The New England Patriots have one of the best gunslingers in football. Drake Maye's deep passes are second to none, and his ability to hit his receivers in stride is probably his most impressive trait.
With A.J. Brown out, Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs on Injured Reserve, and the rest of the receiving corps taking turns to step up, Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel have had to get in their bags to keep the offense moving.
But after watching Kyle Williams haul in yet another long-range contract reception, it's painfully evident that the offense is doing this team a disservice. If anything, they should try to get him involved more often.
The Patriots must get Kyle Williams more involved with the offense this season
Williams torched Jeff Hafley's secondary with a big 43-yard touchdown in the win over the Miami Dolphins. He's now at five career touchdowns, all of which are 30+ yard receptions, according to the Patriots' communications department.
Inexplicably, he was the only target in the game. For whatever reason, the Patriots don't call his number often, even in a game when most of their go-to guys (Hollins, Brown, Doubs, and Hunter Henry) are out with injuries.
Perhaps the Patriots think he's a one-trick pony at this point in his development, but even if so, he's pretty damn good at that trick. Likewise, they have a quarterback who sees barbecue chicken whenever a receiver has the field open downfield in man coverage.
Maye's anticipation and ability to place the ball in tight windows are impressive, and his arm strength is top-tier. McDaniels' offense has always been more about timing and quick hits, but taking away the big play from the quarterback is pointless.
If anything, they should look to keep defenses guessing. Run some play-action here and there, feed the running backs on early downs, and take some deep shots when they least expect it. Football is a complex sport, but it can also be pretty simple.
What's the worst that can happen? Maybe his passes get picked off more often, but it would essentially be an arm punt. That has worked pretty well for Josh Allen, so why wouldn't it work for the young man with a similar skill set and maybe even a higher ceiling?
The Patriots' wide receiver corps is thin right now, and Williams has delivered almost every time he's been asked to get off to the races. Maybe it's time to make him more than just an afterthought and a last resort for this offense.
Add us as a preferred source on Google