For whatever reason, we tend to use Williams at the goal line. That's always baffled me as well but it's happened throughout the last 8 games.

 

yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Maybe he was trying to make them think we were going to pass in there?

 

I think it relates to Williams' flexibility and agility in the passing game. Ajayi has gotten better at catching but Williams can adjust to passes that aren't perfect and is just a bit more experienced and has earned the team's trust in those situations.

 

As well as being more flexible, Williams is a much better blocker.

Williams has also scored 6 TDs this year, on minimal touches, so it has also been working.

I think he is a good point for the better team management, he's been intriguing since we signed him, the old regime kept him for the same reasons, but were afraid to use him for some reason, I always thought they should have let him get his feet wet, this FO did, and it has paid dividends.

He seems to have gotten more comfortable with more snaps, and if he ever truly comes into his own, he could be a very good RB, but he is a very good 3rd down RB right now.

 

His first year I saw a lot of good things with him. Last year I thought he took a step back, but this year he looks solid again. He is working to protect the ball when he is in there for sure, wraps it up with both arms.

 

I totally agree 25, has made big play after big play this year. My only problem is that he does a little to much dancing on some plays. He runs pretty powerfully, I would like him to lower his shoulder and run through more tackles, he has shown he is very capable of that.

 

I disagree about williams being a much better blocker than ajayi. Williams has gotten beat pretty badly on some blocks lately while ajayi has been solid blocking all year. Ajayi has been a very good reciever out of the backfield as well. I agree with OP ajayi should have been out there more toward the end of the game. I understand giving him a breather from time to time, but your featured back should be in there consistently. Not only to run the ball but also to keep the defense honest against the run to open up the pass.

 

Williams blows pass pro blitz blocking assignments more than anything else...they really like him in the passing game and they trust his pass pro when he actually squares a guy up...

pretty dandy fade to the corner split out wide td catch and even better the awareness to drop to his knees on the play from Williams a few games ago...that was wr like awareness and body control

the only thing I don't like about Williams game is there's too much hesitation and east west sometimes as a ball carrier...but ajayi likes to bounce things wide instead of take what is given at times resulting in more east west 2 yard losses etc. I do think ajayi is a pretty solid pass protector he will stone some guys

the thing about ajayi unlike some of these other guys is he doesn't give tells to the opposition on what's coming or where we have a tendency to go with the blocking schemes as a ball carrier...where as with Kenyan drake for instance you can set your watch to what kind of things will be run if he's in the back field

 

Ajayi was out because we were in the 2 minute offense.

 

Ajayi misses "picking up" the blitz at times, iow, he doesn't even see the blitzer at times.

RBs are not asked to stop rushers, they are just supposed to slow them down, you can't ask a 220lb guy to block a 250-300lb guy for very long, when the big guy has a running start, an extra second is about all you can ask.

Every RB gets beat on blocks, but if you are missing the block entirely that is an issue, and "picking up" the blitz is one of the biggest traits to have as a blocker, and Williams has that on lock down while Ajayi still struggles with it.

Also, you can't have your starter out there all the time, he NEEDS rest at times, so you can't "consistently" have him out there.

 

Gase said it was his mistake that Ajayi wasn't out there at the end...said he had a buncha stuff going on and didn't think to swap him in.

 

I'm not knocking Ajayi, but there is nothing at all wrong with Damien Williams. He also creates mismatches in the passing game that Ajayi doesn't.

 

I don't know about your assesmant of Ajayi's blocking. I haven't seen him mis a block all season, at least nothing major. While Williams missed a terrible block in the baltimore game. The point is moot anyways gase already came out and said it was his mistake not putting ajayi in at the end. It had nothing to do with williams being a better blocker.

 

Gase on Ajayi per Barry Jackson:

"“We want Jay to consistently do what he’s been doing and he hasn’t changed one thing he has done,” Gase said. “We don’t want him to be frustrated because we haven’t quite got results we are looking for. He’s stuck with what we’ve been telling him, which is big for him to do because it’s easy to try to gain yards on your own. We need everybody to keep doing their job.

“We need him to consistently do what he’s been doing. We’ve run into some tough defenses. That’s not a hidden secret. We have another one ahead of us this week. They are going to try to stop the run and make us one dimensional. That’s what most teams have tried to do with us the last nine games.”

On Ajayi: “He does a good job maintaining his health. He does a lot of things extra. He’s taken some big shots. He built for this. He’s a big man. When you stand next to him; you realize how thick he is, he’s a strong guy. This is what he’s been doing. He understands the impact he’s going to make.”"

 

Don't you hate it when truth gets in the way of an agenda...err...I mean, narrative?