ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton says he has “failed” Jameson Williams when it comes to getting the vast receiver concerned sufficient within the workforce’s prolific offense.
Williams was catchless for the primary time all season throughout the Lions’ 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 20 whereas being focused simply twice by quarterback Jared Goff. For the season, Williams has 17 receptions for 289 yards and two touchdowns however has eclipsed 45 yards in solely two video games whereas taking part in alongside so many offensive weapons.
“I checked out every little thing, so far as that. I’ll do a greater job with that. However there was alternatives the place it simply did not occur,” mentioned Morton, who’s in his first yr because the Lions’ offensive coordinator. “It isn’t like we aren’t going to attempt to goal him. In order that was the most important factor.
“So I checked out every little thing, and I failed him. That is what I informed him,” Morton added. “I’ve to do a greater job with that. But it surely’s a two-way avenue. We positively checked out that.”
Morton met with Williams privately throughout the Lions’ bye week and intently examined a few of these missed alternatives. The teaching employees can be working to attempt to get Williams extra open, notably on third down, as he’s now dealing with double-teams, alongside vast receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
“He got here to me and expressed to me how he felt, however with me, I actually wasn’t taking it too far into excited about it. We was profitable video games and issues like that, so I can by no means get myself too labored up with me getting the ball or me getting focused or issues like that,” Williams mentioned. “I do know it is gonna come. It is a lengthy season.”
Williams refused to make a giant deal of the restricted touches as he is targeted on workforce success. Their latest dialog on the sphere forward of apply this week additionally offers him confidence that they’ll transfer ahead to get issues proper.
“I do know my time coming,” Williams mentioned. “I do know it is coming so I am prepared every time it comes.”
Williams refused to make a giant deal of the restricted touches earlier this season.
“I haven’t got nothing to say actually. It isn’t nothing to say about it. It is actually like we simply go, we win. It’s what it’s; we win,” Williams informed reporters Oct. 9. “That is it. I do not actually wish to say an excessive amount of or communicate on it.”
Morton has been impressed with Williams’ professionalism. The plan is to be extra artistic with playcalling whereas strengthening the connection between Williams and Goff.
“He does not say something. He simply goes and performs. Like I mentioned, ‘I would not fault you in the event you have been pissed at me,’ as a result of I’ve coached that place, I’ve performed that place,” Morton mentioned. “And I do know he works too onerous. However we have to guarantee that we’re going out and doing the fitting factor, the fitting strategies and this and that. It isn’t simply him. It is everyone.”
In 2024, Williams surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the primary time of his profession and signed a three-year extension value as much as $83 million in September.
The Lions offense is aware of it’ll want Williams at his greatest as Detroit begins the again half of the season towards powerful competitors.
“We wish to win the sport, we wish to rating factors, and I believe that is the first for everyone,” Goff mentioned after Tuesday’s apply. “However in fact, yeah, we would like to get him concerned extra, get him to rock in one million alternative ways. And he is explosive. I do know defenses are apprehensive about him always, and we have to discover methods to proceed to maintain him concerned.”