Already talk about Williams future in question

**bearsinhouston** · 08-05-2012, 11:31 PM

Don't think they are going to get rid of him. I think that would be stupid, but sounds like this may be his last year. I don't get it. He is at least a very good guard.

Williams' future with Bears in doubt

Tackle could follow Olsen out of town but may be too valuable as a reserve to trade

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:05 p.m. CDT, August 5, 2012

BOURBONNAIS — The Bears raised eyebrows last year when they decided a 26-year-old former first-round draft pick wasn't part of their future and traded tight end Greg Olsen.

It was a chance to get something in return for Olsen before he departed in free agency because the club didn't see him as a long-term fit.

Now the Bears have another 26-year-old former first-round pick that doesn't look to be a part of the plan, at least beyond this season. It makes you wonder about the future of Chris Williams now that the left tackle job has been all but officially given to J'Marcus Webb.

At least one NFL team is curious if the Bears will part ways with Williams before the season begins based on an inquiry from a personnel man. But Williams could be too valuable as a reserve to trade entering a season that has everyone in camp believing this team will be a top NFC contender.

Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said the loser of the left tackle job would become the swing tackle, but Williams can play every position on the line but center considering his experience at left guard, where he started most of the last two seasons.

The Bears would be unlikely to fetch anything close to the third-round pick they got for Olsen from the Panthers last July. And Williams is a bargain as a swing tackle as he earns only $1 million this season, less than half of what Frank Omiyale was paid a year ago. While there are some developmental prospects in camp at Olivet Nazarene University, such as James Brown and Cory Brandon, they are undrafted free agents, not players the team would want to plug into a game situation to protect Jay Cutler in a pinch. Williams represents an upgrade over Omiyale.

The 14th pick in 2008, Williams shifted to right tackle in practice last week and hasn't been back with the starters at left tackle. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice has not been available for comment since the move was made.

"I just want to play ball," Williams said. "I want to start for this team. If I don't, will I be disappointed? Yes. That's just part of it."

Williams is entering the final season of his rookie contract and said he hasn't thought about being free to search for a new home come March.

"I've been trying to get ready for the season," he said. "I'll let all that stuff work itself out. I am just here to do my job. I can't control what the coaches are going to do decision-wise."

He's also not giving up hope. But Tice and coach Lovie Smith don't have to make proclamations. The action of the staff says enough.

"It's early," Williams said. "We've got our first preseason game this week. I have so much stuff to work on, I don't have time to think about a depth chart."

Williams has had a bit of a star-crossed career with the Bears. He was injured the first week of camp as a rookie and required back surgery that sidelined him for half of that season. A wrist injury cost Williams the second half of last season. And Williams has been moved around, going from right tackle to left tackle to left guard.

"I'd like to think I have a lot of football ahead of me," he said. "I feel like I am a good player. I'm going to be helping this team out. I am just working on my game. I am trying to help out any way I can, helping J'Marcus out, (right tackle) Gabe (Carimi) out. I am just trying to be a good teammate."

Williams doesn't have plans to ask for a trade.

"That is not really my place," he said. "This is a position I have never really been in before. I'm just here working. Just trying to get a starting job."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

**Riczaj01** · 08-05-2012, 11:47 PM

I blame the Donk's for this one, we should have had Clady and they up and took him from us....guess we got the better end of that deal though ;p.

**soulman** · 08-05-2012, 11:47 PM

It would be foolish to trade him with no experienced OT's in camp. He has far more value than they could ever get for him in trade right now and the only reason any other team would be interested is that $1 mil salary that would go with him. That's cheap rental for a guy as good as CWill.

I don't know why Biggs even bothered to write this piece. A few days of Webb at LT with the first string and CWill over at RT brushing up and right away not only the job Webb's but maybe we trade CWill with no other viable backup for either OT who has ever played one down of NFL football???? Puhleeeaaase!

Come on Biggsy. Give us a break. We aren't that stupid and I sure as hell don't think Phil "need quality reserves everywhere" Emery is that stupid either. You don't trade the only experienced insurance policy you have for two of the most important spots on your offensive line. Not even JA makes that move.

By the end of this year you see where you stand with the rookies like Brown and Brandon or Hendrickson and you evaluate how Webb progressed. Hell, just because he's starting a preseason game doesn't mean he'll still have that job come December. No, you sit tight on CWill and see where this year takes you.

