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Poll: Will Williams unseat Washington as the No. 2?

  • A) Yes
    B) No

    This post was edited by Dan Cotton on 6/1/2011 at 2:15 PM

    Dan Cotton ●

  • I like his odds right now so yes.

    PapaTitan

  • I'd say it's possible. A lot of it depends on how much of a youth movement Munchak wants to go with vs. how much they prefer a "trusted" veteran receiver on the field with a rookie QB.

    TitanInsider: Any closer and you'd be in the huddle.

    TerryMc13

  • I'd say so but not just because I think Williams is going to be a better receiver than Washington but because Williams is probably better suited being split outside than from the slot position for the Titans.

    If Palmer continues to run a lot of vertical routes they need a sure handed, savvy receiver like Williams across from Britt who can track the ball over his shoulder on streaks, separate on the in/out routes and make the catch on the slant. He does well in space because he's agile and makes YAC, but that doesn't necessarily make him strictly a slot guy. He was knocked by some media scouts for his lack of speed, but he seems to run routes well enough to separate. I still think he can start outside in the NFL.

    Washington on the other hand, we've seen him get alligator arms on deep streaks and deeper passes time and time again. He needs to be back in the slot where he can avoid contact and has space to run his routes and catch the ball.

    Cyrus

  • Cyrus said...

    I'd say so but not just because I think Williams is going to be a better receiver than Washington but because Williams is probably better suited being split outside than from the slot position for the Titans.

    If Palmer continues to run a lot of vertical routes they need a sure handed, savvy receiver like Williams across from Britt who can track the ball over his shoulder on streaks, separate on the in/out routes and make the catch on the slant. He does well in space because he's agile and makes YAC, but that doesn't necessarily make him strictly a slot guy. He was knocked by some media scouts for his lack of speed, but he seems to run routes well enough to separate. I still think he can start outside in the NFL.

    Washington on the other hand, we've seen him get alligator arms on deep streaks and deeper passes time and time again. He needs to be back in the slot where he can avoid contact and has space to run his routes and catch the ball.

    I couldn't agree more on your assessment of Williams.

    titan4life

  • Cyrus said...

    I'd say so but not just because I think Williams is going to be a better receiver than Washington but because Williams is probably better suited being split outside than from the slot position for the Titans.

    If Palmer continues to run a lot of vertical routes they need a sure handed, savvy receiver like Williams across from Britt who can track the ball over his shoulder on streaks, separate on the in/out routes and make the catch on the slant. He does well in space because he's agile and makes YAC, but that doesn't necessarily make him strictly a slot guy. He was knocked by some media scouts for his lack of speed, but he seems to run routes well enough to separate. I still think he can start outside in the NFL.

    Washington on the other hand, we've seen him get alligator arms on deep streaks and deeper passes time and time again. He needs to be back in the slot where he can avoid contact and has space to run his routes and catch the ball.

    And I couldn't agree more on Washington.. Nate is best at short turnaround plays..I'd also move Mariani outside also, and let Hawhins compete for the slot with washington

    Centurycycler

  • Centurycycler said...

    And I couldn't agree more on Washington.. Nate is best at short turnaround plays..I'd also move Mariani outside also, and let Hawhins compete for the slot with washington

    The thing that I have found very interesting with Washington is that the Titans signed him to be their deep threat. It's why they gave him $27 million ($9m guaranteed) over six years. But since he has been with the Titans he has been anything but a deep threat like was said above. That said, he did his best work in Pittsburgh when Roethlisberger was making off schedule plays and he was able to freelance into the open spot. Heimerdinger's timing offense was not for Washington because he isn't a crisp route runner like Williams seems to be. I do think that a QB like Locker, who is at his best rolling out and being off schedule as well might help rejuvenate Washington a little bit.

    TitanInsider: Any closer and you'd be in the huddle.

    TerryMc13

  • TerryMc13 said...

    The thing that I have found very interesting with Washington is that the Titans signed him to be their deep threat. It's why they gave him $27 million ($9m guaranteed) over six years. But since he has been with the Titans he has been anything but a deep threat like was said above. That said, he did his best work in Pittsburgh when Roethlisberger was making off schedule plays and he was able to freelance into the open spot. Heimerdinger's timing offense was not for Washington because he isn't a crisp route runner like Williams seems to be. I do think that a QB like Locker, who is at his best rolling out and being off schedule as well might help rejuvenate Washington a little bit.

    agreed

    PapaTitan

  • Washington isn't necessarily a bad deep threat receiver on certain routes or from the slot position. He's pretty effective on certain routes like the Corner in a Smash concept (hitch underneath) or any route that allows him to cross the field across a zone. (even from X or Z). He's limited in the sense that he can't track a ball over his shoulder which really limits him as a threat when he's split out wide. For whatever reason he needs to see the quarterback and he's not much of a timing guy. Add in the fact that he's just an okay route runner and he's just not a good X/Z receiver.

    I was listening to a Football Today podcast weeks/months ago that mentioned why route running was such a critical part to getting separation. An excellent route runner can disguise which route they're going to be running by making every thing look the same right up until the moment they break it off (poor route runners show their tendencies and allow CBs to read their route before they finish). For that reason the cornerback has to respect all the routes on the tree, every time. Along with his exceptional agility (explosive cuts) Williams seems to have the ability to be that type of receiver. Top end speed is only part of the equation and isn't necessarily the end all be all if a receiver can't separate when they cut their route.

    This post was edited by Cyrus on 6/3/2011 at 11:04 AM

    Cyrus

  • Cyrus said...

    Washington isn't necessarily a bad deep threat receiver on certain routes or from the slot position. He's pretty effective on certain routes like the Corner in a Smash concept (hitch underneath) or any route that allows him to cross the field across a zone. (even from X or Z). He's limited in the sense that he can't track a ball over his shoulder which really limits him as a threat when he's split out wide. For whatever reason he needs to see the quarterback and he's not much of a timing guy. Add in the fact that he's just an okay route runner and he's just not a good X/Z receiver.

    I was listening to a Football Today podcast weeks/months ago that mentioned why route running was such a critical part to getting separation. An excellent route runner can disguise which route they're going to be running by making every thing look the same right up until the moment they break it off (poor route runners show their tendencies and allow CBs to read their route before they finish). For that reason the cornerback has to respect all the routes on the tree, every time. Along with his exceptional agility (explosive cuts) Williams seems to have the ability to be that type of receiver. Top end speed is only part of the equation and isn't necessarily the end all be all if a receiver can't separate when they cut their route.

    Exactly. To put what you're saying in simple terms, a good route runner who is smart and has good instincts a lot of times are the same receivers who have what people refer to as "football speed" or playing faster than their 40 time. It's because these types of guys (Jerry Rice is at the top of the list) are smart, consistent route runners who create separation as much with their brains as they do their feet. The best the Titans ever had at this was probably Derrick Mason. Mason wasn't running away from many people in a 100-yard dash, but he always found ways to get open (still does). On the other hand, how many guys have the Titans had who looked the part and had decent speed, but could never create the separation necessary to become a top-end receiver? Probably too many to count.

    TitanInsider: Any closer and you'd be in the huddle.

    TerryMc13

  • By opening day? Almost certainly not, IMO. But I don't think it would surprise anyone to see DW eventually emerge as the #2. Nate Wash has been a bit of a disappointment.

    @ColtenJones on Twitter

    Colten Jones

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