Roy Williams bandwagon (1 Viewer)

[BigJim®]

I know what you are thinking...

I just read an article on Roy Williams and have done a 180 in how I value him, both for redraft purposes and looking forward into the future. In a nutshell, he's gone from 'fire sale' to a 'buy low' in my books. Candidly, I have viewed Roy as being overhyped for the past couple years, I believe rightfully so, and I've even had disagreements with others within the last 45 days on this board about whether he had it in him to ever live up to that hype. I argued he will not. Maybe this is rash; maybe an offseason article alone should not change my opinion. Typically they do not. That acknowledgement aside, I found this article refreshing in comparison to how other modern day prima donna WRs operate. First the aticle, then my observations:

Roy Williams told not to believe trade rumors, says he would be 'Lion for life'

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 26, 2008

As rumors swirled that the Lions might trade wide receiver Roy Williams, coach Rod Marinelli called Williams and told him not to believe them. Marinelli told Williams he was going to stay in Detroit and have the best year of his career.

But Williams doesn't seem worried -- not about the possibility of being traded, not about entering the last year of his contract. He knows he needs to work harder, but he figures everything will take care of itself.

Asked Tuesday about the trade talk, Williams repeated it was the nature of the business.

At one point, he said: "If it's a football decision, it's a dumb decision. But if it's a business decision, then it's going to be pretty good. I just do what I can. I'm here right now."

At another point, he said: "If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm going to play ball wherever it's at."

Does Williams want to stay in Detroit?

"Oh, yeah," he said. "I want to stay here. I think we're headed in the right direction."

Williams is preparing for his fifth season with the Lions, who drafted him seventh overall in 2004. He said as far as he knew, his agent had not spoken to the team about an extension. Would he like to get a deal done before the season?

"I'm ready to do whatever," he said. "If they want to make me a Lion for life, I'm good with that. If not, I'm just going to play my type of ball and see what happens after that."

Players often don't like playing in the final year of a contract because of the risk of injury. Some voice their displeasure publicly or skip the voluntary off-season workouts as a negotiating tactic. But Williams said he did not consider that.

"Not at all, because I'd be hurting myself and I'm hurting this team," Williams said. "I'm not one of those guys where I'm going to be mad at you so we can get something done. I'm just going to do what I do. I'm a man of my word, a man of my work, so we can get something done like that."

Though Williams had issues with offensive coordinator Mike Martz last year, he said he was a little upset when Martz was fired because Martz is a "high-level guy" and the players didn't reach his level.

He said time will tell whether the Lions will be better off. But he thinks the balanced attack of new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto could help him and Calvin Johnson make a bigger impact.

"I've always said we've got to run the football," Williams said. "If we can run the football, that's going to bring that safety down. There's not too many corners in this league that can stop us one-on-one on the outside, and that's for anybody. That's Champ Bailey, Al Harris, whoever it might be, the best in the biz."

Two other things might help Williams:

One, studying. Williams said he hasn't always studied as hard as he should and plans to change.

"The lightbulb finally went off," he said. "I'm the oldest one in this group besides Mike Furrey. I have to be the leader of this group -- like, the real leader of this group. So therefore we're going to watch film together when we're not with the coaches. I'm going to have the guys come out to my house and have food and drinks and everything for those guys, and we're going to know our opponent better than they know themselves."

And two, health. Williams has dealt with nagging injuries the last two years, and quarterback Jon Kitna sees a difference in him this off-season.

"When you're a skill position guy and you don't feel like you're 100%, you don't have that same confidence and that same air about you," Kitna said. "When he's 100% and feels good about himself, he'll be dominant."

Williams said: "I'm just getting myself in shape, and it's not because it's the last year of my contract. I feel I'm a good enough player that something's going to happen anyway, whether it's good or bad. So I'm just putting myself in the best situation I can be in."

First the obvious 'cons': (1) He's never produced up to the hype.

(2) He has a new offensive coordinator.

(3) He is sharing with Calvin Johnson, who should improve his own production in season #2.

(4) I think he has big QB/RB issues that could sidetrack him, despite how he personally approaches the 2008 season.

