Alabama is not forcing the ball to Ryan Williams, WR coach says

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Ryan Williams was targeted 18 times in Alabama’s 24-17 road loss at Tennessee. It was three times more than any other Crimson Tide player and the most for a wide receiver this season, as quarterback Jalen Milroe attempted a career-high 45 passes.

But Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard wanted to make one point clear.

“Milroe did not force the ball anywhere,” Shephard said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re not forcing it anywhere. Let’s change that narrative right now. That did not happen. 

“The young man just has to continue to fight and continue to use great technique to be able to find ways to get even more separation. … He created separation on a number of different plays. But it just depends on is he the front side of the read, the back side of the read on certain plays. 

“That’s what it really comes down to. The kid did a great job of finding ways to separate from the defenders throughout the game.”

After seven games, Williams is Alabama’s leading receiver with 649 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 31 catches. He is now fourth in the SEC at 20.94 yards per catch, and Williams’ seven receiving scores are the most in the conference and tied for the eighth-most in the nation. The true freshman is ranked also second in the league in receiving yards.

In the road loss to the Vols, Williams caught eight passes for 73 yards and one touchdown. The only other wide receivers to catch passes were Germie Bernard (5 for 72) and Kendrick Law (4 for 37). Tailbacks Justice Haynes and Jam Miller also contributed to the Tide passing attack with six combined receptions and tight end CJ Dippre caught a pair of passes.

Williams was targeted 43 percent of the time, but it wasn’t Milroe relying on the freshman.

“I think that we distributed the ball to where it should’ve been going all week long, all throughout the game,” Shephard said. “That’s where the ball should’ve been going. If it was supposed to go somewhere else, it would’ve went somewhere else. 

“That’s not us designing every play to try to get the ball to one single person. If that’s where the ball was supposed to go, that’s where it went. So I think our guys did a good job of making sure the ball went where it was supposed to go.”

Williams and Bernard played 78 of Alabama’s 82 offensive snaps last week, according to Pro Football Focus. Law, who returned from injury, played the third-most plays with 39. No other UA receiver logged more than eight snaps, including Kobe Prentice (3). Prentice is coming off an injury, but after Williams and Bernard, there’s a big drop in production.

Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was asked about getting more receivers involved, particularly against a Missouri defense allowing 157.6 passing yards per game.

“We’re always looking at utilizing all of the personnel that we have and how we can best put our players in a position to be successful,” Sheridan said on Monday. “That’s for every position. Who can give us the best chance of winning, practices the best? 

“I think (Law and Prentice) are really talented players. I know they’re gonna have big moments for us here down the stretch. I think, not just those two in particular, but all the guys, we need everybody to continue to progress, continue to learn, continue to grow so that we can utilize them all here down the stretch.”

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