Boulder – At the start of the season, the sudden swell of attention that now engulfs wide receiver Jarrell Yates first went to Patrick Williams.
And for good reason.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Williams has the size and skills to be a big-time receiver. And the sophomore started out the season as if it would be a breakout campaign with nine catches for 108 yards in the first three games.
One problem: As the Buffs enter Game 8 of the 2006 season Saturday at Oklahoma, Williams has nine catches for 108 yards.
He has been on the field but hasn’t caught a pass in four straight games.
“We’re trying to get different things done on offense,” Williams said. “We’re trying to establish a better running game. If that’s what we’re going to do, if I have to block all game and we win and that’s going to get us success, then that’s what’s going to have to happen.”
Coach Dan Hawkins said Williams’ drop in production comes from his struggle to be consistent. Hawkins said that has plagued almost all of the CU wide receivers this season.
“Those guys are never going to be where we want them to be,” Hawkins said. “But you’d like to have those guys that you know it’s lockdown every time; you throw the ball to that guy, it’s lockdown. You see guys are little more consistent than others, and those are the guys that are playing more.”
Williams said his next level of improvement is “just making the big play when we need it.”
He is not, however, bitter about his lack of receptions.
“If we’re not winning, it doesn’t really matter,” Williams said. “We got a win. I don’t know how many passes we threw, but we got a win and that was good for our team. I’m in a perfect position right now. I’m going to school for free, I’m playing football, I’m enjoying all these guys around me. We’ve got great coaches. You just have to be appreciative.”
Showing the love
Hawkins vows to turn Hugh Charles into a more dynamic runner.
Part of that process was sticking with the junior tailback after he lost a fumble Saturday in the 30-6 win over Texas Tech. Normally, Hawkins would bench the offending player.
He went to Charles and said: “I’m telling you something right now: I’m going against a basic premise of mine. My gut instinct is to put Byron (Ellis) in, and leave you over here. But, I believe in you. Let’s not have this happen again.”
Charles got the ball on the ensuing drive and ripped off a 35-yard run.
“It’s part of trying to weigh out when you grant that kid a vote of confidence,” Hawkins said. “We’re still working with him on being that assertive runner. That (35-yard) run where he did go out of bounds, I’m sure all of you go, ‘I have not seen a run like that this year out of him.’ That was a dynamic get-something-extra, make- some-thing-happen (effort), which he’s totally capable of doing.”
Footnotes
Safety J.J. Billingsley (knee) did not practice Wednesday and will not play Saturday at OU. The senior said he will play Oct. 28 at Kansas. … The Buffs could still go to a bowl game under two scenarios: winning the rest of their games, including the Big 12 championship (6-7 would not qualify); or winning the rest of the scheduled games but not going to the Big 12 title game, and finishing 6-6.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
