Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.
this is a pretty poor representation. while he didn't produce compared to the hype when he came out, he was an extremely productive player in multiple ways for penn state. his return abilities alone made them a better team. i'm ok with not thinking his situation as a rookie, with a rookie qb, and a bunch of other receivers around him are all good reasons to knock his value for this year, but overall, to say he has no value and didn't produce in college is quite naive.
i think at best williams can fight to win about half of the slot plays from curry to start then go from there. he could be the #2 but he needs to show he can break the plays off and create more after he gets it. he will be a good return man, the fact he has finally showed cason the door is a great thing. he does not have alot of upside right now but he could do something. plus the defense has added 8 new people. yes i am a homer but while the defense probably will not be good they will at least display a different kind of suck than last years group. really i think there will be a big improvement not dolphins improved but middle of the roadish. anyways i like williams from a football standpoint, he can help the team but he is no where ready to help a fantasy team. pettigrew has a chance to make a difference and smith should have a very good year but not williams he still has to work his way up the chart and use his speed.
Both Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood exhibited a lot more polish in their routes and catching technique than Williams, so I wouldn't pin Williams lack of progress as a receiver on the PSU offensive system.
agree and disagree. i think this is more of a product of how those 3 players were used than it is a true reflection of an inability of williams to learn. the so-called "spread hd" system that wonderboy jay paterno credits himself with was all about multiple players touching the ball in a variety of ways. i'd have to look back, but i'm pretty sure penn state ended up in the top 20 in the nation in total yards, leaning a bit heavier to the rushing side. but overall, i think their passing attack probably ended up top 30 or so. but williams was used more in wild card fashion than as a true receiver. because of his mixed pedigree coming in, he's always been viewed this way by penn state coaches. he had a lot of rushes in this system, where guys like norwood and butler weren't asked to do that at all. they were asked to be receivers, williams was asked to be a receiver, running back, wildcat qb, and return man. norwood and butler have great technique because of this, but williams often lined up in the backfield and took handoffs, pitches, or screens (sometimes laterals leading to rush attempts). i don't know what the average yp/r was by the three of them but i guarantee williams was the lowest because he took so many short hook and screen type of passes, allowing him to do what he did best and that was create with his legs. so that's why i posted above that saying he has no value is naive. he should be returning, he could be used in a wildcat, probably can run enough slot type of routes, and ultimately has good speed and ok size. this system did not line up williams to learn good route-running, but did probably establish within him a good sense of timing. if someone can actually teach williams how to be a receiver, i think he'll stick around as more than a part-timer.
That's a great point and you're right that I oversimplified what you said - JohnB brings up some good points, too.This is a good framing of the narrative for Williams - terrific athlete, not so natural as a receiver. Will the Lions staff unlock potential that wasn't utilized in PSU's offense? I'm still inclined to say no just because Williams doesn't look smooth or consistent catching the ball, and that to me comes down to instincts more than coaching or development, but the payoff is high if he does, so this is definitely a situation worth watching.
very
