Allen Park — The two most important traits for a wide receiver are getting open and catching the ball. Jameson Williams isn’t having any issue with the first part of that equation, but he’s continued to battle some inconsistencies with his hands through his first full offseason with the Detroit Lions.
Williams has undeniable speed and quickness, and when given the opportunity to run free off the line of scrimmage, more often than not, he finds himself with a step or two on the cornerback in coverage. But, Williams has frequently put catchable balls on the ground through OTAs and minicamp practices, a concern that showed up when he debuted last season after a lengthy rehab from a torn ACL, and a year after he dropped six balls during an otherwise highly productive campaign for the University of Alabama.
Position coach Antwaan Randle El acknowledged Williams’ issues securing the balls thrown his way, noting there’s an ongoing commitment to fundamentals during these early stages of the offseason program, with a plan to incorporate some new drills and routines to Williams and the other receivers’ plates during training camp next month.
“Catching is catching,” Randle El said. “You’ve got to work on catching and work on catching. So, we do it after practice, do it before practice. And really, at the end of the day, it’s the intent of it, like, how am I catching it in certain situations? That’s what it comes down to. It’s going to look like that for a little bit because we’re working on a couple of different things to help him from that standpoint. But, he knows how to catch the ball.”
Outside of the drops, everyone in the organization sounds happy with Williams’ progress heading into his second season, including Randle El. The coach said the most important thing for Williams has been the on-field reps, which he didn’t get last year while rehabbing.
“From the field standpoint, just understanding the game (is improved),” Randle El said. “Last year, it was a lot of mental reps, getting prepared for when he did return. Now, he can actually get those (physical) reps, he’s running those routes and now he can figure out, ‘Oh, this is what coach was talking about. This is why we can’t give an extra move at the top of this route because of the timing.’ Those are the things he’s trying to get, and he’s getting them better and better as we go.
“…That’s part of having that offseason, and that’s why you always want a young guy to have the offseason, to be able to get ready for the season,” Randle El continued. “So, it will be good, and training camp is coming up. Again, another opportunity on the field, being with the quarterbacks, hearing the calls, all those different things that need to take place over and over again. You can see he’s getting it.”
LaPorta on track
A little more than two decades ago, Lions tight end coach Steve Heiden was in Sam LaPorta‘s shoes. A day-two draft pick in 1999, Heiden carried the expectations of trying to contribute immediately at one of the most complex positions to learn and play. Now, the first-year assistant with the Lions is charged with preparing the rookie out of Iowa to do the same.
So far, so good.
“He’s right where he needs to be,” Heiden said. “He’s going a good job, every day. We’re trying to implement the things that we’re teaching, within the game plan and the scheme, so he’s right where he needs to be. …Sam is putting his best foot forward every single day. And, obviously, he’s come out here and made some plays. And done a good job. He just needs to continue to do that and continue to work. And he will.”
Heiden is only stating what has been obvious to any practice observer. LaPorta has often looked like the best rookie on the field, by frequently not looking like a rookie at all. He’s already starting to see time with the first-team offense, drawing positive reviews from quarterback Jared Goff.
“He’s done a great job, he really has,” Goff said. “Gets himself open, able to separate, has great hands, is smart, is learning. Making rookie mistakes still, but is getting a lot better and you don’t really see him make the same mistake twice, which is encouraging. Yeah, he’s done a hell of a job.”
Going above and beyond
The veterans were excused at the end of last week, following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp. This week’s final OTAs are reserved for the roster’s youngest players, mostly rookies and a handful of younger, inexperienced veterans.
Then there was seventh-year wide receiver Kalif Raymond, out there working with the squad when he clearly didn’t have to be. Known as one of the roster’s most-diligent workers, he didn’t like the way some of his earlier practices had gone and wanted to make some corrections before taking time off leading into training camp.
“There are some things I need to work on,” Raymond said. “So, with all the coaches, the staff, the equipment group, everybody like that still here, just being able to come in here and get that work done, it makes sense for me.”
Raymond said he was particularly irked by his performance in practice a couple of weeks ago, when he struggled to field punts cleanly. And with punter Jack Fox still in town, it provided an added opportunity for Raymond to correct his concerns.
“I can’t let a day or week like that go unchecked,” Raymond said. “If you let one day, one rep, one catch or one route go, eventually you start letting more and more go. I just have to stay on top of everything.”
Raymond is expected to play a sizeable role early in the season while Williams serves a six-game suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. In the previous two seasons with the Lions, Raymond has averaged 48 receptions for 496 yards and two touchdowns.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers