'Frustrated' Watkins looking to make impact with Rams |
It's been a tough start for fourth-year pro and former Clemson receiver
Sammy Watkins in Los Angeles.
The Buffalo Bills traded the former No. 4 overall pick in August, and Watkins has averaged only five targets and 42 yards a game since. Hampered by an injury-filled career, Watkins looks to turn around production that's trended down, while in a contract year. Over the last 13 games, the former All-American has 42 catches for 641 yards with four touchdowns, while in his previous 13 games in 2015, the south Florida product tallied 60 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine scores. "I don't know a wide receiver that's not frustrated throughout the game if you're not getting the ball, but that's the game," Watkins told reporters this week. "Each week, it could change. They (the Seattle Seahawks) had certain coverage that took me away, and that's part of the game." Last week in a 16-10 loss to the Seahawks, Watkins was shutout on catches in four targets. One video review on Twitter shows he didn't have much of a chance either: The first of four Sammy Watkins "targets" wasn't even within 5 yards of him. pic.twitter.com/H2FJGQO6ur Target number 2 for Sammy Watkins. The one where people are saying he gave up. pic.twitter.com/WWWS2obxSa Target number 3 for Sammy Watkins. Archuleta says he wasn't expecting it but the ball is overthrown by 5 yards as well pic.twitter.com/cvosMQDoiB The last of Sammy Watkins' 4 targets. Again, not really catchable. 4 defenders surrounding him. Goff said he can't force it to him but ??here pic.twitter.com/h6j3wfhNMk After the game, Watkins took to social media to tweet his displeasure in response to former Rams great Torry Holt: Something gotta be going on ?? Watkins and coach Sean McVay had a talk after that. "Sammy is a player that wants to be involved," McVay said, via the Associated Press. "I really respect the way Sammy handled our conversation, in terms of taking the accountability to know that it's about snap-in and snap-out (readiness), and really the tape is what tells the story. "Sometimes when you don't get your number targeted, it can be a little bit misleading, and what I appreciate about Sammy is I think he took it the right way." Watkins just wants to make an impact. "I just want to have fun and ball," Watkins told reporters. "I want to be a part of this team. It's a great team. I know where they're about to be at with Coach McVay and his staff, and I just want to be a part and make plays, just score touchdowns and be a part of it." The Rams (3-2) play next at Jacksonville on Sunday at 4 p.m.
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