The Fall of Troy...
Many are calling WR Troy Williamson, the seventh pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, a bust. He can't run routes, and he can't catch the ball. The former point is a valid one that Williamson has worked hard to improve. But the latter doesn't seem to hold water.
Last year, Williamson had 52 passes intended for him. He caught 24, and he dropped just two, according to STATS, Inc.
This season, he's been targeted on a team-high 53 passes, and he's caught 25 of them for 322 yards. But Williamson has a league-leading nine drops.
So what gives?
Coming out of South Carolina, there were questions about how raw Williamson was. But there weren't serious questions about his hands. An NFL Draft profile of Williamson on NFL.com said this of him:
"Not as quick in short routes as the smaller receivers and is best when having space to operate... Has adequate hands, but struggles to adjust to the over-the-shoulder tosses... Can come back for the ball, but does not show great stop-and-go action (momentum sometimes takes him out of the play, as he overruns the ball)... Sometimes takes soft angles, especially on upfield routes."
Those are obviously things Williamson is still grappling with. But I think the biggest issue is confidence.
The release of Koren Robinson thrust him into a spotlight role, and he has cracked under the intense pressure. He does extra work after nearly every practice, and he takes coaching well, by most accounts.
Asked if he's lost confidence in Williamson, Brad Childress said, "I just think you have to play through.
"You can heighten yourself with balls caught during the day, balls caught after practice," Childress said. "You can't simulate those game time circumstances. We try to practice at a high level here, but success breeds confidence. There is not a magic serum that you can inject in him. You've got to play on. You've got to play through, and that's the toughest thing sometimes, whether it's the quarterback position or the wide receiver position."
Ultimately, it all falls on Troy. Will he step up or not? The Vikings don't have any other options; Williamson's vertical speed is demanded in this offense, and Bethel Johnson isn't exactly known for his ability to haul in deep passes.
Fact is, Williamson may key how the offense performs in the second half.
Last year, Williamson had 52 passes intended for him. He caught 24, and he dropped just two, according to STATS, Inc.
This season, he's been targeted on a team-high 53 passes, and he's caught 25 of them for 322 yards. But Williamson has a league-leading nine drops.
So what gives?
Coming out of South Carolina, there were questions about how raw Williamson was. But there weren't serious questions about his hands. An NFL Draft profile of Williamson on NFL.com said this of him:
"Not as quick in short routes as the smaller receivers and is best when having space to operate... Has adequate hands, but struggles to adjust to the over-the-shoulder tosses... Can come back for the ball, but does not show great stop-and-go action (momentum sometimes takes him out of the play, as he overruns the ball)... Sometimes takes soft angles, especially on upfield routes."
Those are obviously things Williamson is still grappling with. But I think the biggest issue is confidence.
The release of Koren Robinson thrust him into a spotlight role, and he has cracked under the intense pressure. He does extra work after nearly every practice, and he takes coaching well, by most accounts.
Asked if he's lost confidence in Williamson, Brad Childress said, "I just think you have to play through.
"You can heighten yourself with balls caught during the day, balls caught after practice," Childress said. "You can't simulate those game time circumstances. We try to practice at a high level here, but success breeds confidence. There is not a magic serum that you can inject in him. You've got to play on. You've got to play through, and that's the toughest thing sometimes, whether it's the quarterback position or the wide receiver position."
Ultimately, it all falls on Troy. Will he step up or not? The Vikings don't have any other options; Williamson's vertical speed is demanded in this offense, and Bethel Johnson isn't exactly known for his ability to haul in deep passes.
Fact is, Williamson may key how the offense performs in the second half.
posted by Unknown at 9:54 AM
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