It’s not going to be easy for any undrafted rookies to make the Detroit Lions 53-man roster this year. It’s one of the side effects of the Lions finally being a viable Super Bowl contender; there aren’t many open spots on the depth chart, even at the bottom.
If any of the UDFA rookies are going to make it, head coach Dan Campbell laid out their path to sticking in Detroit. Campbell was asked before Thursday’s practice session how the undrafted guys, like wide receiver Isaiah Williams, can get his attention.
“I told them day one, consistency,” Campbell said. “Consistent production. It’s somebody that just, every day they’re making some plays, and I’m not talking about the flash plays. They’re just where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be. They’re either making the play that’s there and they just every day get a little bit better.”
Campbell continued the answer with a word that nobody would expect to be a positive for a coach with his energy:
Boring
“I call it just good, steady, boring production,” Campbell said, emphasizing the ‘boring’ part. “I love that; we all love that as coaches because you know exactly what you’re going to get out of those players. I would tell you that’s going to go a long way.”
There is very little boring about Williams’ game. The wideout from Illinois offers a lot of sizzle from the slot and as a return specialist. He’s one of the UDFAs given the best chance to make the roster, but Williams faces a major battle to earn a spot with so many other willing, worthy and sometimes “boring” contributors also in the mix.