Chris Williams
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 7:53 pm
He was the 14th overall pick of the 2008 draft. He was supposed to be the Bears' LT of the future and the anchor of the post-Kreutz O-line. He's got the size at 6-6 320 and everyone raves about his athleticism.
Williams had his back problems in his rookie season and pretty much just watched. Despite the largely wasted season, the Bears were patient and signed former All-Pro Orlando Pace to handle the LT spot for 2009 and put Williams at RT. Williams didn't distinguish himself at RT.
2010 was the year when all the Bears' patience was supposed to pay off and Williams was supposed to become the next Jimbo Covert. Didn't happen. Didn't come close to happening. In the matter of a few weeks, Williams went from being a keystone of the Bears future to a salvage operation. He was moved from tackle to guard and probably will always have the imprint of Albert Haynesworth's cleats on his chest as a souvenir of his early experiences at guard.
I like Tice, but this stuff about Williams being such a good "on his toes" athlete that it's hurting him sure sounds like smoke to me.
What should be the case is that this preseason is Williams' last chance to show that he's a plus offensive lineman. No one should be telling Tice/Martz to "hide him" the best they can. If he's not a player, or even if he's a decent backup, he should be cut, because if all he's good for is being a decent backup, he's paid too much for the job and the Bears have other backups who are suited to that role at a lower price.
Tomorrow night, I plan on watching #74 very closely. I'm a patient guy by nature and tend to defer to the professionals, but if Williams doesn't start looking like a real live football player to me, I'm gonna start to get pissed off about it.
Williams had his back problems in his rookie season and pretty much just watched. Despite the largely wasted season, the Bears were patient and signed former All-Pro Orlando Pace to handle the LT spot for 2009 and put Williams at RT. Williams didn't distinguish himself at RT.
2010 was the year when all the Bears' patience was supposed to pay off and Williams was supposed to become the next Jimbo Covert. Didn't happen. Didn't come close to happening. In the matter of a few weeks, Williams went from being a keystone of the Bears future to a salvage operation. He was moved from tackle to guard and probably will always have the imprint of Albert Haynesworth's cleats on his chest as a souvenir of his early experiences at guard.
I like Tice, but this stuff about Williams being such a good "on his toes" athlete that it's hurting him sure sounds like smoke to me.
What should be the case is that this preseason is Williams' last chance to show that he's a plus offensive lineman. No one should be telling Tice/Martz to "hide him" the best they can. If he's not a player, or even if he's a decent backup, he should be cut, because if all he's good for is being a decent backup, he's paid too much for the job and the Bears have other backups who are suited to that role at a lower price.
Tomorrow night, I plan on watching #74 very closely. I'm a patient guy by nature and tend to defer to the professionals, but if Williams doesn't start looking like a real live football player to me, I'm gonna start to get pissed off about it.