Show and tell time... Is Kyle Williams this year's Slow Polk?

[Family]

I mean it has to at least be considered if Williams can't look a little better during Boutte's likely absence.

He's looked awful, (I hate saying it), sort of Polk like so far.

I pray this thread will be laughed at and age poorly, but all the stuff we said last year about how it's tough to come back from a horrible rookie season are true of a 3rd rounder too.

In addition, Williams is benefitting from playing with a league MVP candidate, who frankly has elevated the receiver group.

If what we read about Polk's performance last year, and the chances of success after horrible rookie years, this seems like close to make or break with Williams to show at least some promise.

 

[maust]

Ladies and gentleman due to illness tonight the part of 'Sam' will be played by 'Family'
At 7-2 can't we just let things play out a bit, plenty of time to be miserable down the road if you're so inclined.

BTW does Sam know you're eating from his rice bowl?

 

[Brotherblues]

...all the stuff we said last year about how it's tough to come back from a horrible rookie season are true of a 3rd rounder too.
...
If what we read about Polk's performance last year, and the chances of success after horrible rookie years, this seems like close to make or break with Williams to show at least some promise.

6 targets vs 33 targets

If Williams doesn't grow the rest of the season, and continues to show the same ineffectiveness over a larger sample of targets, then yeah, it becomes a legit comparison.

At this point it ain't.

 

[Family]

6 targets vs 33 targets

If Williams doesn't grow the rest of the season, and continues to show the same ineffectiveness over a larger sample of targets, then yeah, it becomes a legit comparison.

At this point it ain't.

So you're saying less targets means his rookie season is better?

It is not a large sample, but in those six Williams has looked pretty bad.

As in he doesn't deserve more.

 

[TheRainMaker]

History with the Pats showed us if a WR didn't do anything by year 2, they never were going to. And this is not just for the Pats, this is all teams throughout the NFL regardless of position. This league has been designed to play now.

Contrary to popular belief, Edelman did show us something in year 1 with kick/punt returns and as a WR when he was called upon. He was buried on the depth chart which allowed him to learn the position.

Boutte was wrongfully deactivated his rookie season and bounced back by showing us something in year 2.

Malcolm Mitchell showed promise and made some clutch grabs in the biggest game of the year, but his injuries quickly took over in his second season.

What is in Williams' favor though is that Maye already has a relationship with Boutte, Henry and now the big free agent in Diggs. Hollins plays a lot to help in run blocking. However, he's going to have to show something by next season or else you can sound the alarm.

 

[Family]

Ladies and gentleman due to illness tonight the part of 'Sam' will be played by 'Family'
At 7-2 can't we just let things play out a bit, plenty of time to be miserable down the road if you're so inclined.

BTW does Sam know you're eating from his rice bowl?

It's a discussion board. We're not cheerleaders.

It's not like a thread criticizing Maye or the coaching.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

6 targets (Williams) vs 33 targets (Polk).

6 targets while being active for 122 plays. I am not sure only being targeted on 6 plays out of a possible 122 plays is a good thing.

 

[jmt57]

To me there's a major difference between Polk and Williams.

Polk was given the opportunity, starting seven games, including all of games #2 through #6.
He wasn't up to the task, catching 36% of the passes thrown to him.

Williams has been on the sidelines, watching and hopefully learning.
He's the #5 wide receiver on the depth chart, with seven passes thrown his way in nine games.
That's more of a comment on how well Boutte, Diggs, Hollins and Douglas have been performing, rather than an indictment on Williams (or Chism), in my opinion.


If the concern is that a rookie third round draft pick can't crack the starting lineup, just remember that the Patriots had a third round linebacker in 1996 that didn't start until year three: Tedy Bruschi. The team the Pats are facing this week also had a third round pick that was strictly a special teamer until late in his third season: Hall of Famer John Lynch.

On a side note, the WR taken prior to Williams has 73 yards receiving. The WR selected after Williams has 20 yards.


I'm not worried - yet. Though I will also say it is something worth watching over the couse of the season.
If one of those four had not been playing well and Williams did not overtake him for snaps/throws, that's a different story.
Hopefully Williams will progress.

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[PatsfaninTx]

He gets his 1st touchdown this week. You read it here first. You can thank me later.

 

[patfanken]

Oh, God, not another one of these "instant gratification" demands. Weren't you listening on draft night or checked out the draft board, or google. EVERY scouting report praised his speed, quickness, and explosiveness, while they questioned his route running and hands. There is a reason why he lasted until the 3rd round.

We all knew there were safer choices, bigger, better hands, better route runners, but we wanted, no NEEDED someone with premium speed and quickness. Someone, who if he develops as we hope, can become an asset we haven't seen here in years.

Well, he WILL get a chance to see more playing time and more targets, but I am afraid that when he inevitably runs an undisciplined route or drops a ball, the "I want it and I want it NOW" crowd will explode in their self-righteous indignation that I will lose my mind with their unrealistic expectations.

