Apr 26, 2008 6:20 pm US/Central
Bears Take Vanderbilt's Williams With 14th Pick
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) ―
The Chicago Bears drafted left tackle Chris Williams of Vanderbilt with the 14th pick Saturday, strengthening an offensive line that showed age and offered little protection last season.
Then, they added a running back in the second round, taking Tulane's Matt Forte at No. 44 even though quarterbacks Brian Brohm of Louisville and Chad Henne of Michigan were still on the board.
Chicago went with Williams at 14 over tackles Branden Albert of Virginia and Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah. One potential target came off the board when Denver took tackle Ryan Clady of Boise State with the 12th pick, and Chicago opted not to spend its first-rounder on Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall.
"Our No. 1 need was left tackle in the offseason," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "We wanted to get a tackle (in the draft), and obviously, if we had our choice it would be left tackle. We feel real good about our selection."
Williams was in on 836 offensive plays last season and allowed one sack while registering 102 knockdowns, including 12 blocks that led to touchdowns. He is just the second Vanderbilt offensive lineman drafted in the first round, the first since Will Wolford was the 20th pick overall in 1986.
Williams alternated between left tackle and guard in 2005 while helping protect quarterback Jay Cutler, the 11th overall pick by Denver in 2006. He settled in at tackle in 2006 and 2007 and allowed just two sacks.
"It's great to be a Bear, playing for a team with so much tradition," Williams said. "I'm speechless right now."
The draft was the latest big event in what has been a whirlwind for Williams, who got married April 5 in Louisiana.
Williams joins a team that got hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball and stumbled to 7-9 after reaching the Super Bowl the previous year behind a dominant defense and an offensive line that ranked among the league's best.
After taking Williams, the Bears went with Forte rather than a quarterback, sending a message to incumbent Cedric Benson in the process. Known for his balance and ability to gain ground after taking a hit, Forte ran for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
Chicago's defense figures to be better if it stays healthy, but there are questions surrounding an offense that ranked 27th last season. With four starters on the line in their 30s, the Bears averaged a league-low 3.1 yards per carry and ranked 30th with just 83.1 yards rushing per game. And their quarterbacks fared no better, getting sacked 43 times -- ninth in the NFL.
Williams dismissed a report that he had neck problems, saying "I don't have any neck issues."
Angelo said the Bears examined him several times and found nothing more than the usual wear and tear.
"It wasn't any red flag for us," he said. "Our medical people saw him. Obviously, we're not going to make an investment of a first-round pick if we felt like that was a red flag."
There were also questions about Williams' aggressiveness because he didn't retaliate when someone took some swings at him at the Senior Bowl. Then again, he showed restraint.
"You have to show discipline as a player and be smart," he said.
Smith said Williams is probably a more polished pass-protector than run-blocker, but "I think he does both well."
Chicago needed to replace departed veterans Fred Miller at right tackle and nine-time Pro Bowl pick Ruben Brown at left guard. Angelo hinted during the week that he would look for a reinforcement in the first round when he said there was more depth in the draft at running back -- another weak spot for the Bears.
Angelo has a solid record drafting defensive players, including defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Nathan Vasher. All three have made the Pro Bowl, but on offense, the GM hasn't been as fortunate.
His two highest profile selections -- quarterback Rex Grossman and Benson -- have battled injuries and inconsistency.
Grossman, the 22nd pick in 2003, got benched after the third game due to poor play. He returned for five games and was more effective before injuring his left knee. Benson, the fourth overall choice in 2005, averaged just 3.4 yards per carry before a broken ankle ended his season.
"We talked about Rashard quite a bit," Angelo said. "We liked him very, very much, but we felt like the line was our biggest need."
Angelo said he fielded several "very aggressive" offers from teams looking to trade up in the draft, but he decided to stand pat. Although the Bears wouldn't commit to starting him immediately, they believe Williams will be a quick study.
After all, he scored a 32 on the Wunderlic test. Given his background, that wasn't a shocker. His older sister is an attorney, while his twin sister is studying chemistry, and his father supervises an electrical plant.
"I feel like they drafted me to fill a need," said Williams, who graduated in December. "I'm definitely coming in trying to start. ... First-round picks are guys that are going to play."
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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