fun covering Toledo wide receiver Stephen Williams for the past 31⁄2 seasons.

Those same teams are already finding out that Eric Page will be the same headache for the next 31⁄2  seasons.

Williams, a senior, and Page, a freshman, are two of the top receivers in the MAC and present gigantic matchup problems for any team that faces them, and that includes Northern Illinois, which will face the Rockets at 6 p.m. today at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.

The two are dramatically different wide receivers. Williams stands 6-foot-5 and is a big target near the end zone while Page is 5-foot-10 and uses his speed to get around defenders.

“I don’t know if you can keep them in check,” NIU coach Jerry Kill said. “Steve is a big guy and uses his body very well. He has good hands, runs good routes and he’s a mismatch because of his size.

“[Page] is a talented young guy. Not many people can come in and play as a true freshman. He’s smaller in stature but has great quickness. He lines up in the slot and does good things. He’s kind of a Wes Welker-type, only with more speed.”

Williams enters tonight’s game with 41 receptions for 641 yards while Page has 40 receptions for 621 yards. Those numbers are good for second and third in the conference in receiving statistics.
Williams’ size is a huge concern but he’s not the only big receiver Toledo starts. Robin Bailey, who stands 6-foot-5, has 13 catches for 129 yards.

“Big wide receivers are usually hard to guard because corners are usually smaller,” safety Tracy Wilson said. “The main thing is just don’t let them get into our bodies. We have to get on them before they get on us. We can’t let them get on our bodies, and stay over the top and don’t let them throw jump balls.”

Kill and NIU players emphasized getting off to a fast start on offense will be key to try and help the defense against one of the MAC’s top offenses. If they don’t, it could turn into a long night with plenty of scoring through the air from the Rockets.

“They play with different tempos and speeds and they just make it very tough,” Kill said. “They’ve got some mismatches on you, just with some powerful receivers.