Jameson Williams’ abbreviated rookie season served as a tease of what he’s capable of, and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson plans to get that potential out next season.
As he worked his way back to full strength coming off a torn ACL, Jameson Williams‘ rookie season was always lined up to be a developmental step and bit of a tease.
Right in line with that teaser element, both of his touches (a catch and a run) went for at leat 40 yards.
As the season wound down, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson maintained high hopes for Williams while also wishing things had come together faster than they did.
"It’s been — I hoped it would click just a little bit faster than it has, you know? I think we all have. But that’s — it takes time sometimes. We’re not losing faith and we’re gonna keep pressing it, and it’ll end up clicking at some point. He’ll have a big game and it’ll be like, ‘OK, that’s why. That’s why we took him. That’s why he can help us so much.”"
Ben Johnson has plan to foster a big step for Jameson Williams next season
The main headline of Johnson’s conversation with Tim Twentyman of the Lions’ website was his explanation of why he removed himself from head coaching consideration to stay in Detroit. But Williams was also a topic he touched on.
"What happened when the ball got in his hands last year? Explosion. We see it, you see it, everyone sees it. It’s there. Jared said it before, consistency, that’s really the name of the game…. He’s really looking forward to taking that next step as a player and really make a big impact on this league."
And for how Williams will be deployed next season?
"We’ll move him around. He’ll be all over the place for us. I know this, when you get speed in the slot, it’s very hard to defend for a defense. There will be times we do that; there will be times he’s an X, he’ll be Z, but there’s a lot he can do.”"
Williams is easy to point to as a breakout candidate for next season, with a bigger role coming independent of the possible departure of DJ Chark in free agency.
Williams showed what he can do in the few times he had the ball in his hands as a rookie. More is naturally going to come next season.