Williams Could Be Benched Says Drake............................

**soulman** · 08-24-2011, 09:33 PM

Bears WR Roy Williams in danger of losing starting job
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com August 24, 2011 4:28PM

Bears wide receiver Roy Williams has been forewarned—perform or lose your starting job. | AP

Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake issued a strong message to Roy Williams recently.If he doesn’t get better, he’s going to lose his starting spot.

Asked where Williams is at, in preparation for the season opener, Drake said, “Not where he needs to be, and he knows that.

“He and I have talked about that. And the good thing about it is, you got Johnny Knox who is fighting and working hard. And believe you and me, [Williams] also understands that Johnny is there, and Johnny is hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. And if things don’t start changing, then Johnny is going to be in there. Heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Williams said earlier Wednesday that he was being sarcastic about his comments from last week regarding his physical fitness. But Drake didn’t debunk the notion that Williams still isn’t in game shape.

“I understand that Roy’s got some things to do, as far as getting in shape, but that’s not my fault, and that’s not my concern,” Drake said. “My concern is making sure, when we play Atlanta, we got the best guys out there, that is going to give us the best chance to win. And if Johnny Knox is that guy, then he needs to be out there.”

These are strong words from Drake. But keep in mind that Drake coached Williams at Texas, and he knows how to push the receiver. Drake is one of the team’s more outspoken and publicly honest coaches, but he certainly made his comments with a goal in mind.

Regardless, Drake likes the way Knox has responded.

“I know a lot is being made about Johnny not being in there but this has helped Johnny. This has helped him to be a better student of the game. Johnny has improved tremendously. I’m very proud of what he’s done, and he needs to continue to do that because there were some things he needed to do,” Drake said. “But as long as he continues to make the strides he’s making, he’s going to be fine.”

Williams suggested he didn’t have any drops against the New York Giants Monday night, even though he clearly botched the first ball intended for him, which would have given the offense a first down on third and long.

Asked how many of the three passes intended for Williams should have been caught, Drake said, “The first one, for sure. “Aaron Ross made a great play and knocked it out, but you can’t let Aaron Ross knock that ball out. That’s the bottom line. The ball hit him in the hands – it was a great throw – and he let the DB knock it out.”

Drake explained that the details of the offense are evident on that play. He said if Williams were one or two steps over, Ross wouldn’t have had a chance to make a play on the ball.“That was the difference in the play, bang-bang,” Drake said.

As for the slant, Drake said there was no way for Williams to make the play, suggesting that the cornerback held the receiver.

But Drake added that the receivers have to play through those things.

**soulman** · 08-24-2011, 09:42 PM

At least someone is willing to stand up and tell it like it is. Drake calls him out yet Martz is strangely quiet about it. He had the nerve to criticize Knox in the press but when it comes to his "Golden Boy" there's not a peep out of him. Come on Mike where's this wizard of a WR that's gonna haul in 70-80 passes for you?

You mean the one making excuses for not being in shape when he arrived? The one who hasn't caught even one pass in two preseason games and dropped the first one he was thrown Monday to stall a drive? Is this the guy you were bragging about when he signed him? Is he this years version of Manu?

Martz you sit Hanie for a poor performance and you need to put Knox back with the first team until RWill actually beats him out of the job. Knox has done nothing to earn a demotion and Williams has done nothing to earn that #1 spot except kiss your ass from the moment he got here and then let you down at every turn both with his big mouth and his play.

**short faced bear** · 08-24-2011, 10:20 PM

Oh hell they will sit him for a preseason game and it will be back to business as usual with Mr. Mittens. Rwill would have had recourse with me if he would have blocked on the Forte run I saw.

-the new mantra should be WWSD what would Sanz do??

**KML** · 08-24-2011, 10:33 PM

I didn't like the Williams signing from the start, but being the homer that I am (and because there ain't a damn thing I can do about it anyway lol), I talked myself into giving him a chance. But that sh!t Monday night ain't flyin' with me, and I hope it isn't with Martz either. Total lack of effort, desire, concentration, and physicality. No way should this bum already be complacent and content with his starting job...hell, that was his first action in a Bears uni and he "supplanted" a 3rd year WR coming off a 960 yard season. If ANYONE needs to be playing balls out, it's him...if he doesn't, cut his ass.

**motownbear** · 08-24-2011, 10:43 PM

You know what really bothers me is every player marts had suggested to get has been a flop

**Henry Burris** · 08-25-2011, 12:47 AM

Honestly, put Sanzabah ahead of him. I don't think he could beat the rookie for a spot if all things were looked at from neutral eyes..

**4th and 26** · 08-25-2011, 11:31 AM

I am starting to see how brilliant the Olsen trade was.

**Riczaj01** · 08-25-2011, 12:09 PM

Well w/that extra pick we'll get that back up DL we so desperately need 8p.

Is Drake trying to get himself fired? He's been spouting off quite a bit lately; and it's not something Lovie would normally want.

**soulman** · 08-25-2011, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Oh hell they will sit him for a preseason game and it will be back to business as usual with Mr. Mittens. Rwill would have had recourse with me if he would have blocked on the Forte run I saw.

-the new mantra should be WWSD what would Sanz do??

Exactly and that's where his out of shape puffin' for breath ass was really noticeable. He had and angle on the guy but let him blow right past him. He didn't even have to thrown a block just screen the guy from being able to reach Forte. Until he proves differently to me he's nothing more than this years version or Manu and Taylor. A virtually useless signing.

**soulman** · 08-25-2011, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by motownbear

You know what really bothers me is every player marts had suggested to get has been a flop

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

Honestly, put Sanzabah ahead of him. I don't think he could beat the rookie for a spot if all things were looked at from neutral eyes..

I know mo and yet Lovie and JA keep deferring to the guy. We would have been far better off with Plax Burress even though he was two years out of the game than we are with this hot dog. He's had one year in his career when he didn't woefully underperform and Martz thinks he's gonna bet that out of him again 6 years later? This is like another episode of the Orlando Pace story.

Henry, if they don't give a roster spot to Sanzenbacher who just goes out and gets it done and keep RWill at that #1 WR spot I'm gonna blow a f'n gasket over it. You get a young guy who turned down other teams who wants to play for the Bears and has the potential that he does and you don't keep that guy around and develop him because of a coaches pet then my venom for Mike Martz will really come uncapped.

Thread: Williams Could Be Benched Says Drake............................

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Williams Could Be Benched Says Drake............................

Posting Permissions