The Bears Draft Hinges Around "Chris Williams"

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 20, 2011 2:38 PM CDT

With 8 days left to the draft, I'm sure we all have seen most of the mocks (especially Erik's with the tradedown to Arizona/others with Oakland/mine with Cincinnati), analyses, video clips and whatever needed to accurately pinpoint what the Bears should do in order to repeat their success in 2010 and better.

Yet the one thing in my opinion that really matters is what will be with Chris Williams in 2011? Is he guaranteed a place on the line? At which position? Can JA and Lovie afford to have another 1st round bust?

Taken from http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2010/11/27/1838819/the-bears-offensive-line-shuffle

Last year they began the season by moving former RT Chris Williams over to LT, former RG Roberto Garza over to LG, a rookie (Lance Louis) at RG, and they shifted former LG Frank Omiyale over to RT. This is how it looked:

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Chris Williams	Roberto Garza	Olin Kreutz	Lance Louis	Frank Omiyale

That unit lasted 2 weeks, as Chris Williams went down with a hamstring injury, at which point they moved Omiyale from RT over to LT, and Kevin Shaffer filled in at RT:

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Frank Omiyale	Roberto Garza	Olin Kreutz	Lance Louis	Kevin Shaffer

This look also lasted 2 weeks, but Lance Louis and Kevin Shaffer couldn't capitalize on their opportunities. So they moved Edwin Williams in at RG and rookie 7th round pick J'Marcus Webb filled in at RT:

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Frank Omiyale	Roberto Garza	Olin Kreutz	Edwin Williams	J'Marcus Webb

This lineup only lasted one week, as Chris Williams replaced Roberto Garza at LG.

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Frank Omiyale	Chris Williams	Olin Kreutz	Edwin Williams	J'Marcus Webb

The Bears ran with this lineup for 2 weeks, before replacing Edwin Williams with Garza at RG:

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Frank Omiyale	Chris Williams	Olin Kreutz	Roberto Garza	J'Marcus Webb

and this was how the line lasted to the end of the season. So the question that has to be answered is why did Chris go to LG when he came back from his hamstring and not to his original position at LT? Was it because they had no one else to play at guard or that Omiyale was doing just as well and the staff was too scared to move the line around any more than required?

Now it seems like there are three options:

1. Chris has the lock on the LT position - then the Bears don't really need a LT (or any OT) and they should draft an OG with their first round pick or trade down and get one in the second.

2. Chris has the lock on the LG position - then the Bears better get one of the top 5 OTs - looks like it will either be Sherrod or Solder. In these two instances, I don't see a need for drafting more than one OL, maximum one more in the 4th or 5th.

3. Chris will have to battle it out in training camp for a position on the line - Bears should draft an OT and OG as early as possible.

In a footnote - I really came away impressed with J'Marcus Webb, think there should be some kind of award for most surprising rookie of the year, but don't think he is ready yet to take over the LT position.

Poll

Who will be the starting OLT in 2011?

Chris Williams

20 votes

Frank Omiyale

5 votes

J'Marcus Webb

23 votes

A First Round Draft Choice

30 votes

A Free Agent

9 votes

Lovie and JA have no idea, how should I (scary)?

26 votes

113 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.

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Comments

If we trade out of the first round

I could see Ben Ijalana at LT

by MrPants on Apr 20, 2011 3:06 PM CDT reply actions

was thinking of that option

But don’t you think that might be too risky if the HO decided we needed a 11:25:45 PM? Top 5 OTs are off the board at 29, trade down 8-15 picks and take a 2nd rounder who might or might not be there, or just draft the same prospect at 29? Remember, with a new CBA there might be a rookie salary cap, minimizing the risk in taking an early second rounder with a late first round pick.

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 20, 2011 3:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

11:29:56 PM

Wow! BB changes letters L T into local time. Guess I have to write OLT :-)

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 20, 2011 3:31 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

LMFAO that make me crack up bro

I'll roll up

by suckmyditka on Apr 20, 2011 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

I am really high on Ijalana

so i would be OK taking him at 29, but if we could get an extra 3rd it might be worth the risk. I think he has the speed to play LT (which is the major concern), but if that doesn’t pan out I think he has the strength to play RT or move inside to guard.

by MrPants on Apr 20, 2011 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting statement made on 4/20

I am really high on Ijalana

by rdent4hof on Apr 21, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I was thinking the same thing.

