We all know Laveranues Coles' is off to a torrid start here in New York, but Roy Williams has been just as impressive up in Detroit. The Lions top wideout leads the NFL with 552 receiving yards and he is averaging 15.3 yards per reception. Williams, a 6'3", 220-pound target who has racked up more than 130 yards receiving in three of the past four games, is quick to credit offensive coordinator Mike Martz for his startling production.
"You hear about his offense and you know he has a track record," Williams said of Martz. "What he does is he makes his players play. I've never been around a coach who makes his players play and brings out the best in his players. This is the first coach that I've been around that does that and he does a good job of it."
Read below for Williams' complete transcript
On the team so far this season…
We're fine. We're 1-5, we know we're better then 1-5 and we finally got this monkey off our back and now, hopefully, we know what winning feels like and we can reel off a couple more wins.
On working with Mike Martz…
I didn't expect it. You hear about his offense and you know he has a track record. What he does is he makes his players play. I've never been around a coach who makes his players play and brings out the best in his players. This is the first coach that I've been around that does that and he does a good job of it.
On Coach Marinelli's involvement in the offense…
I don't know, I don't think he's too involved. He's a defensive guy, a defensive line coach. I don't know. I see Mike Martz every day, probably 95% more then I see Coach Marinelli, (they are) two totally different coaches.
On it being more difficult to lose with the Tigers having success…
No, not at all. My hat goes off to the Tigers, they've done a good job, but we have nothing to do with the Tigers. The way they're playing has no control on the way we're playing. Two totally different sports, but I'm happy for them.
On what creates an egocentric behavior among many receivers in the NFL…
You want the football. A running back is going to get the ball 25 times a game. A receiver most of the time averages four to six touches a game. Guys feel that they're playmakers on the outside and all of these guys are six foot and above and all the corners are 5'10'' and shorter, so why can't you get the ball? These guys just want to help their team win, it's not that they want to do it for themselves. These guys just know that they have a mismatch on the outside and they want to help their team win.
On what it's like in a Mike Martz offense…
It's fun and what makes it fun is, it's not fun to go out there and play, but because it makes you think, it's a challenge for you. As far as wide receivers, we have to read coverages on the run, if it's a blitz, we have to change our route. Mike might call one route, but then there are four different routes in that one route, depending on the coverage. It's fun, it's challenging and that's what I've always hoped to be in, is something that changes every week, instead of the same thing over and over every week.
On being frustrated with the team's success…
It's real disappointing. I'd rather have one pass for one yard and no TDs, if we win the ballgame. That's more satisfying then however many grabs I get or over 100 yards with an L (loss). To me that means nothing. To me, that means I didn't do my part. The x-factor on this team is Kevin Jones. I believe if Kevin Jones rushes for over 100 yards that this team can't be beat, in my opinion.
On getting a reputation for his comments…
I don't see myself in that boat, in the ego boat, I see myself as speaking the truth. One thing that got misunderstood is that guarantee deal. The guarantee got thrown way out of the water somewhere. What I said is, we will win this game, as long as, we do what we're supposed to do, offense, defense, special teams.On receivers wanting to get the most attention that they can because they touch the ball so much less…
On receivers wanting to get the most attention that they can because they touch the ball so much less…
There's no question about it. You know there is a wide receiver going to the game. If you catch anywhere near seven balls, that's a heck of a game, for any wide receiver, no matter how many yards it is. Seven looks, that's a nice day, especially for a wide receiver. All receivers know that. That's why you hear a lot of wide receivers say, when the ball gets thrown to them; they're trying to score, because it might be the last time they get the ball.
On the first two games a product of learning the new offense…
We're in this new system, you want to trust the system, because we know that it works and it just wasn't working for us early. Me personally, I just had a terrible game, the first game against Seattle. I feel if I could have played better then we might have had a better shot to win that ballgame, because our defense was playing so well. It got a little bit better against Seattle and then week by week it's gotten a lot better. Now our running game is coming around and that's the number one thing that we need. If we can run the football it's going to be tough to beat the Lions.
On being past his difficulties with RB Kevin Jones…
Oh yeah, that's last year. He said that I could have caught that ball, but then after he watched film he was out here saying, "I see what you were saying." There was no way I could have caught that ball, the ball was way over my head and he understood, because he wants to win and I want to win and it wasn't anything big at all.
On defending WR Mike Williams…
I would like to see him on the football field and I think he should be a starter or something, but at least somewhere on the football field. The guy is 6' 5'', he's a giant. Like I said most corners are 5' 10'' and below. He was a heck of a wide receiver coming out of USC. I know people say that that doesn't mean anything, this is the NFL now. To me, everyone went to college in the NFL, so there is no difference and that's the mindset that I have. He's a heck of a receiver and he can help this team out tremendously.
