+- Atlanta Falcons Talk (http://atlantafalconstalk.com)
+-- Forum: Falcons Fans Message Boards (/Forum-Falcons-Fans-Message-Boards)
+--- Forum: Talk About The Falcons & So Much More (/Forum-Talk-About-The-Falcons-So-Much-More)
+--- Thread: NFL: Chris Williams (/Thread-NFL-Chris-Williams)
Pages: 1 2
Chris Williams - ggp - 10-17-2012 02:42 PM
I saw this in the Chicago Tribune:
By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter
8:13 p.m. CDT, October 16, 2012
Maybe the most telling thing about Chris Williams' tenure with the Bears is that of his 38 career starts only seven came at left tackle, the position he was drafted to fill when then-general manager Jerry Angelo selected him 14th overall in 2008.
Williams' contract was terminated Tuesday, making him a free agent and putting him in an immediate search for a new job. He told the Tribune he would be flying to visit another team Tuesday night and that he would have multiple offers from which to choose.
The move made right tackle Gabe Carimi the only remaining first-round pick from the Angelo era. Another former Angelo pick from the same '08 draft, cornerback Zack Bowman, took Williams' roster spot. That gives the Bears depth on special teams with Sherrick McManis sidelined with a hip injury.
Williams' career got off to a poor start and put the club on the defensive about him when a recurring disc issue sidelined him on the second day of training camp as a rookie. That led to surgery but he returned later that season and then started 16 games in 2009, 11 at right tackle and five at left tackle. As offensive line coach, now coordinator Mike Tice removed him from left tackle after a hamstring injury in the second game of the 2010 season and never returned. It was a recurring indication that he never would fulfill the promise he once held as one of eight tackles selected in the first round in 2008.
The Bears promoted a competition between J'Marcus Webb and Williams for the left tackle job this offseason but that was only extended because Webb struggled in preseason. Williams had been inactive the last two games, replaced by journeyman addition Jonathan Scott.
\It was telling because Williams has the versatility to play every position on the line but center and was earning only $1 million in the final year of his contract. He is eligible to claim termination pay and collect the remainder of his contract for this season.
"It seemed to be I was never the guy Tice wanted in a lot of ways," Williams said. "I wanted to be starting. Felt like I could start.
"Now, I will get an opportunity to play somewhere, and I'm excited about that. The Bears are a good team. They will do well and I will miss the guys. It sucks being released, but sitting on the bench here for the whole year wasn't going to help me in free agency. Now, I'll get a chance somewhere else."
Williams was the most glaring example of Angelo's failures when it came to building an offensive line through the draft. In the five drafts from 2003 to 2007, the Bears selected only one lineman before the sixth round — undersized guard Josh Beekman, a fourth-round pick in 2007. So, when the veteran offensive line that was assembled to help the Bears to Super Bowl XLI began to erode, there wasn't much in place.
As fresh start can only be a good thing for Williams, 27. He's in the best shape of his career and the freak wrist injury that cost him seven games last season isn't an issue. Just because he didn't work out with the Bears doesn't mean he won't find a good home. Mike Gandy was a Bears' castoff and he started at left tackle for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
The Vikings cut Bowman before the season opener after they had signed him in free agency. The Bears chose him over Jerome Murphy and Justin King, who both worked out since the Week 5 victory over the Jaguars. Bowman made 21 special teams tackles over the previous three seasons.
bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs
I don't know much about this guy. Does he have the talent to help us at RT? If so, he might be worth a look.
RE: Chris Williams - Radical - 10-17-2012 03:40 PM
The day you call in an ex-Bears offensive linemen is the day you run open try-outs off the street.
RE: Chris Williams - AUTiger7222 - 10-17-2012 04:47 PM
I don't think it would hurt to give him a look see.
RE: Chris Williams - ggp - 10-17-2012 05:59 PM
(10-17-2012 03:40 PM)Radical Wrote: The day you call in an ex-Bears offensive linemen is the day you run open try-outs off the street.
That is a good point, but I wonder if this guy can play as well as Clabo. If he can handle the RT position, the Falcons will have the luxury of either resting Clabo (for the play offs) or sliding him to RG to upgrade the dismal play we have seen at that position.
Look, I know this is far-fetched. If the Bears ditched this guy, it stands to reason that he is not a top flight OT.
RE: Chris Williams - AUTiger7222 - 10-17-2012 06:26 PM
(10-17-2012 05:59 PM)ggp Wrote: That is a good point, but I wonder if this guy can play as well as Clabo. If he can handle the RT position, the Falcons will have the luxury of either resting Clabo (for the play offs) or sliding him to RG to upgrade the dismal play we have seen at that position.
Look, I know this is far-fetched. If the Bears ditched this guy, it stands to reason that he is not a top flight OT.
I agree with your line of thinking. I always thought Clabo was much better at G than at OT. If Williams could come in and be serviceable at RT and allow us to put Clabo at RG that would improve the line tremendously. But who knows if the coaches will even consider it.
RE: Chris Williams - Jimusmc - 10-17-2012 07:38 PM
im with atleast taking a look at em for RT so clabo can G
RE: Chris Williams - Aftermath - 10-17-2012 07:46 PM
couldn't hurt to check him out, going to be better than any option we find on the street.
RE: Chris Williams - phocis850 - 10-17-2012 08:30 PM
Sorry guys, but if we were looking at anyone, we wouldn't wait half a week to sign someone. They'd already be signed by now.
RE: Chris Williams - Aftermath - 10-17-2012 08:37 PM
(10-17-2012 08:30 PM)phocis850 Wrote: Sorry guys, but if we were looking at anyone, we wouldn't wait half a week to sign someone. They'd already be signed by now.
Don't you shit in my tub!!!
RE: Chris Williams - ggp - 10-17-2012 09:18 PM
(10-17-2012 08:30 PM)phocis850 Wrote: Sorry guys, but if we were looking at anyone, we wouldn't wait half a week to sign someone. They'd already be signed by now.
Phocis,
You are most likely right. I suppose that the most likely change along the OL will be the switch to Konz at RG.
I am not against such a move. In fact, I would welcome the change. My hope is that Konz has been held back to give him time to learn the blocking scheme.
Garrett Reynolds is not a good RG. I think that we can agree with that. I am looking for the coaching staff to do something about that. We absolutely need to be able to gain 1 yard for a conversion or score. If we can not get a push from the right side of the OL, then this offense will get capped by the better teams.