Demetrius Williams catches a pass in front of Falcons defensive back Chris Houston. (AP photo / September 3, 2009) |
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Demetrius Williams took no chances in Atlanta. In a half-empty stadium, and in a game that seemingly held interest only to the bubble guys on the Ravens' roster, Williams had no trouble finding motivation.
It was survival.
"My thought process," Williams said Friday, "was just to make the team. That was the biggest thing for me. Every year ... people take it as a given they're going to make the team. I can't approach it like that."
The fourth-year veteran wide receiver was not a bubble guy, especially on a team desperate for receiving depth. But he played like it in the Ravens' 20-3 preseason win over the Falcons Thursday night.
Williams pulled in three passes and drew a pass interference penalty on one of Atlanta's starting cornerbacks on the Ravens' first offensive series, leading to a touchdown. On the first series of the second half, he and quarterback John Beck teamed up for a 39-yard pass-and-run play.
The Ravens must trim their roster from 75 to 53 by 4 p.m. today. The process was expected to begin Friday after a morning workout and meetings with the personnel department and coaching staff.
If there were any doubt about Williams going into Thursday's game, there certainly was none coming out. Except for the virus he battled during the previous 36 hours, Williams is finally healthy for the Ravens. His chronic Achilles' tendon issue, he says, is history. The hamstring injury that raised doubts about his durability in training camp is gone.
After three years of tantalizing the Ravens with his sprinter's speed, athletic 6-foot-2 frame and long reach, might this be Williams' best chance yet to deliver on the promise that made him a steal in the fourth round of the 2006 draft?
"As far as being healthy, being out there and being a guy they can count on, I think so," he said.
Where Williams fits in the passing game is unclear. Derrick Mason remains the go-to receiver, and free-agent addition Kelley Washington appears to have earned a starting job. While Mark Clayton recovers from a partially torn hamstring, Williams has worked as the No. 3 wide-out, a spot he could hold if he follows up on his solid preseason.
In four games this summer, Williams, 26, averaged 13.7 yards on 11 catches. That's 2 yards under his three-year average of 15.7. If Williams can become a deep threat for quarterback Joe Flacco, the offense will become more balanced.
The cutdown at receiver became a little more complicated when second-year prospect Justin Harper botched two more passes Thursday. Harper's continuing issues might have opened a door for Yamon Figurs, a return specialist his first two seasons with the Ravens.
Figurs disappointed in the return game last season, and the Ravens brought in free agent Chris Carr. But this preseason, he has fought his way back into the discussion because of his work at receiver. He has three catches for 64 yards in the preseason.
"It's me knowing my steps, getting in and out of my routes quicker," Figurs said of his improvement as a receiver.
Furthermore, the bone he broke in his foot during summer drills is completely healed. And the fact that Lardarius Webb has fumbled two kick returns this preseason could push Figurs ahead of Harper.
In Atlanta, Figurs fielded punts for the first time since a 12-yard return in the preseason opener (he had two fair catches against a punter with good hang time).
"I have no idea," Figurs said of his roster status. "Just wait and see what happens."
Notes: It was an uneasy day for many of the Ravens on the bubble Friday. Even kicker Steve Hauschka, who appeared to close the deal as Matt Stover's successor with kicks of 33 and 46 yards, was concerned. "A lot of crazy stuff can happen," Hauschka said. "So I'm a little nervous, but I think I've done what I had to do out there, and hopefully the coaches have the confidence in me to name me the guy." … The Ravens can formalize their eight-man practice squad Sunday.
It was survival.
"My thought process," Williams said Friday, "was just to make the team. That was the biggest thing for me. Every year ... people take it as a given they're going to make the team. I can't approach it like that."
The fourth-year veteran wide receiver was not a bubble guy, especially on a team desperate for receiving depth. But he played like it in the Ravens' 20-3 preseason win over the Falcons Thursday night.
Williams pulled in three passes and drew a pass interference penalty on one of Atlanta's starting cornerbacks on the Ravens' first offensive series, leading to a touchdown. On the first series of the second half, he and quarterback John Beck teamed up for a 39-yard pass-and-run play.
The Ravens must trim their roster from 75 to 53 by 4 p.m. today. The process was expected to begin Friday after a morning workout and meetings with the personnel department and coaching staff.
If there were any doubt about Williams going into Thursday's game, there certainly was none coming out. Except for the virus he battled during the previous 36 hours, Williams is finally healthy for the Ravens. His chronic Achilles' tendon issue, he says, is history. The hamstring injury that raised doubts about his durability in training camp is gone.
After three years of tantalizing the Ravens with his sprinter's speed, athletic 6-foot-2 frame and long reach, might this be Williams' best chance yet to deliver on the promise that made him a steal in the fourth round of the 2006 draft?
"As far as being healthy, being out there and being a guy they can count on, I think so," he said.
Where Williams fits in the passing game is unclear. Derrick Mason remains the go-to receiver, and free-agent addition Kelley Washington appears to have earned a starting job. While Mark Clayton recovers from a partially torn hamstring, Williams has worked as the No. 3 wide-out, a spot he could hold if he follows up on his solid preseason.
In four games this summer, Williams, 26, averaged 13.7 yards on 11 catches. That's 2 yards under his three-year average of 15.7. If Williams can become a deep threat for quarterback Joe Flacco, the offense will become more balanced.
The cutdown at receiver became a little more complicated when second-year prospect Justin Harper botched two more passes Thursday. Harper's continuing issues might have opened a door for Yamon Figurs, a return specialist his first two seasons with the Ravens.
Figurs disappointed in the return game last season, and the Ravens brought in free agent Chris Carr. But this preseason, he has fought his way back into the discussion because of his work at receiver. He has three catches for 64 yards in the preseason.
"It's me knowing my steps, getting in and out of my routes quicker," Figurs said of his improvement as a receiver.
Furthermore, the bone he broke in his foot during summer drills is completely healed. And the fact that Lardarius Webb has fumbled two kick returns this preseason could push Figurs ahead of Harper.
In Atlanta, Figurs fielded punts for the first time since a 12-yard return in the preseason opener (he had two fair catches against a punter with good hang time).
"I have no idea," Figurs said of his roster status. "Just wait and see what happens."
Notes: It was an uneasy day for many of the Ravens on the bubble Friday. Even kicker Steve Hauschka, who appeared to close the deal as Matt Stover's successor with kicks of 33 and 46 yards, was concerned. "A lot of crazy stuff can happen," Hauschka said. "So I'm a little nervous, but I think I've done what I had to do out there, and hopefully the coaches have the confidence in me to name me the guy." … The Ravens can formalize their eight-man practice squad Sunday.
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