"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith

by Pete Dixon on Apr 21, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Realisticaly I see us getting Sherrod at 29 and him being the starting LT in 2011

alot of people are really down on Sherrod, but I think he would be a decent option.

by IndyBearsFan88 on Apr 20, 2011 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

Williams

I say give him a chance (in training camp) to prove he’s capable of playing LT. He started the season at LT but got moved inside after a injury. I would love to see Sherrod drafted and think he’s could play LT or RT.

A lot of people are high on Webb, thinking he could move to the left side. I’m sorry but I just don’t think he’d make a good LT. Webb seemed to get a lot of holding penalties because he got beat a lot. Isn’t the right DE suppose to be the speed rusher of the two DE’s?

by boondock_saint812 on Apr 20, 2011 4:06 PM CDT reply actions

look at the DE/OLB's that he was getting beat by

He had trouble against Miami, Philly, and GB… and they bring studs off the edge. Webb will improve, but I also question if he can play LT. Hopefully they have a full training camp to find out

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Apr 20, 2011 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Id rather see them keep Webb on the right side and develop him instead of moving him around and possibly hindering his development

by IndyBearsFan88 on Apr 20, 2011 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Chris Williams

will be fighting for at least a starting spot, and perhaps even a roster spot. He’s been nothing short of terrible everywhere he’s played (especially guard), and the fact that they didn’t move him back to tackle after he came back from injury speaks volumes.

I think the best case scenario is we get lucky and draft Carimi, who would play RT and instantly be the best player on the line, and sign an above average guard to play on the left side. Then have Williams, Omiyale and Webb fight it out for the LT position. I think Webb wins that battle, but it’s kind of a battle of misfits. Hopefully having a solid guard would help the LT out, and if we had a stout RT like Carimi perhaps the TE could line up on the left more often.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Apr 20, 2011 4:08 PM CDT reply actions

I think getting a solid veteran guard in FA is key if we want to plug a rookie Tackle into the starting lineup

That can really help a young tackle when he’s got a solid veteran helping him on the inside

by IndyBearsFan88 on Apr 20, 2011 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

DMS

That is all.

Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...

by awfullyquiet on Apr 20, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

disagree

I think he’s just not good

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Apr 20, 2011 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree....

He could prove us wrong (and god I hope he does) but the short-armed broke-back tackle seems more and more like a bust to me.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Apr 21, 2011 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

This is, what his 4th year in the league? If he doesn’t show us something positive (at the position we drafted him for) this year, then I say it’s time to move on.

by JimmyMack on Apr 21, 2011 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

A good LT does not lose his natural spot to Frank Omiyale injury or not.....

The fact that the staff didn’t think highly enough of him to put him back at LT shows that Tice is not too high on Williams as a LT. Unless one of the top OT’s are there at 29, I think Webb will have the inside shot at LT and hate him or not the fact is that he was supposed to be a project and yet performed admirably given the fact that he was a 7th rounder from a DII school. He is raw but has the size and ability to actually become a pretty solid LT and now he has a year of NFL experience under his belt. But I think the lack of FA is really screwing the team, and depending on how the draft falls they may or may not find a LT but I am fairly confident that a C/OG and that a project OT will be found and the rest will be solved via FA. The Bears have options but it depends on whether or not they actually make use of those options.

by frenchbears113 on Apr 20, 2011 4:32 PM CDT reply actions

Good write up as I even think the Chicago Tribune did an article pertaining to how Chris William's positioning effects the entire offseason

Honestly I see it as a battle between Chris Williams and J’Marcus Webb (forgive me) as both are young players who never have played in a system as complicated as such ran by Mike Martz. Both have had their terrible moments as well as great moments- Who will ever forget about the MNF game against the Vikes when Chris Williams totally owned Jarred Allen? And J’Marcus Webb is improving, perhaps either one will step up and shock us all next season.

If one of the Big 5 OTs does fall to us at 29th overall say Sherrod, then he will be in contention to start at LT. But as I already have posted sadfully that is not likely to happen.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 20, 2011 4:58 PM CDT reply actions

Remember the Pace fiasco!

