Lions coaches explain how defenses are game-planning against Jameson Williams
ALLEN PARK – The Detroit Lions head into their Week 6 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs as the NFL’s top-scoring team (34.8 points per game). They sit atop the NFC North at 4-1 and were essentially a unanimous No. 1 in this week’s power-rankings roundup across the league.
Despite their success, questions have arisen in recent weeks about the usage -- or lack thereof -- of wide receiver Jameson Williams. Specifically, his lack of targets and how the Lions can better design plays to involve the fourth-year receiver more in the offense.
Through five games, he has 21 targets, averaging 4.2 per outing. He’s caught 11 of them for 224 yards and one touchdown.
Earlier in the week, Lions coach Dan Campbell alluded to opposing defenses using shell coverage against Williams, which prevents him from being a deep threat.
When speaking to reporters on Thursday, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard expanded on that point and detailed what’s preventing offensive coordinator John Morton from getting Williams more involved.
“I can’t imagine the job that John Morton’s tasked with. He’s done an unbelievable job,” Sheppard said. “If I got handed the keys to that (offense) and was told, ‘You have five to six high-level players to expect 10 touches a game,’ well, I need 80 plays on offense to get that done. You know what I mean? It’s a time and place for everything. It’s no different than defense deploying. When Malcolm (Rodriguez) comes back, Zach (Cunningham) comes back -- and you’ve got four or five starting-caliber linebackers -- well, there’s going to be people asking, ‘When is Malcolm going to play?’ or ‘When is Zach going to play at all?’
“It’s about the right time and place for everything. And finally, maybe -- just maybe -- he’s opening up windows for all these explosive underneath routes that you’re seeing (Sam) LaPorta, (Amon-Ra St. Brown) and (Jahmyr) Gibbs have, because you’ve got to keep a shell over the top of him.
Sheppard continued, doubling down on his defense of Morton’s play-calling and usage of Williams.
“So when I hear things like that, I hope that not only the fans but the media -- everybody -- understands the job that John Morton has been tasked with taking over that offense,” the Lions DC said. “And then let’s congratulate him for the job that he’s done and not try to nitpick at things about, ‘Why isn’t this guy…’ or ‘Why isn’t that guy getting involved?’ He’s doing an incredible job. And right now, I think we’re number one in scoring offense -- which helps me as the defensive coordinator.”
While Sheppard defended Morton’s play distribution and praised how the coordinator balances a roster full of skill talent, Morton provided further insight into why Williams’ targets have dipped in recent weeks. The offensive coordinator said defensive looks have forced Detroit to adjust its approach through the air.
Morton explained that opposing defenses have begun sitting in more two-high zone coverages -- keeping both safeties deep to prevent Williams from taking the top off -- a shift he called the “Jameson effect.”
That alignment limits opportunities for vertical shots but opens space underneath for reliable targets like St. Brown, LaPorta, and Gibbs. So it’s not that Morton doesn’t want to get Williams involved; he’s simply taking what the defense gives him.
“There are a lot of weapons. They (Bengals) changed it up a little bit, and it took a little bit of his throws away,” Morton said. “Listen, every game’s different, like I told you guys. Everybody’s got a certain amount of plays; there are a lot of guys that I’ve got to try to get the ball to. I was feeling Saint last week, rightfully so, right? He helped us win that game.
“Like I said, I don’t care what the coverage is, I’m going to call his number. He’s reliable. And the quarterback knows that, too. But I think with Jameson out there, there’s a big threat out there. And teams are now just playing a little bit differently.”
Broncos QB Bo Nix Tapped as One of NFL's 'Most Important Players'
Five weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the league appears to be wide open. After the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills fell this past week, there are already zero undefeated teams remaining in the league.
While many of the familiar faces are still the favorites at the top of the league, such as the Bills, Eagles, and Detroit Lions, there doesn't seem to be any overwhelming teams that should bulldoze their way into the Super Bowl this early in the season.
So if the spot at the top of the league is open, why not the Denver Broncos? According to Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt, the Broncos have the pieces to win it all this season.
However, it’s going to come down to the biggest question mark and the most important position in sports: the quarterback. Discussing the NFL's most important players, Brandt said that Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is as likely as any to determine the fate of the league this season.
“I think Bo Nix is one of the most important players in the NFL. He’s very important, pivotal player. If he has 'it,' anything is possible," Brandt said. "If Bo Nix continues to blossom this year, the Broncos could win the Super Bowl this year. They have the coach. They have the defense."
An Inconsistent Start
As Brandt hints, Nix has been somewhat erratic to start his second season in the NFL.
"Can he [Nix] make enough plays? I don’t know. First half (versus the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles) was rough, second half was excellent. I don’t know who he’s going to be. He’s so young in the league. He’s so inexperienced," Brandt said.
After coming off of a statistically impressive rookie season, the former 12th overall pick finds himself near the mid-to-bottom of the league statistically in EPA/Play at 0.074 (ranks 24th out of 37 quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks). Nix has a QBR of 55.0 (19th out of the top 32) and a
"If he really has that run that he gets better and better and we’re looking in December like ‘Wow, Nix has really turned the corner,' then Denver is going to be very, very formidable. They are one of those teams that they could win the whole thing. I mean it," Brandt said. "Joe Burrow went to the Super Bowl the second year. It all came together. They are built differently than that (Bengals) team but (Nix) is a very important player. I don’t know who he’s going to be. Who he decides to be is going to determine a lot of fates in the AFC because Denver has got it together.”
The Broncos’ pass success rate of 44.2% is the fly in the ointment, and it's also indicative of a team that needs to be far more consistent on a down-to-down basis going forward. Denver ranks 26th in the league in pass success rate.
Outside of Nix’s ability to avoid sacks and pressure to sack rate, there aren’t too many statistical categories that indicate he has played well through five games this season
Payton's History of Slow Starts
Nix’s less than stellar statistical output to date this year is not all on him. Sean Payton teams have a history of starting slow and every stat in football is a system stat to some extent.
Nothing in football happens in isolation, and anything working is dependent on so many individual variables executing. Still, it's okay to say that Nix needs to play a more consistent brand of football than he's displayed so far in 2025.
Fortunately, there are ample reasons for optimism. On the whole, Nix has seemed to improve each and every week so far.
There are flashes of arm talent, ball placement, and athleticism displayed each week that are indicative of a quarterback who could lead a team of the quality surrounding him very far this year. Furthermore, Nix has the belief of his teammates and coaching staff as well, who have praised his ability, maturity, and leadership at nearly every opportunity presented.
After a rather disappointing rushing output by the Broncos in 2024, despite a quality offensive line, they appear to have ratcheted up their ground attack from poor to average at worst. Further, the Broncos’ offensive line and defense appear to be top-notch once again, and Payton, despite some of the offense’s inconsistencies, is still scheming up chunk-play opportunities and red-zone play designs as well as any offensive mind in the league.
The Takeaway
In the NFL, the quarterback will always receive more praise when things are going well than warranted and more blame when things are going poorly than necessary. Football is the ultimate team game, and Nix is still just five weeks into his second year in the league, playing under one of the most demanding offensive minds in football.
Still, Brandt is likely correct in his analysis. This Broncos team, as long as it remains relatively healthy, does have the coaching and personnel in place to be as good as anyone in football this season.
Just how successful this version of the Broncos can be will depend on how much better Nix can play and where his level of execution ultimately settles as the 2025 season marches on.
