[Quack Attack]

Williams confident in ASU's offense




by Jeff Metcalfe - Aug. 19, 2009 06:17 PM
The Arizona Republic

Kyle Williams doesn't care who gets the credit or runs up the big numbers.
All the senior wants is for Arizona State's offense to regain its mojo before the end of his career. Because he agreed to give up redshirting halfway through the 2006 season and has made only six starts overall, his time at ASU seems more fleeting than most.

He led the the Sun Devils and was sixth in the PAC 10 last year in all-purpose yards. But it counted for little in a 5-7 season when ASU dropped nationally in total offense for a third straight season. Williams, given to the occasional prediction, is convinced that trend will reverse this season.

"There should be absolutely no reason why we shouldn't put up three to four (offensive) touchdowns a game," he said Wednesday. "With the talent that we have, with the offense that we have, with the scheme we have. It's going to come down to who wants it more and who is going to put everything they've got on the line to get this offense rolling.
"We're getting there. I can see guys starting to turn the corner and energy picking up the last couple of days."

Some believe that in ASU's new spread offense, slot receiver Williams could more than double his career reception total (52). All he cares about is that the Sun Devils' win total is closer to that of 2007 (10) and that the offense hold its own rather than leaning on the defense to score off turnovers.

"As an offense, we need to try to out-compete the defense to see who's going to carry this team," he said.
"I know there are a lot of doubters out there, and that's perfectly fine with us. We know what we've got and who we are, and that's all that matters. We'll show everybody else when the time comes."
ASU coach Dennis Erickson believes the 5-foot-10 Williams of Scottsdale is poised to deliver on his words as a receiver and as the Pac-10 reigning punt return leader (No. 4 nationally).

Erickson's plan for now is to turn kickoff return duties over to Omar Bolden and others so Williams can concentrate on what he does best.
"He's had a great winter, great summer, and he's in the best shape I've seen him in," Erickson said. "A lot of things are dependent on what he does, but he's flanked outside by three pretty good players," in Chris McGaha, Kerry Taylor and Gerell Robinson.
Erickson described kickoff return "more of a hit it and go thing where punts you've got to make people miss, which is what Kyle does really well."

Williams' 17.0-yard punt return average last year was sixth best in school history and the highest since 1986. Whizzer White's record 21.9 has stood since 1948. "Punt return, I need that," Williams said. "That's something I live for. I love being back there, having the ball in my hands and just getting some room to work. Kick returns, I love it too. But if they want to throw somebody else back there and save me a little bit, that's perfectly fine for me as long as it's better for the team."