In 2008, Chris almost didn’t play at all, in 2009 he played at ORT till late December (against the Ravens and then Vikings on 12/29/09) and with only 2 more game in 2010, I really can see him getting a solid chance again at OLT. Unless of course someone has solid statistics showing otherwise.
What’s interesting is in the 2011 SB Nation NFL Writers’ Mock Draft, our own Dane Noble picked Stephan Paea, DT with Solder and Sherrod still on board given DT Stephen Paea still on the board given Angelo and Lovie’s penchant for drafting DLs.

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 21, 2011 3:16 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Oh I remember the Pace fiasco alright!!!!!!!

I was one of those people who had a lot of confidence in the signing of Pace, smh that was a real stinging dissapointment.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 21, 2011 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Williams only played a game and a half at LT before injury

I think he gets another shot at LT and hopefully Tice can get with him to improve his blocking.

I think it totally depends on williams if he is the LT you draft OG and vice versa

Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.

by Bear Lovin 21 on Apr 20, 2011 7:27 PM CDT reply actions

He started for the Bears in the end of the 2009 season

And he had one very notable performance against the Vikings on MNF where he totally owned Jarred Allen. He has the potential, but he needs to settle down and stay in one postition.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 20, 2011 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

thats what i think as well

he did better at guard as the season went on but his frame is not of guard

Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.

by Bear Lovin 21 on Apr 20, 2011 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions

A big clue as to what Tice thinks

Was the fact that after Williams came back from his injury, he never returned to left tackle – the position we drafted him to play, with the 14th overall pick. My prediction is that we either draft or sign someone to replace Williams, and he is benched or traded.

by JimmyMack on Apr 20, 2011 7:30 PM CDT reply actions

That or he is cut

However; Tice also mentioned that it wasn’t so much about William’s play at LT as much as Frank Omiyale’s performance and for the sake of any continuenity as well as the piss poor performances of the previous players at LG. That really was the sorest mark on the weakest link of the team.

If Tice didn’t feel Williams could play, then CW would have just rode the bench like Pace did in 2009 at the end of the season. Instead he was at least given an opportunity at LG

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 20, 2011 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Well Mike Tice could've been playing the role of good coach and said those things to not rock the boat...

I said it before and I’ll say it again, no one loses their spot to Frank Omiyale if they’re good. Williams had 1 good game and btw he was helped out with chips by other players. Williams doesn’t seem to have what it takes to play the position and add that there have been some rumblings about Williams not responding well to criticism and that’s a recipe for disaster.

by frenchbears113 on Apr 20, 2011 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Thats true about him not taking critisism too well

I wonder it the grand plan from Tice is to get J’Marcus Webb to become a good starter at LT.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 20, 2011 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Tice was being diplomatic

And trying to save face for the organization – given the fact that Angelo had invested such a high pick in this guy (can you imagine if we had the 14th overall pick THIS year? Hello, Corey Lieuget or Anthony Costanzo).

I think last year, Tice was just trying to get Williams on the field any way that he could, in hopes of avoiding the “bust” label for one of Angelo’s high picks, yet again.

by JimmyMack on Apr 21, 2011 5:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Tice's actiomns speak louder than words

On the other hand, I think we can all agree that during the 2010 playoff run, Williams was doing better at OLG than Omiyale was doing at OLT, yet the Bears went and signed Herman Johnson who’s a Guard! I perceive that the concept was that he would replace Chris at OLG, who would move back to OLT.

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 21, 2011 5:38 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Herman Johnson was also reportedly (and shockingly) worked out at RT as well as at both Guards

I feel we signed Herman Johnson late in the year to give him his “red-shirt” season before being in contention for a starting job. I would love to see him as a starter next season.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 21, 2011 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Our French ami said it best...

no one loses their spot to Frank Omiyale if they’re good

Williams is a lost cause. He cannot succeed with Mike Tice as his line coach. That is the key here. It’s one thing to put J Webb’s performance into the context of a guy learning how to play football, but Williams has no excuse. He has all the physical tools and coaching expertise to be a top 10 LT and he’s not even able to start at LT on an O-line that is widely regarded as NFL bottom 5! He had one good game against a speed rushing DE that had not faced him before and was not going to overpower him physically…that’s the anomaly, no the continued failure at LT.

by LostInSTL on Apr 21, 2011 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure that's as good an indicator as some think....

