D.J. Williams on the move again??

by John Bena on Feb 1, 2009 12:24 PM MST in Rumor Mill

An interesting tid-bit from Pro Football Weekly(a must have for football junkies like me...) --

One of the repercussions of Denver’s transition to a 3-4 defense is yet another change of positions for D.J. Williams, who has not played at the same spot in back-to-back seasons since 2004-05. Sources say having Williams, who is athletic enough to play inside or outside in a 3-4, gives the Broncos some flexibility in the draft and free agency. If the team decides to use an early pick on a linebacker, it won’t have to stew over whether to take someone who can play inside or outside. Instead, Denver can take the one they deem the best available, regardless of position, and then alter Williams’ position accordingly. The constant changes have made things more challenging for Williams, who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, but he has played well no matter where he lines up and he doesn’t seem shaken by it.

Not a complete shock, but an interesting look at what the Broncos might be thinking. Without really, really looking at the tape, Williams isn't a "great" fit at any position in a true 3-4. Perhaps that is because he hasn't been asked to, and as WIlliams has shown us in the past, he is talented enough to play anywhere.

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He has been a trooper with all the position changes.

I just hope that if we do go to a 3-4 this year I hope they put him at a spot that maximizes his talent and keep him there

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9

by weazel on Feb 1, 2009 1:20 PM MST reply actions

I think it would be nice to have him in the middle

and I think he’d like to be there. But as the article suggests his ability (and apparent willingness) to play anywhere gives us the flexibility to take the best linebacker available when (or if) we draft one. It also gives us lots of flexibilty if we decide to concentrate on other positions and utilize the personnel we have on hand. If we go to a 3-4 that gives us at least two more candidates at linebacker (Dumervil and Moss) in addition to DJ, Woodyard, Larsen, Boss, and Winborn. They don’t all have to work out for us to have an effective linebacking crew.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 1, 2009 1:40 PM MST reply actions

agreed

though the d-line would have to be completely rebuilt. i mean keeping noone. definitely an option, but may take 2 years or more to finish. we could get by with good lb play with the guys you listed, although i don’t like doom/crowder/moss at starting lb, at all. our sack specialist and our 1st and 2nd-rounders lose value, in my opinion. can we trade them for picks/players?

taste my blintzkrieg!
2009-year of the defense.

by davecheffy on Feb 1, 2009 9:54 PM MST reply actions

Getting rid of everyone isn't necessary

I think Thomas will make an effective DE if we go to a 3-4, especially a Phillips one-gap 3-4. That system doesn’t require that the d-linemen be as big as they need to be in a two-gap 3-4. Going to a system that requires only three down linemen immediately improves our depth and enables us to jettison our weakest links. Doom and hopefully Moss could be very effective as OLBs in a 3-4. That position is
equivalent to 4-3 pass-rushing DE on passing downs. Our pass rushing specialist and Moss, especially if they can both make the transition, would not be worth less as outside linebackers in a 3-4. They’d be worth more. Crowder, who’s bigger, would be a candidate for one of the DEs, who aren’t as important in pass rushing as the OLBs in a 3-4. If we trade them, especially Dumervil, we exchange a player we know
is talented for a draft pick who might be. I don’t like to trade a bird in the hand for a possible
bird in the bush.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 2, 2009 7:50 AM MST up reply actions

I bleiev the minimum accepted value for that trade

is two bush birds…

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Feb 2, 2009 10:19 AM MST up reply actions

LOL

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 2, 2009 6:46 PM MST up reply actions

This has been on my mind for the whole day...here it is.

My friend says that Ben Roethlisberger is the best QB in the NFL EVER!!!!! Can you believe that! There’s no way. Who’s better…Big Ben or John Elway…be honest. I think it’s Elway all the way. My friend also said that John Elway sucks because he said he wanted to play baseball. That is so ridiculous!! Big Ben is good but not the BEST!

by broncoholic on Feb 2, 2009 4:58 PM MST reply actions

Erk

Nope…Roethlisberger is a “Good” quarterback. I doubt he will EVER be a “Great” quarterback.

Your friend doesn’t know his rear end from a hole in the ground when it comes to QBs…I can name 10 that are better than little Bennie without breaking a sweat:

Montana
Elway
Marino
Young
Moon
Brady
Aikman
Warner
Brees
P. Manning

I’d say JC, but he’s a bit young yet for such comparisons. :)

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Feb 2, 2009 5:22 PM MST up reply actions

That's what I said.

by broncoholic on Feb 2, 2009 5:29 PM MST reply actions

Big Ben has benefitted enormously

from having a lights out defense and a solid ground game, and he’s had both – in other words a solid team around him – his entire pro career. He’s never had to carry a team on his back the way Elway did for most of his career. Once John had a decent defense and a solid ground game, something Ben has never been without, he immediately won two super bowls and retired. Ben’s solid but he doesn’t have nearly the resume John has.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 2, 2009 6:43 PM MST up reply actions