Movie Analysis: The only solution for Jameson Williams is to take his time.
Many are looking to move Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams moving forward.
We watched the movie to know what was going on.
It’s no secret that Jameson Williams, the Detroit Lions’ 2022 first-round pick, has yet to live up to expectations.
Although an ACL injury and four-game suspension kept him off the field on game days and practices for much of his young career, he still played in 10 games, Williams only had seven catches passing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He has yet to make more than 50% of his attacks in a match, and he has been hampered by dropped shots and mental errors.
When targeting Williams this season, Jared Goff was just 5 of 16 with 71 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 5 drops and a 49.
6 passer rating.
Some people have suggested ways to get Williams back on track.
The most commonly proposed solution — suggested most recently by former Lions wide receiver legend Herman Moore — is to get the ball to Williams faster.
Throw him quick, tilted, short takedowns to build his confidence and build momentum.
In theory, this makes a lot of sense.
In fact, the Lions tried that and it didn’t work.
And when you think about it, of course it doesn’t work, because it highlights what Williams is currently struggling with the most.
On the surface, quick plays where the ball comes out quickly appear to be easy throws and catches.
An easy throw by the quarterback and an easy route for the receiver.
It may only get you 4-6 yards, but it’s an easy success and one hopes that success will breed more success.
Except that’s not true.
Normally, quick attacks require the utmost precision and attention to detail, especially with this one led by coordinator Ben Johnson.
Tight end Sam LaPorta described this perfectly during the bye week on the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast.
“(Goff) is very decisive about what he wants when he runs, not to mention Ben Johnson is very particular about distance, routes and milestones,” LaPorta said.
“It makes my job easier.
It was definitely a lot to remember at first, but I knew I had to go that route at 6 yards because of the timing of the game.
If I’m not at 6 yards – if I’m at 7 or 8 yards – this messes up the whole timing and he’ll have to move on to his next option.
So once I had memorized a lot of these details, I understood what Jared wanted from me and I wanted to use it as a security blanket for him.
These little details are exactly what’s missing from Williams’ game.
How do I know?
Because that’s exactly what coach Dan Campbell said during training camp.
“I told him in the spring you want to feel like by the end of camp, man, there’s some level of completion,” Campbell said.
“Oh my god, the gaps, the depth of the road.
You want to start to feel like there’s a lot of careful detail and he has a really good relationship with Goff when he leaves because I think if we can get there, I don’t think it’s going to take long.
time to choose.
it will be saved when it comes back.
Unfortunately for Williams, two weeks after this quote, he suffered a hamstring injury and missed the remainder of training camp and the preseason.
He will be absent next month due to suspension.
This level of detail has never been defined and it is still catching up.
Visual evidence also exists.
The Lions tried to do exactly what everyone asked for from the start against the Crows.
On the second play of the game, Williams made a single takedown.
Problem: Goff threw for 10 yards and Williams ran for 12-13 yards.
With the sideline at the 41.
5 yard line, the ball reached the catch almost exactly 10 yards away.
Meanwhile, Williams’ route extended more than 10 feet past that mark.
The ball placement forces Williams to have to come back for the ball, make a diving grab, and instead of a first down, Williams lands out of bounds and it was incomplete. I obviously cannot say for certain if this was an imprecise route, a bad throw, or poor communication. But the conclusion is all the same: these quick plays are not coming easy between Goff and Williams right now. The chemistry that is essential for the “easy” plays has not been built yet.
Flash forward to the end of that game, Williams is Goff’s checkdown option after the receiver goes in motion. The second-year receiver slows his route, waiting in space, and Goff overthrows him, clearly expecting him to run more downfield.
Another easy pitch-and-catch that is not coming easy. Again, I’m not trying to put the blame on one or the other—I’m simply pointing out the two are not on the same page when these plays require absolute precision.
On Monday night last week, the Lions dialed up another easy play—and this one even got to utilize Williams’ best and most trusted asset: speed. They send him in motion against man coverage, already giving him a leg up. He runs a perfectly fine wheel route. And Goff smartly throws it on his back shoulder, to ensure his receiver doesn’t get blown up by the defender. What happens?
Abandoned.
Drops of water are like that.
I don’t know if they can be fixed, but I don’t think trust issues can be solved with a series of 2-yard passes.
Talking to people he knows and hanging out in lockers with him, I don’t get the impression that he’s a “yip” kid.
In fact, the last time he was asked about rewards, he laughed off the question as if everyone else was getting more done than he was.
(12: 30 points below)
But here’s what I do know: the chemistry, the precision—it’s coming. It may have come more naturally with LaPorta and other receivers on the team, but remember that it didn’t truly break through for a guy like Amon-Ra St. Brown until the last couple months of his rookie season.
And if you squint hard enough, some of that is developing with Williams and Goff. To me, the most promising play of Williams’ career came in the second quarter of the Monday night tilt against the Raiders. Lined up in the slot, Williams ran up the seam and at about the 15-yard mark, he cuts inside. There, the ball is waiting for him on a perfectly delivered ball from Goff.
I do still wonder about some of the details on this play—Williams nearly runs right into Josh Reynolds after the catch. However, this was an anticipation throw from Goff. Williams hasn’t even made his break by the time Goff is uncorking this.
The Lions don’t need to give Williams some easy passes and dink and dunk their way downfield. That’s not going to do anyone any favors. That’s not Williams’ game, and it’s not addressing the bigger issues at hand. They simply just need to rep and rep and rep, and then rep some more. Hammer out the details, and continue to put Williams in positions to utilize his best asset: speed.