Pros

(1) First and foremost, I trust my BS meter and I believe Roy is not just saying the right things, but walking the walk.

(2) This is a contract year for Roy, which gives him excellent incentive to produce, and he appears to have the right attitude to accomplish that.

(3) I think it is a great sign that he's participating in off-season team activities despite being at risk of injury in his contract year. His quotes on this about the team needing him to and trusting fate are refreshing.

(4) I wasn't aware he lacked in preparation/film study/working out, but that could explain why he's underachieved. If he claims 'the lightbul went off' and teammates are commenting on noticeable differences, I take notice.

(5) From a keeper/dynasty perspective, he's only 26. It's hard to ignore this guy is a looming FA and has said he'd hope to sign with a Texas team. If he wen't to Dallas, I believe his value would skyrocket. Could stay in Detroit, however, as mentioned in this article, but I can only imagine a longterm deal or franchise tag being applied if he blows the ceiling off in 2008.

"BUY LOW"

 

[Super King]

First the obvious 'cons':

(1) He's never produced up to the hype.

(2) He has a new offensive coordinator.

(3) He is sharing with Calvin Johnson, who should improve his own production in season #2.

(4) I think he has big QB/RB issues that could sidetrack him, despite how he personally approaches the 20087 season.

Pros

(1) First and foremost, I trust my BS meter and I believe Roy is not just saying the right things, but walking the walk.

(2) This is a contract year for Roy, which gives him excellent incentive to produce, and he appears to have the right attitude to accomplish that.

(3) I think it is a great sign that he's participating in off-season team activities despite being at risk of injury in his contract year. His quotes on this about the team needing him to and trusting fate are refreshing.

(4) I wasn't aware he lacked in preparation/film study/working out, but that could explain why he's underachieved. If he claims 'the lightbul went off' and teammates are commenting on noticeable differences, I take notice.

(5) From a keeper/dynasty perspective, he's only 26. It's hard to ignore this guy is a looming FA and has said he'd hope to sign with a Texas team. If he wen't to Dallas, I believe his value would skyrocket. Could stay in Detroit, however, as mentioned in this article, but I can only imagine a longterm deal or franchise tag being applied if he blows the ceiling off in 2008.

"BUY LOW"

if he's goign to be around that long. he should be automatic #1 dynasty WR for the next 2000 years at least

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

two things are at work in the Lions O this year.

#1 - less pass/more run

#2 - when they do pass it wont be to Martz's favorite WR's Furrey and Mcdonald it will be to Roy and CJ.

 

[zamboni]

two things are at work in the Lions O this year.#1 - less pass/more run

Maybe, maybe not. Martz may not be there anymore, but it also depends on how well the defense holds up. Besides, if Tatum Bell is actually the starter, I'm voting for more passing, less running.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

two things are at work in the Lions O this year.#1 - less pass/more run

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how good the defense holds up. Besides, if Tatum Bell is actually the starter, I'm voting for more passing, less running.

pretty sure the Lions add a RB in the draft, maybe not round 1 given the depth round 2 seems likely.Agreed that the game situation will dictate the O. Local reports are the new OC's and Rod want to be a more run oriented team

 

[BigJim®]

two things are at work in the Lions O this year.#1 - less pass/more run#2 - when they do pass it wont be to Martz's favorite WR's Furrey and Mcdonald it will be to Roy and CJ.

I'm not getting bogged down by fear of more running. I see that as a red herring generally. Less running last year did not equate to more passing opportunity, it equated to short drives and less offensive plays. I think more running, or perhaps more productive running, can only help the passing game. Defenses will not be free to drop a safety deep, the offense will hopefully put together better drives, which will hopefully lead to more scroing opportunities generally.

 

[5Rings]

Roy Williams told not to believe trade rumors, says he would be 'Lion for life'

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 26, 2008

"The lightbulb finally went off," he said. "I'm the oldest one in this group besides Mike Furrey. I have to be the leader of this group -- like, the real leader of this group. So therefore we're going to watch film together when we're not with the coaches. I'm going to have the guys come out to my house and have food and drinks and everything for those guys, and we're going to know our opponent better than they know themselves."."