It has not been a fun year for the rookie class of the Baltimore Ravens.
With Buck Allen being the only rookie to truly stand out this season (and even he, of course, is dealing with fumbling issues), it is safe to say the early return on investment from the group of rookies has been minimal. That has been due in part to injuries (Breshad Perriman, Darren Waller), but also marginal play from others (Maxx Williams, Tray Walker, etc).
As for Williams, he was expected to step in as a rookie and work with Crockett Gillmore to form a promising young duo. While this scenario came into focus at times early in the year, Gillmore’s season-ending injury and Williams’ inconsistency ultimately led to a lost season for the pair.
With Gillmore injured and fellow rookie Nick Boyle suspended for the remainder of the season, the only notable tight end left is Williams, who – as Week 16 approaches – still has yet to live up to his second-round billing.
Flashing at times as an underneath receiver and blocker, Williams’ stat line this season – 24 receptions, 199 yards and one touchdown – has been below average, and quite frankly disappointing. One glimmer of hope, though, is that he stepped up during last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, tallying a career-high five receptions while contributing as a run blocker.
With two games remaining, this could be Williams’ chance to show that not all is lost for the highly touted draft pick, and that there is something to look forward to for next season.
Let’s take a look at how he stepped up during the absence of Gillmore and Boyle.
With plenty of development still to go, right now the best asset for Williams is his dependability as an underneath receiver, much in the way that Dennis Pitta excelled during his healthy days.
On a fourth-down play against Kansas City, the Ravens send receivers deep, but Williams’ route requires him to find space in the middle of the field.
He works toward the middle and then properly cushions himself in a pocket of space underneath, granted short of the first-down marker. But with space to work with, he can do the dirty work after the catch.
Williams hauls in the throw, turns and fully extends for the first down. This is not the first time that Williams has flashed this ability – catch the ball short of the sticks, fight for the extra yardage for the first down – this season.
As an unfinished 21-year-old product, it likely will not be until next year at the earliest that Williams can begin to make an impact with the full route tree. But for now, feeding him underneath regularly for high-percentage completions is an intriguing option.
Another trait to work with and be excited about regarding Williams is his run-blocking ability. He lacks a violent, physical demeanor on a regular basis, but is consistent and effective, notably more than Pitta ever was.
Here, he engages with an isolated man on the outside and picks up leverage from the start.
As the running back works upfield, Williams successfully stays locked on with his defender and carries him back as he opens up an outside run lane for the ball carrier.
Williams has not had a slew of chances as a run blocker this season, but when called upon, he has delivered. As a whole, Williams’ 2015 has provided a rather small sample size, as injuries and minimal snaps in some games have reduced his exposure to NFL play.
But when on the field, Williams has had his fair share of positive plays, and as a young player with only two years of college experience (he was drafted after his redshirt sophomore season) prior to the NFL, perhaps it should not be a surprise that he is not a star from day one.
Williams still has plenty of time to make progress, and that starts with the final two games of the 2015 season.
