CokeZero
16-09-2006, 12:16 PM
Troy Williamson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7183) is finally starting
to look like the gamebreaking receiver the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) so
desperately need. Now all he has to do is catch the ball.
In the season opener against Washington on Monday night,
Williamson got separation from the cornerbacks, beat them downfield
on a couple of deep routes and even broke some tackles to get a key
first down late in the game.
Williamson had four catches for 77 yards in the 19-16 victory
over the Redskins, but he also dropped three more passes that could
have made his night even bigger. The most notable came when Brad
Johnson's perfect pass slid right through his arms, negating what
would have been a 59-yard touchdown.
"There's a lot of plays to be made and I'm going to have a lot
of opportunities," Williamson said. "That's all I've got to do is
make the plays I've got to be able to make."
After shipping Randy Moss (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4262) to the Raiders before last season, the
Vikings drafted the speedy South Carolina receiver with Oakland's
No. 7 overall pick to fill the role of deep threat that Moss
perfected here.
Williamson's rookie season was underwhelming. He had 24 catches
for 372 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that Moss would put up in
two games.
The arrival of new coach Brad Childress and the West Coast
offense seemed to energize Williamson. He had a strong preseason
and, after Koren Robinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5456) was released because of alcohol problems,
Williamson immediately became the most physically gifted receiver
on the roster.
"At some point we're all going to have some bad plays,"
Johnson said. "I'm going to have some bad passes. He had a couple
of drops the other night, but he rebounded from it and made a
crucial catch there at the end of the game."
Johnson was referring to his catch and run on a third-and-9 play
in the fourth quarter. Williamson made the catch short of the first
down, then spun away from a defender and lunged forward to move the
chains.
Ryan Longwell (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4080) capped the drive with a 31-yard field goal that
proved to be the game-winner.
"I feel very confident and love playing with Troy," Johnson
said.
That has been the case since Williamson arrived in training camp
last season. He worked a lot with the veteran Johnson, who was the
No. 2 quarterback behind Daunte Culpepper (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4659) then, with the second
unit last preseason.
The two formed a bond, and it is starting to show up on the
field.
"It was good to see him step out there and make some big
plays," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Obviously he
didn't make them all that came his way. We'd definitely like him to
make all those plays, but he's only going to get better."
Since Robinson left, Williamson has taken over the No. 1
receiver spot. His pure speed separates him from solid, but
unspectacular, veterans Travis Taylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5039), Marcus Robinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4070) and Billy
McMullen.
Finally on Monday night, Williamson showed flashes of becoming
the playmaker the team needs. And now he's talking like one, too.
"It's just a pat and go. That's how I look at it," Williamson
said. "There's a lot of plays to be made out on the field. Just go
out and make the next one. If it would've happened last year, I
would still have been down on myself right now, but you just keep
on going, keep on moving."
to look like the gamebreaking receiver the Minnesota Vikings (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=min) so
desperately need. Now all he has to do is catch the ball.
In the season opener against Washington on Monday night,
Williamson got separation from the cornerbacks, beat them downfield
on a couple of deep routes and even broke some tackles to get a key
first down late in the game.
Williamson had four catches for 77 yards in the 19-16 victory
over the Redskins, but he also dropped three more passes that could
have made his night even bigger. The most notable came when Brad
Johnson's perfect pass slid right through his arms, negating what
would have been a 59-yard touchdown.
"There's a lot of plays to be made and I'm going to have a lot
of opportunities," Williamson said. "That's all I've got to do is
make the plays I've got to be able to make."
After shipping Randy Moss (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4262) to the Raiders before last season, the
Vikings drafted the speedy South Carolina receiver with Oakland's
No. 7 overall pick to fill the role of deep threat that Moss
perfected here.
Williamson's rookie season was underwhelming. He had 24 catches
for 372 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that Moss would put up in
two games.
The arrival of new coach Brad Childress and the West Coast
offense seemed to energize Williamson. He had a strong preseason
and, after Koren Robinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5456) was released because of alcohol problems,
Williamson immediately became the most physically gifted receiver
on the roster.
"At some point we're all going to have some bad plays,"
Johnson said. "I'm going to have some bad passes. He had a couple
of drops the other night, but he rebounded from it and made a
crucial catch there at the end of the game."
Johnson was referring to his catch and run on a third-and-9 play
in the fourth quarter. Williamson made the catch short of the first
down, then spun away from a defender and lunged forward to move the
chains.
Ryan Longwell (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4080) capped the drive with a 31-yard field goal that
proved to be the game-winner.
"I feel very confident and love playing with Troy," Johnson
said.
That has been the case since Williamson arrived in training camp
last season. He worked a lot with the veteran Johnson, who was the
No. 2 quarterback behind Daunte Culpepper (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4659) then, with the second
unit last preseason.
The two formed a bond, and it is starting to show up on the
field.
"It was good to see him step out there and make some big
plays," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Obviously he
didn't make them all that came his way. We'd definitely like him to
make all those plays, but he's only going to get better."
Since Robinson left, Williamson has taken over the No. 1
receiver spot. His pure speed separates him from solid, but
unspectacular, veterans Travis Taylor (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5039), Marcus Robinson (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4070) and Billy
McMullen.
Finally on Monday night, Williamson showed flashes of becoming
the playmaker the team needs. And now he's talking like one, too.
"It's just a pat and go. That's how I look at it," Williamson
said. "There's a lot of plays to be made out on the field. Just go
out and make the next one. If it would've happened last year, I
would still have been down on myself right now, but you just keep
on going, keep on moving."