**soulman** · 08-05-2012, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I blame the Donk's for this one, we should have had Clady and they up and took him from us....guess we got the better end of that deal though ;p.

Yep, there's an example of where JA's unwillingness to trade up in those days cost us the guy we really wanted and who could have been for us what CWill never has been. It was those lost opportunities that offset so many of the gains.

**MPBears68** · 08-06-2012, 12:39 AM

I'm really disappointed in CWill. Maybe that's not fair but I thought being finally healthy, coming into his FA year, and being given a shot at starting LT, he would have put up a better showing than this at TC. Maybe Webb was just a forgone conclusion there (which I'm fine with if he has truly improved), but I hoped CWill would have made a better fight of it than just 2 padded practices @ LT. There's no doubt now that he was a HUGE REACH as a 1st rounder and was really just a "3rd round worthy talent" in his draft.

Unless he wins back his LG starting job (which sounds unlikely thus far) he's going to be a backup this year and I doubt he will be back in 2013. He will be a fine reserve for us but his trade value at this point can't be very high.

**soulman** · 08-06-2012, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I'm really disappointed in CWill. Maybe that's not fair but I thought being finally healthy, coming into his FA year, and being given a shot at starting LT, he would have put up a better showing than this at TC. Maybe Webb was just a forgone conclusion there (which I'm fine with if he has truly improved), but I hoped CWill would have made a better fight of it than just 2 padded practices @ LT. There's no doubt now that he was a HUGE REACH as a 1st rounder and was really just a "3rd round worthy talent" in his draft.

Unless he wins back his LG starting job (which sounds unlikely thus far) he's going to be a backup this year and I doubt he will be back in 2013.

But we really don't know what the true story is unless one of the guys who watched them can give us some input.

Right now it could be nothing more than getting Webb prepped for the first preseason game and CWill may get the start in the second. Or if the first string only plays one quarter then CWill comes in and plays at least as long of longer this week.

To early to cast shadows and point fingers. The press says one thing but Tice says it's NOT Webb's job to lose. It's open competition. Webb will alwasy have a huge physical edge over CWill so if he gets benched it's gonna be because he continues to make mental mistakes that CWill doesn't.

If he cleans up those mental issue he's simply the better man for the job.

**MPBears68** · 08-06-2012, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

But we really don't know what the true story is unless one of the guys who watched them can give us some input.

Right now it could be nothing more than getting Webb prepped for the first preseason game and CWill may get the start in the second. Or if the first string only plays one quarter then CWill comes in and plays at least as long of longer this week.

To early to cast shadows and point fingers. The press says one thing but Tice says it's NOT Webb's job to lose. It's open competition. Webb will alwasy have a huge physical edge over CWill so if he gets benched it's gonna be because he continues to make mental mistakes that CWill doesn't.

If he cleans up those mental issue he's simply the better man for the job.

Soul, call me crazy but is it still an "open competition" when CW has been removed from all 1st team (or any team that I've heard of) practices at LT after just 2 padded practices?

Hey, I'm glad that Brown is looking good but if an undrafted rookie is getting more reps at LT than CW that says alot, doesn't it?

I know it is way early still but I was hoping CW would make a better battle of it than this so far. Based on actions not words it looks like Webb's job "to lose" already. That's fine with me as long as it is based on real performance improvement and not just "well, he's all we have and Tice likes his potential". It sure looks like--based on working CW at 2nd team RT--that he's being slotted this early to be the swing reserve OT. I guess I expected that decision to wait until at least one PS game was played since there's no doubt who the 1st string is there.

If CW simply doesn't "have it" at LT, then is he not even one of our "best 5" at OG either?

[I'm just excited for this season and don't want to see it derailed due to OL follies, thats all.]

**JJ-30** · 08-06-2012, 06:52 AM

Brown must be showing that he can get the job done if need be.

**Henry Burris** · 08-06-2012, 07:17 AM

I'm, of course, gonna let this play itself out, BUT I'll be losing a little faith in Tice if Williams is **** canned for a rookie, unless this rookie is everything Tony Mandarich promised to be. With that said, I can almost hear the writer of the article hyperventilating from over here....

**MPBears68** · 08-06-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by JJ-30

Brown must be showing that he can get the job done if need be.

If this kid can be a solid developing OT (even just as a deep backup) for us this year, than Emery is near God-like already. That's a huge steal for an udfa rookie from a small school. Be huge for the teams future needs too.

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