Nobody actually likes leftovers. Sometimes a meal’s tasty the second time round, however hardly ever will we sit up for digging into yesterday’s outdated meal.
The attraction of consuming one thing new, digging into one thing recent, normally will get one of the best of us. And consequently the leftovers sometimes sit within the fridge till it’s time to throw them out.
Preston Williams, who was yesterday’s younger, promising receiver, feels just like the Miami Dolphins’ leftovers.
He confirmed as much as coaching camp in 2019 as a proficient, however troubled undrafted receiver from Colorado State, and have become that coaching camp’s must-see expertise.
Williams was so good in these 2019 practices he earned a beginning position straight away, and held it till he suffered a knee harm returning a punt in November. He completed that season with 32 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns within the eight video games he performed, and was on tempo to be that season’s prime performing rookie.
When he returned from his knee harm Williams dominated coaching camp in 2020 as properly, typically embarrassing cornerback Byron Jones, the staff’s prime free-agent addition that offseason. He regaining his standing as a season-opening starter, and caught 18 passes for 288 yards and scored 4 touchdowns earlier than struggling a foot harm that prematurely ended his season after eight video games.
That means Williams began 14 of the 16 video games he was wholesome sufficient to play in his first two seasons.
Problem is, that was yesterday. Two seasons, three offensive coordinators, and a brand new teaching employees in the past.
Since then he’s had an underwhelming existence on Miami’s playmaker-starved roster. He spent most of final 12 months in former coach Brian Flores’ doghouse, and contributed 71 yards on six receptions within the eight video games he performed.
This offseason Williams re-signed with the Dolphins, agreeing to a one-year deal value $1.5 million, which assured him $275,000. But that was earlier than Miami overhauled your entire receiver unit, and primarily based on his tone throughout a media availability on Tuesday we get the sense Williams now wonders if that call was a mistake.
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are Miami’s superstars. This offense will clearly be constructed round these two speedsters in the event that they keep wholesome.
Then there’s Cedrick Wilson, a free agent signed to respectable cash this offseason to play the slot position, and three receivers — Trent Sherfield, River Cracraft and Mohamed Sanu — with ties to the San Francisco 49ers, the group most of this teaching employees is from and the offense being tailored.
And let’s not overlook Erik Ezukanma, a Texas Tech standout Miami chosen within the fourth spherical of the 2022 NFL draft, who’s the younger promising expertise seemingly receiving all of the reps and a spotlight Williams as soon as obtained from this group, and fan base.
Where does that depart Williams, who has gone three straight practices with out being focused this week?
Clearly pissed off, and he expressed simply that in a tweet that obtained him referred to as out by new coach Mike McDaniel throughout a staff assembly.
“I just feel like I’m not getting the opportunities that I deserve, simply scripted-wise, not being on the field-wise,” Williams stated. “[I want] opportunities to show that I can beat my man.”
And he hasn’t been shy about his points, talking with McDaniel on quite a few events going all the way in which again to the spring.
“We had a conversation during OTAs, and the only specific thing I asked him was ‘I just want my opportunity,’ ” Williams stated. “[McDaniel] said, ‘You’ll get your opportunity.’ I just want to make him a man of his word, that’s all.”
One of the main complaints made by former coaches about Williams was his restricted understanding of the playbook. That was a recurring theme in personal and public conversations about him for all three of his seasons in Miami.
However, it’s unclear whether or not or not that’s a difficulty right now on this new offense. But it doesn’t assist that observe after observe he’s not focused throughout 11-on-11 drills.
”It’s a really robust deal. There is restricted reps. There are 11 guys and just one man can get the ball on every play. I perceive his frustration,” Dolphins receiver coach Wes Welker stated. “Preston is an excellent participant. He has proven he is an efficient participant on this league. He is performing some good issues on the market and he’ll get [opportunities].
“Those opts are coming.”
And so Williams waits.
Keeping a disgruntled participant isn’t very best for any staff, particularly one with a brand new teaching employees that’s making an attempt to create their very best tradition. Williams should resolve if he’s prepared to endure the chilly shoulder he’s presently receiving from the Dolphins, or if he would like to be launched or traded, probably getting the chance to start out recent elsewhere in a brand new offense whereas rosters are nonetheless taking form?
“I don’t care who is here. I like to complete. I want to show you how I do,” stated Williams, who shed 20 kilos this offseason, getting all the way down to 210 kilos for the beginning of camp. “That’s all I want to do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com