He never returned to tackle, but then both tackles were doing better than the left guard position. It may have just been an attempt to deal with the horrible play that was coming out of the left guard spot. You know, a don’t fix the tackles if they ain’t broken (at least compared to the guards) situation. THe right guard spot was horrible with Williams there, and Garza just doesn’t have what it takes to play LG any more, though he’s still pretty good as a right guard. Placing Chris williams in the LG spot made the whole line better. Then moving Edwin Williams out of the lineup and placing Garza back at the LG spot he’s owned for years solidified the line and calmed everything down.

I’m not as sure as everyone else that Chris Williams not returning to the LT spot was anything more than Tice trying to patch the biggest holes without moving around the players that were settling into the spots they occupied.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Apr 21, 2011 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Williams was moved to LG...

Because he was the only guy on the roster that could actually play the position decently.

Williams @LT > Omiyale @LT

Williams @LG >>> Garza, Omiyale @LG

Chris Williams will start somewhere on the O-line in 2012. Bank it!

by rdent4hof on Apr 21, 2011 10:55 AM CDT reply actions

I agree that C WIll will start somewhere

Who the hell could beat him out?? That is pathetic in itself. I am really starting to worry about this draft and I think we need to move, up or down. There are 6 key offensive lineman that could be gone by our pick. (Pouncey, Carimi, Solder, Castonzo, Sherrod,and Smith). Either we trade up to get one (seahawks?) or we trade back and get Ijalana in round 2. Not happy with the value of grabbing him in rd 1. I think there are going to be teams from 33 to 40 that want a QB that may look to jump back into rd 1.

On to bigger and better things next year!

by tfrabotta on Apr 21, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

I hear you bro

But I don’t think the Bears should get too hung up on drafting an O-linemen first.

If the Bears can get some serious value at #29, in a DT,CB or WR. I think they gotta pull the trigger.

Wts, I’m not sure we’ve seen the last of Lance Louis. imho

by rdent4hof on Apr 21, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I am in agreement

I just think that there is not a first rd talent after liguet at DT, the only CB available when the bears pick that is close to 1st rd is the cb from texas, and I am really gun shy about taking a wr in rd 1. My gut tells me to trade back.

On to bigger and better things next year!

by tfrabotta on Apr 21, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

interesting situation here

The more QBs off the board in the 1st round, the more the Bears have a chance of landing an OL at pick # 29. On the other hand, the more QBs off the board in the 1st round, the more that teams will be prepared to offer to trade up in order not lose out on a higher quality QB

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Apr 21, 2011 1:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

More picks = good.

New England Patriots strategy. Load up on draft picks, decide what to do with them on draft day.

by Doshi on Apr 21, 2011 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Chris Williams Lacks Field Strength

Let’s rewind back to the Redskins game. Does anybody else remember Haynesworth literally plowing Williams back into and on top of Cutler? It was A Vandy Sandwich, and it was humiliating. My buddy next to me said “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in an NFL game”.

You either cut your losses on this guy or he costs Cutler a half a season.
Draft Cannon in Round 2 to move the pile.

by taketheunder on Apr 21, 2011 7:56 PM CDT reply actions

Draft Cannon

Then sign Carl Nicks.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 21, 2011 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I think Williams is out of position at LG

When we drafted him to play LT, his scouting report said that he was more of a “finesse” tackle – and not a strong drive blocker, like you need at that LG spot. If they can’t move Williams back to LT, and he can’t cut it there, then I say they need to replace him and move on.

by JimmyMack on Apr 22, 2011 6:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I do

But it was not fair when he was up against a Cheeseburger eating walrus.

by Jonathan Heun Jr on Apr 23, 2011 4:38 AM CDT up reply actions

my way

i think there is a lot of pressure on mike tice to start certain players, on the o-line. pressure from lovie and angelo to start individuals even though they are not grasping their assignements or tasks or positions. tice should be given a free range on who to play and where they need to position, along with cutler together they put personnel where they are most effective and even if the guy is taken from the back-up position and given the opportunity to start then so be it, this puts more incentive to over achieve.

by stepeo on Apr 22, 2011 1:13 AM CDT reply actions

I think you're right

With regards to Lovie and Angelo forcing Tice to play C Will.
Unfortunately, they were probably also trying to get value out of a bust, and considering that there really is no LG on the Bears, C Will was probably their most “enticing” option

E.F.K.

by DaBearBus on Apr 23, 2011 2:14 AM CDT up reply actions