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

[Real fan 02]

This is honestly the biggest endorsement of him you can find (and TBH, it's kind of weak haha). But yeah, Douglas has made some plays in recent weeks and Hollins isn't totally incompetent. They don't need to give Williams any snaps or even make him active. The fact that they're giving him some sliver of a chance is at least a tiny bit encouraging that they see some developmental potential there despite results that have been pretty horrific if we're just being brutally honest.

Fair assessment. His talent is there. He was drafted based on his talent and potential for it to translate into the pros.

Adding also with Boutte likely out although not official yet.. that presence outside the numbers or deep half is missing. Williams skill set provides that.. but as you said it's been pretty bad targeting him. Here's what I'll say.. kf it continues on this way for him..

Wouldn't be the least bit suprised for him to start being inactive and Chism given more opportunities.

 

[TheRainMaker]

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.

Am I the only one that sees the sarcasm in this statement?

 

[Real fan 02]

Am I the only one that sees the sarcasm in this statement?

I'm thinking the same thing...

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

 

[Mack Herron]

“He hasn’t earned more opportunities than he’s gotten.”

 

[NFL Mystique]

Has there ever been a Patriots receiver who got lots of looks his rookie year, stunk and then turned into a very good/ great player?

 

[PatsFan2]

“He hasn’t earned more opportunities than he’s gotten.”

Well one of those guys will be Inactive this week possibly; so unleash the Kyle. He's behind both Pop and Boutte which is obvious.

 

[Diffs4]

31 of those snaps were last week, due to an unforeseen injury.
He wasn't part of the game plan, and certainly not getting first team reps in practice.
Williams was Maye's #6 option in his progressions, behind Henry (51 snaps), Hollins (43), Diggs (41), Hooper (36), and Boutte/Douglas (34). And that doesn't count passes designed to Henderson (51 snaps).

Do I want to see Williams catching more passes? Absolutely.
But he is still a #5 WR, booted up to #4 for one game.


No need to hit the panic button - not yet.
Let's wait and see how the rest of the season unfolds before rushing to judgement on a third round rookie.

Only 16 of his 31 snaps on Sunday were pass plays, 15 were running plays.

Thanks. Why was Williams only targeted 6 times on 122 snaps? That is only 5%. Why was he ignored 95% of the time?

I love his release and speed. I was hoping we would draft Williams and was excited when we did. I think he not only runs the wrong routes but also runs plays at the wrong depths/levels. Maybe he can learn with more time because he has all of the other skills. I hope it works out.

He was not ignored 95% of the time. You do realize they run the ball when he is in the game and when other receivers are in the game. Last week for example, of his 31 snaps, 15 were run plays. Oops just noticed that JMT already said this. He has been on the field for 124 plays this season. Of those plays, 58 were pass plays which means they run the ball more than half the time he is in the game. It would be six targets in 58 pass play, or more than 10% of the time. Not great but much better than the numbers you are using. So "ignored" which is an interesting term to use as the best receivers in the league are ignored more than 65% of the time, would be less than 90% in this case. The jury is still way out, this is far from a Polk situation where they were desperate for wide receivers and the offense sucked and he just was not an NFL receiver and could not produce when given the opportunity. Williams is behind better receivers right now, let's see what it looks like Sunday.

 

[mgteich]

“He hasn’t earned more opportunities than he’s gotten.”

31 reps on Offense, 1 target, 1 player totally lost on that 1 target
==========
Can't we recognize that there needs to be improvement or Williams should be inactive?

Of course, we hope that he will break out in the next few games and make us a stronger team coming out of the break

Congrats to Josh giving him the opportunity to succeed. 31 snaps on Offense is indeed a lot. Compare his reps with those of Douglas.

 

[PatsFan2]

31 reps on Offense, 1 target, 1 player totally lost on that 1 target
==========
Can't we recognize that there needs to be improvement or Williams should be inactive?

Of course, we hope that he will break out in the next few games and make us a stronger team coming out of the break

Congrats to Josh giving him the opportunity to succeed. 31 snaps on Offense is indeed a lot. Compare his reps with those of Douglas.

It's unreal what Pop Douglas is doing right now on 15 snaps. What would he do with say 30 snaps??

 

[Triumph]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Only 16 of his 31 snaps on Sunday were pass plays, 15 were running plays.

He was not ignored 95% of the time. You do realize they run the ball when he is in the game and when other receivers are in the game. Last week for example, of his 31 snaps, 15 were run plays. Oops just noticed that JMT already said this. He has been on the field for 124 plays this season. Of those plays, 58 were pass plays which means they run the ball more than half the time he is in the game. It would be six targets in 58 pass play, or more than 10% of the time. Not great but much better than the numbers you are using. So "ignored" which is an interesting term to use as the best receivers in the league are ignored more than 65% of the time, would be less than 90% in this case. The jury is still way out, this is far from a Polk situation where they were desperate for wide receivers and the offense sucked and he just was not an NFL receiver and could not produce when given the opportunity. Williams is behind better receivers right now, let's see what it looks like Sunday.

Sorry that using the term "ignored" triggered you. I am not a safe space guy.

Williams was ignored purposely (per the pass play design or the play being a running play) and inadvertently 95% of the time. It does not matter how you do the stats, Williams has been "ignored" way too much to be called a talented rookie. Let's hope that changes with Boutte out and Williams getting 1st team reps this week in practice. We will see. I hope Williams emerges because his release, speed, and hands are good. Williams simply has to run the correct routes at the right depth/level.

 

[Triumph]

Willie would be a lot more disappointing if not for Boutte.

Pop, Boutte and Diggs have carried the day.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You take kids in the draft based upon what you think they can become, not their readiness for the pro's. Even all pro caliber receivers with years of experience have had big trouble getting used to MacDaniels offense, yet some here think 21 and 22 year olds with no pro experience should either put up substantial numbers the first half of their rookie season or they suck. But the truth s that it's those fans that actually suck, not the rookies.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It's unreal what Pop Douglas is doing right now on 15 snaps. What would he do with say 30 snaps??

I thought you hated him and wanted them to get rid of him?

 

[realtime]

Has there ever been a Patriots receiver who got lots of looks his rookie year, stunk and then turned into a very good/ great player?

Irving Fryar.

 

[Sect140]

Could be the case. Then you look at the Rookie wr for Tampa who's been taking advantage of Godwin being out...

True but to me Egbuka was the best receiver in the draft so I would expect him to make an impact right away.

 

[Ring 6]

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.

This is not a serious post right?
Williams has run 67 routes all season and been targeted 6 times. He hasn’t had an opportunity.
Polk in his first 7 games rsn 188 routes and produce 78 receiving yards.

Polk was put out on the field as a starter and #1 or 2 target. Williams is getting a handful of snaps here and there and is mostly used as a late progression running a route to create space for other receivers.

You are comparing apples and ostriches.

 

[Ring 6]

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?

Not when you actually look at the plays and see how he is being used.

 

[Ring 6]

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?

In the Miami, Pitt and Carolina games Boutte was on the field for 133 snaps and had 7 targets and 4 catches.