10 Detroit Lions' roster thoughts a week into training camp
With a week of training camp in the books, here are some thoughts on what I’ve seen from the Detroit Lions’ roster.
● After taking a massive developmental jump last offseason, Jameson Williams has only continued to refine his route running, both with his releases at the line and crispness out of his breaks.
It’s still wild to think about how far Williams has come. His second season was brutal with inefficient footwork and wildly inconsistent hands.
I’ll never forget Williams coming out early to practice to warm up with former receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. The two would play catch and multiple throws would somehow manage to hit the ground. As Williams turned to chase down one he failed to hold on to, Randle El put his hands on his hips and shook his head in disbelief like a disappointed father.
Around that time, there were loud whispers of bust from the fan base, and while I was reluctant to prematurely attach the label to the young receiver, the concerns felt legitimate.
Obviously, Williams started to turn a corner in year 3 and the growth has since felt exponential, extending into this camp. His slant and comeback routes are legitimate weapons, with both putting the defensive back in constant conflict because they better set up Williams to burn them vertically.
On top of that, Williams has shown a knack for making contested catches in traffic that he’s rarely displayed in the past.