Wide receiver Savion Williams never quite found his rhythm as a Green Bay Packers rookie. The team experimented using him on jet sweeps and toss plays, trying to position him to make plays in space, but it was difficult to find a regular role for Williams in the offense. He finished with 10 catches for 78 yards, plus 11 carries for 37.
That doesn't mean expectations have fizzled out. To the contrary, the Packers are looking for the former third-rounder to compete for the No. 4 receiver role in a wide-open latter half of the depth chart. Based on what head coach Matt LaFleur has noticed thus far in OTAs and minicamp, it seems clear what he wants out of his young receiver in Year 2.
"I think just, you know, more familiarity with our offense," LaFleur said when asked what has stuck out to him from Williams. "You always want these guys to understand the detail. That separates good from great. Understanding why we're doing certain things, so they can go apply that when the game really matters."
Not having enough of that quality held back both Williams and fellow rookie receiver Matthew Golden at times last season, contributing to their week-to-week inconsistency. While Williams still has lots to learn, he should have a good idea about what's expected in his sophomore season.
Unlocking Savion Williams' versatile potential will be all about the little things
Quarterback Jordan Love echoed LaFleur's sentiments while shouting out Williams with a bit more vigor for his work this offseason.
"He's gonna be another guy that will have that Year 2 jump," Love said. "I think for him, it's just getting those reps, and feeling more confident and comfortable with everything he does, and just knowing the offense inside and out."
Honing his connection with Love will be critical to making himself at home in the Packers' system. Williams' rookie highlight was hauling in a 33-yard pass against the New York Giants, which set up Green Bay for a scoring drive late in a close win. Putting himself in position for more explosive plays would go a long way toward expanding his utility in LaFleur's scheme.
Developing into an occasional downfield threat won't be the first order of business for Williams to become a regular contributor. The Packers will likely continue to prioritize him in the short and intermediate passing game, getting him the ball in motion across the middle or on screens, where he can build up a head of steam.
That's how he'll be most effective in the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Williams has the size to shed defensive backs coming up to make the tackle, as well as the agility to evade linebackers near the line of scrimmage. The Packers already know he can be a Swiss-Army knife playmaker. He put his versatility on full display at TCU, accumulating 933 total scrimmage yards and six touchdowns apiece through the air and on the ground.Â
Now Williams just needs to master the finer details as a pro. That means lining up properly pre-snap according to the play call and getting to the right spot on the field, at the right time. It means knowing when he's supposed to turn on the jets and when to sit down on his route. When he has the ball in traffic, it means making the correct reads and cuts behind his blockers, based on how the play is set up to work.
With Williams' second training camp and preseason ahead of him, LaFleur has made it clear what he must do to take the sophomore leap his quarterback is so confident he will.
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