Boutte's injury is a good break for Kyles. He will see more reps with Maye, during practice, and more game reps over the next 2 to 3 weeks. During that time, I expect we will see Williams make some plays that will make us cheer and do some things that will make us want to tear our hair out.

That is what happens when you have to develop a young player with talent and flaws, into a productive, DEPENDABLE, professional over the course of 3 years, NOT 3 months. I'm afraid that this 6-game streak has made us forget some of the realities of the NFL.

Washington's decline should be a reminder of what happens, "the next year", when the schedule is much harder, and the ball doesn't bounce as well as it did last year, the refs aren't as friendly, and the injury bug bites.

Bottom line: I am excited to see what that kind of explosiveness looks like on the outside. I am HOPEFUL that we see some progress in his route running and his overall football intelligence. He will have a few games to show he has earned some more run. BUT even if he doesn't WOW everyone right away it does not mean he won't do it next year.

 

[Zuma]

I know it doesn't work this way...but I'd take the loss against the Bucs if we were finally able to get Williams productive...like 6 for 80 yards...just keep feeding him regardless of score. As long as he keeps producing...I'd do it.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

To me there's a major difference between Polk and Williams.

Polk was given the opportunity, starting seven games, including all of games #2 through #6. He wasn't up to the task, catching 36% of the passes thrown to him.

Williams has been on the sidelines, watching and hopefully learning.

Kyle Williams has been on the field for 122 snaps. Williams has been on the sidelines watching and learning? He has been on the field for over 20% of the snaps. 6 targets on 122 snaps is not encouraging when you consider that Maye likes to spread the ball around.

 

[Family]

I know it doesn't work this way...but I'd take the loss against the Bucs if we were finally able to get Williams productive...like 6 for 80 yards...just keep feeding him regardless of score. As long as he keeps producing...I'd do it.

I'd take it having Williams not looking lost out there.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I decided to look into this further, to see if WR not showing much in his rookie year means odds are it'll never happen. The first person I researched happened to be Kevin Walter with the Houston Texans. (I live a couple hours away so saw a lot of his games)

He started his career in Cincy. In his first two seasons, in 27 games played, he had 11 catches for 85 yards. (3 catches for 18 yards his rookie season)

From 2007-2010 in Houston, he had 229 catches for 2,931 yards and 19 TDs.

Obviously that won't be the case for every player, but the fact he was the first person I looked at shows it isn't totally rare.

I'd be more concerned if Williams was getting targeted 4 or 5 times game after game and coming up empty. He certainly needs to start showing more, but the sample size is simply way too small right now.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Oh, God, not another one of these "instant gratification" demands. Weren't you listening on draft night or checked out the draft board, or google. EVERY scouting report praised his speed, quickness, and explosiveness, while they questioned his route running and hands. There is a reason why he lasted until the 3rd round.

You don't think being on the field for 122 snaps in 9 games and having 6 targets for 1 or 2 catches is concerning?

 

[Family]

I decided to look into this further, to see if WR not showing much in his rookie year means odds are it'll never happen. The first person I researched happened to be Kevin Walter with the Houston Texans. (I live a couple hours away so saw a lot of his games)

He started his career in Cincy. In his first two seasons, in 27 games played, he had 11 catches for 85 yards. (3 catches for 18 yards his rookie season)

From 2007-2010 in Houston, he had 229 catches for 2,931 yards and 19 TDs.

The discussion last year was concerning high picks (1-3 rounds) with expectations, not a 7th rounder who fought to make the team and improved to develop into an NFL player.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'd be more concerned if Williams was getting targeted 4 or 5 times game after game and coming up empty. He certainly needs to start showing more, but the sample size is simply way too small right now.

Being on the field for 122 snaps over 9 games is too small of a sample size? How many snaps is an adequate sample size?

 

[Zuma]

You don't think being on the field for 122 snaps in 9 games and having 6 targets for 1 or 2 catches is concerning?

Obviously a mental thing. Either hasn't learned the routes yet or he's having a Polk emotional block thing or whatever that was. It needs to be a Brady thing where he hangs out with Drake 24/7 and they practice throwing and catching. I think some new players put too much pressure on themselves and want to prove right away they are superstars.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Contrary to popular belief, Edelman did show us something in year 1 with kick/punt returns and as a WR when he was called upon. He was buried on the depth chart which allowed him to learn the position.

He was targeted 16 times in his first game, in Week 2.

By the time he broke his arm against TEN he was leading all rookies in receptions.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Being on the field for 122 snaps over 9 games is too small of a sample size? How many snaps is an adequate sample size?

Ok, then I can just as easily say 30 total yards on 16 targets through 5 weeks proves DeMario Douglas is pretty much worthless and incapable of making big plays.