Herman Moore Suggests Improved Ways to Use Jameson Williams
The Detroit Lions are bringing along wide receiver Jameson Williams slowly.
Unfortunately, the speedy wideout is not as involved in the offense as many would like. A combination of inexperience, drops and not having a great rapport with Jared Goff has impacted the start to his 2023 season.
Former Lions wideout Herman Moore expressed, during an appearance on the Detroit Lions Podcast, how the team could utilize the former No. 12 overall pick better, to build his confidence and get more out of him.
“I think he can be fixed very, not quickly, but I think it’d be done very methodically. Here’s what I’d do if it were me, I would get him involved. I would move him to the slot. I’d take him from the outside. He’s too easy to defend as an outside guy," said Moore. "Bring him to the slot occasionally. I don’t think he’s gonna find his thing. If you put him and St. Brown into the slots and you go split sets and two receiver sets on each side and you mirror your routes, you have a person who will defeat the one-on-one."
Moore played for the Lions from 1991-2001, and finished his career with the New York Giants.
"I think he needs to get shorter routes, where you’re getting the ball in his hands really quickly," Moore noted. "You look at Amon-Ra St. Brown, he finds holes in the zones. You’re asking him to come out of his shell, to come out of the flatness that he’s in, only on big routes, big plays. That is the lowest-percentage completion that you can have. You’re not gonna build his confidence, you’re gonna continue to destroy it."
Detroit's coaching staff indicated that its goals for the talented wideout this season involve being able to execute the fundamentals of the position consistently.
Moore, like many, has noticed the team is not utilizing Williams like he was at Alabama, which has been detrimental to his confidence.
"Put the ball in his hands, give him the opportunity to make some moves in the open like he did when he was in college. But, also, he’s gonna get some catches under his belt. He’s got to touch the ball," said Moore. "If you’re not gonna let him touch the ball right now and be a part of beating a one-on-one, or having really quick routes where he can get in and out of cuts, he’s gonna be a story.
"I’m saying that because, I’m telling you, I can see where he’s lacking in his confidence. If his confidence is only gonna grow from deep balls and touchdowns, that’s awful," Moore continued. "That’s not who he is. So, that’s what I would be doing right now, treat him like I would treat a St. Brown and I think the effectiveness that we’ve seen with St. Brown, you’d get another person who’s just as good, who’s faster and who can make those type of plays happen. I would love to see what a combination of that would look like."
The former NFL wideout indicated he would love the opportunity to work with Detroit's coaching staff or have an opportunity to talk to the young wideouts on the roster regarding what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of football.
