Mike Williams Ready to Contribute?

Second year Lions WR Mike Williams has been one of the most disappointing draft selections in Lions team history. His well-documented maturity issues (missing practice, sleeping in meetings, weight control issues) and poor work ethic have severely hampered a 2-9 team that has been sorely lacking a compliment to WR's Roy Williams and Mike Furrey in Mike Martz's multi-receiver offense. In Thursday's game against the Dolphins, Williams was activated for the first time in weeks and apparently he is being given another opportunity to hopefully emerge as a contributor for the 2006 team.

Williams was activated due to injuries to WR's DeVale Ellis and Eddie Drummond. Williams also has begun to contribute to the special teams, a role which he had previously been unable or unwilling to offer to the organization. In order to justify Williams' activation, he had to be able provide some other contribution besides sulking along the sidelines with his helmet off, waiting for his chance to run a few pass patterns. It recently had been rumored that Williams had missed another opportunity to play by not being fully aware of how to run his pass routes for a 7-on-7 passing drill in practice.

In response, the Lions have softened a little on Williams. Reportedly they have been fining him less heavily for being overweight. They have established a running program for him in hopes that he may yet meet his 220 lb. playing weight which the organization has set for him. Williams could still provide match up problems for opposing defenses from the slot, against smaller defensive backs, and also inside of the "red zone". The ball is in Williams' court for now. Williams needs to prove to himself and the organization that he still possesses the qualities that made him a desirable draft pick. It is time for him to step up for a team that desperately needs something positive to emerge during an increasingly disappointing end to their season.