For this edition of Beyond the Wall, we sat down with Pittsburgh Power wide receiver Jason Willis. Willis played his college ball at the University of Oregon. After his time there, he spent brief periods with the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins. Willis joined the AFL in 2007 with the New York Dragons and moved to the Jacksonville Sharks in 2010. This season, Willis joined the Pittsburgh Power and is the most experienced receiver on the team. He has accumulated 85 receptions for 940-yards and 15 touchdowns and is a major reason for the team’s offensive success.
Editor: Even with all of the injury issues this season, how would evaluate your team’s performance thus far?
Jason Willis: I would definitely say that injuries have slowed down our progress and chemistry as a team. Offensively we are not where we want to be, but are starting to catch a nice rhythm. Bernard Morris is our starting quarterback and when he is at the helm, we are pretty much clicking on all cylinders. He also brings that running quarterback style to the table as well. On offense we haven’t put four full quarters together yet, but every game we make improvements. It is just a matter of time before the offense finally steps up. The defense has been carrying us all season, so I take my hat off to them.
ED: You guys are currently tied with Cleveland at 8-6 for the East Division lead. What is it going to take to make the playoffs this season?
JW: We definitely want to win out within the East Division. We beat Milwaukee, so now we have to beat Cleveland and Philadelphia. We just want to win out period. If we win out, we know we will be in the driver seat when the playoffs roll around. As long as we take care of business Friday at Orlando, then against Arizona, and our division games, we should be in a good position going into the playoffs.
ED: The Power hasn’t been on NFL Network since Week 1. Are you more excited or nervous going into the game?
JW: You are always nervous. I am always nervous playing the game of football. Playing on NFL Network definitely opens up exposure. Orlando is a great team and they always have a great crowd. With NFL Network being there as well, I know it is going to be even more intense. The rookies on the team who haven’t played are going to be in for it playing in that environment. A lot of guys who are trying to get to the next level and get noticed need to use this time to put their name out there in front of the whole League.
ED: How does it feel to be the veteran receiver on this Pittsburgh team? Do you like that role?
JW: I love it. This is actually my first time being a veteran receiver in this League. I played with Aaron Garcia in 2008 and with Jacksonville last season, but those teams had proven veteran receivers. This season, our receiving core is very young. Jerome Mathis, Mike Washington and a bunch of other guys are in their first season in the League. I tried to take them under my wing and show them how routes are different from the outdoor game. And when it is clutch time late in games, I try to get them to relax and treat it like practice. I try to show them to go out there and have fun. I try to tell them not be stressed because when you start stressing, you start to mess up. They call me Papa J because I am the oldest receiver. I try to be the backbone and help the other receivers be as successful as they can. I tell them to be calm and relaxed.
ED: Growing up in Los Angeles, what other sports did you play besides football?
JW: I ran track. I actually didn’t play football till High School. Track was my main thing and I also enjoyed playing basketball. When I got to High School, I started to love football. I played running back and safety during my time there. I didn’t play receiver until my sophomore year of college at Oregon. I am probably just now mastering being a receiver at 30 years old.
ED: After High School, you decided to go to the University of Oregon. What was that process like? Any other contenders in the mix like UCLA or USC?
JW: At Oregon, Keenan Howry and Samie Parker and I were called the triple threat and all went to high school in Los Angeles. USC and UCLA did not recruit any one of us. My first choice was actually Arizona State. I was supposed to go there as a safety. My second choice was Texas, but the top schools weren’t recruiting me at the time. Oregon was actually my fourth or fifth option, but a lot of things happen in the recruiting process. I actually walked on at Oregon. I had the academics to get in, so I got the opportunity to walk on and earn a scholarship after my second year.
ED: Playing in the Pac-10, you were able to play against teams like USC and UCLA. What was that experience like for you? Did you root for those teams growing up?
