Category: sports

Lions Jameson Williams ready for a bigger role entering his 4th season

Big change in number for Jamo who is now No. 1

ALLEN PARK — After Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams took a huge leap from 2023 to the 2024 season, the obvious question is what is next for the speedster.

Williams finished last season with 58 catches for 1,001 yards with seven receiving and one rushing touchdown. In 2023, he finished with just 354 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

His speed was on display on Friday during the team’s third session of Organized Team Activities. More is expected of him this season.

“I guess going into Year 4 you know I’ve got a little pep in my step, becoming a vet, moving over from the rookie stage,’’ Williams said. “I’m just ready to play more football and be more consistent for my team.’’

Coach Dan Campbell has noticed a difference in him this spring. 

 “Oh, my God, he’s got a ton of growth left. And you know, he’s listening, he’s had a good spring, and it’s another one – I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves in OTAs, but I mean there’s so much versatility with him,’’ Campbell said on Friday. “There are so many things that we can do just with his routes on the outside. I mean, we can do things inside, but just with his speed, and he’s gotten so much stronger. His ability to stop, put his foot in the ground. Man, when you can run like you can run, and now you’re beginning to – where man, you can stop on a dime, I mean, you talk about a hard cover.’’

Campbell said the sky’s the limit for Williams who changed his number from 9 to No. 1.

“He’s exactly where we want him to be right now at this point, man. He’s been here, he’s grinding, he’s getting better. (Lions wide receivers coach) Scottie’s (Montgomery) freaking grinding him, it’s awesome,’’ Campbell said. “But we expect him to have a huge season. We really do, man. He’s going to be one of those guys that we’re going to lean on this year, and it is really going to be big for us. And all he’s got to do is just keep working like he’s working and, and we’ll be good.”

Williams, who is 24, said he worked on building his strength after consulting with others but basically he said he feels the same, noting that he has gained about 5 pounds. 

“Ever since I was small I’ve been into working hard as a kid. I always had the mindset to just go out there and be the best, work the hardest. My dad always texts me ‘outwork everybody no matter who it is, outwork everybody,’’’ Williams said.

Quarterback Jared Goff has noticed a difference too.

He’s already made (the next step), it’s been awesome to see. He’s done a helluva job – continue to do what he’s done, just get more consistent,’’ Goff said. “He’s working hard, he’s being  a leader now. It’s fun to see him grow into that and show guys how he wants to do things. He’s talked to me a ton, it’s fun.’’

Williams feels good about his new role as a leader. 

“The young guys come to me about a lot of stuff and I actually feel good because I know what they’re asking me,’’ Williams said. When I was at their stage I had guys I could go to and they helped me with things.’’

Lions Dan Campbell cherishes a good challenge; calls schedule the ‘right kind of brutal’

ALLEN PARK — With the OTAs this week, the Detroit Lions are taking the next step toward the start of the season in September.

Coach Dan Campbell sees a few challenges ahead. One of them is the schedule which he calls “the right kind of brutal.”

While outsiders may look at the Lions’ game schedule and think maybe the team is headed for a season of disappointment, that is not the way Campbell sees it at all.

“I love the schedule we have this year, this is the type of schedule that builds you for the postseason. We’re going to get tested early and often and all year long and it’s freakin’ awesome. It’s really how you want it,’’ Campbell said on Friday prior to the on-field work. “We’ll be ready to go when the time is right.’’

That’s because his message, as usual, is there is no room for complacency.

“We’ve gotten to where we’ve gotten because we haven’t been complacent and we have gone and put the work in again and done all the little things you have to do to win games and win the division again. We have to do that all over again,’’ the coach said.

He said the challenge is why he loved this game and why the NFL is the best.
“Not only (games) here at home, our own division, go on the road, it’s awesome. To me, by the end of the year we ought to  be scarred up, scarred up and ready to, hardened for battle and ready for the playoffs,’’ Campbell said. “There’ll be nothing easy about it. Just to get through our own division is going to be brutal, but it’s the right kind of brutal.”

Another challenge is that he is working with two new coordinators – John Morton on offense and Kelvin Sheppard on defense. Plus new personnel and a few in new positions.

“We’ve got offensively and defensively staffwise either new coaches or in new positions or first time having the room — that’s 14 guys, that’s a lot,’’ Campbell said. 

He’s got to get everyone on the same page by making sure the coordinators want what they want and they also know what Campbell wants.

“This is the best time to do that, we’re working through the kinks which is awesome,’’ Campbell  “It’s only been two days but it’s been really good. Guys are in a good spot, good energy, thorough has been awesome.’’

Lions wrap up weekend by drafting a pair of Georgia Bulldogs

S Dan Jackson and WR Dominic Lovett headed to Detroit

ALLEN PARK — The Lions wrapped up the NFL draft by selecting a pair of Georgia Bulldogs in the seventh round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Safety Dan Jackson was drafted 230th overall while wide receiver Dominic Lovett was the 244th pick.

It was a Georgia kind of draft with guard Tate Ratledge selected in the second round.

Jackson, a walk-on at Georgia, finished with a strong senior season starting opposite Malaki Starks, a first-round pick to the Ravens.

The 6-2, 195-pound safety earned third team All-SEC honors  after recording 64 tackles, three pass break-ups, 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one  blocked field goal. He notched one forced fumble which was huge for the Bulldogs, as it came late in the fourth quarter against Georgia Tech and opened the door for the Bulldogs to beat the Yellow Jackets in eight overtimes.

He’s expected to be able to contribute on special teams. 

“I’m willing to play anywhere, that’s how I got started in Georgia,’’ Jackson said.

He also said that Georgia shaped him into the player he is today. 

In CBS Sports draft profile they wrote: “Dan Jackson is a smart football player and good leader. He is fearless playing downhill in run support, but sometimes runs too hot, which leads to missed tackles in space. Jackson has a high football IQ and good eyes to recognize what is happening in front of him, but lacks the ideal athleticism to recover when he makes a mistake and must do a better job breaking down in space.’’

Lovett, who played two seasons at Georgia after two years at Missouri, led the Bulldogs in receptions with 59 and receiving touchdowns with six in 2024. 

Lovett said he’s looking forward to being in the same wide receiver group with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

“I feel I can learn so much how he plays the game,’’ Lovett said of St. Brown.

Lovett said he’s been a big fan of Jameson Williams since both lived and played near St. Louis in high school.

GM Brad Holmes said he’s been a fan of Lovett’s for a long time and said he’s a really good special teams player. 

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote: “His hands will both dazzle and frustrate. He’s capable and experienced as a gunner and can compete for reps on special teams until he finds his footing as a WR3.’’

Earlier on Saturday, the Lions drafted guard Miles Frazier in the fifth round and EDGE rusher Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round.