JW: I was a USC fan growing up. I always imagined myself playing on that field one day. When I did get recruited and went to Oregon, the first time I got to play in the Coliseum was a dream come true. My whole family was there. It was a little weird wearing a different color uniform, then the red and gold I always imagined myself in. I was just so thankful and blessed. I had to take a moment and just take a knee in the first quarter and realize how my dream had come true.
ED: After your college tenure, you made a few stops with the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. What were those experiences like?
JW: It was awesome. In the NFL, the players are so fast and are the smartest. It is all about business. I learned a lot from the other receivers going into my rookie year with Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram. In my second year, I was given the privilege to play with Jerry Rice. Who better to learn from, than the best player at that position of all-time? I was able to learn so much during my time with him. At that level, there is no room to slack off. You have to be a professional about everything and everyday you have to be at the top of your game. Even the fourth and fifth receivers on NFL teams are still important and top of the line. It was definitely a great experience and taught me how to be a true professional. I hope that anybody who plays football and has those dreams of making it to the NFL will at least get the opportunity to go to training and get the experiences. Those times taught me so much on how to be an effective receiver.
ED: After your time in the NFL, you decided to go to New York to play with Dragons in 2008. How did you get into Arena Football? Any different techniques you had to change when you got here?
JW: In 2007, I didn’t know anything about Arena Football. My agent told me about it, so I decided to play in the middle of the season. I played about four of five games and realized that I was running routes like I was in the open outdoor field. Aaron Garcia had to really work with me to get my routes down. Kevin Swayne, Mike Horacek and Chris Anthony really helped me learn the arena style and route running. They also taught me about emotion and all of the other stuff that really helped me develop and be successful in this League. After that stint in 2007, I was blessed to get picked up by the Redskins. My first full season was in 2008 with the Dragons. I blew up after that.
ED: You played your last three AFL seasons with veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia. How was that experience?
JW: Garcia makes everything easy. He knows where you are going to be, before you even run your route. He knows the game perfectly. I am not taking anything away from Bernard Morris because he is a great quarterback, but Aaron does the best job making the game an extremely easy and smooth transition while you’re playing. He has all of the records in this League, so you know he really understands the game. Once he gets to know his receivers, their body language and tendencies, you are pretty much running routes on air.
ED: After living on the West Coast for a good portion of your life, you moved East and played in New York, Jacksonville and now Pittsburgh. What has the transition been like? Which do you prefer?
JW: One thing that I don’t like is the weather. It’s definitely a lot colder here. I am originally from Louisiana, so I am a southern boy. I love the heat. Jacksonville was definitely a place I could fit in to. Aaron Garcia is a run-and-shoot guy and a west coast offensive mind because he is from the West as well. So that was an easy transition. I met a lot of new guys from the East Coast and South, and it is just great exposure being around different people from across the country.
ED: How have you enjoyed playing in Pittsburgh this season?
JW: I love how Pittsburgh fans are hard-nosed. They expect you to go out there and be physical. They support you no matter what. We have had games where we win on the last play of the game, and the crowd has been awesome and the stands have been packed. We really have the support of the fans because it is a football town. When I walk around with a Power shirt, people will recognize it and say “hey”. I think no matter what sport you play in this city, they are going to support you till the end. We have one more home game and I hope that when the playoffs roll around, we can get home-field advantage and I expect a sold out crowd.
ED: What sports teams do you like?
JW: I am definitely a Saints fan. I grew up a Saints fan because my father and his side of the family are from Louisiana. Whenever the Saints played the Rams or the Raiders, I was always wearing the black and gold. I am a Lakers fan to a certain extent. I have always been a huge Saints fan all the way, 100 percent.
ED: Any other special hobbies or interests?
JW: I have always been a daredevil type. I love skydiving, bungee jumping, hunting and trying all of that kind of stuff. My father was a former LAPD officer, so I got into shooting at the range and things like that. I like to try different things. I am kind of an exhibitionist because I like to do it all. I am not a sit-at-home type of guy. If there is something that catches my eye, I am going to try it.
ED: Thanks for joining us today and good luck against Orlando tomorrow night!
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