| 10 December 2009
The significance of the start was it was one of the few starts Williams has earned at the weak-side linebacker position. Williams was drafted to be Briggs' heir apparent because the Bears assumed that they wouldn't be able to re-sign him.
Briggs re-signed and Williams has taken on the role of part-time starter special teams stud. He has been a solid special teams player to this point of the season and did start a couple games as the SAM 'backer.
But he never really stood out like he did on Sunday in his first major action from the position he was drafted for. Williams was credited with 20 tackles on the day by the coaching staff, being credited with 18 by the NFL stat man.
All that aside I felt the best way to gauge the type of impact Williams had on the game was to re-watch the game and focus in solely on Williams and what he did right and wrong.
Firing up the video it was clear from the start that Williams was around the football from the start. Not only was he around the football but he was attacking down hill, taking on and shedding blockers and had a major pass break up in coverage.
Williams played well not just from a tackling standpoint but also from an assignment and coverage responsibility. Williams did well in staying in his gap, and attacking the right gap.
On the Rams' first scoring drive of the game Williams had like four tackles on the drive and of Williams' four tackles not one came beyond two yards past the line of scrimmage. The Rams were able to move the ball, but Williams was squaring up and making tackles each time he had a chance to make the tackle.
Williams also did very well to fight off a couple blocks to make the tackles. Some of his tackles he was left unblocked, but to still attack the ball carrier down hill through the hole the ball-carrier takes and make the tackle still takes good instincts.
The question now that follows is did Williams do enough to take playing time away from Nick Roach? Roach has been a decent starter on the strong side and at times has manned the middle. Roach however has had no where near the performance that Williams had.
Williams didn't play a perfect game, but he did honestly play his best game as a Chicago Bears player. The praise he received from the media and from the coaching staff was legitimate praise. This wasn't a case of over hyping the play to find a bright spot in an otherwise crappy game.
This type of game makes me wonder if possibly the Bears could decide to make a move on the trading market involving Lance Briggs. I am in favor of this possibility because Briggs is at the top of his value on the trading market. His stock for trade value will never be higher than it is right now.
It's also not out of the realm of possibility that given Briggs will be 30-years-old in 2010 that he could quickly be on the decline in production. Yes there is no sign of Briggs slowing down, but he does play the one position on the team that is involved in some of the nastiest and constant collisions on the field.
Given the rumored depth of the 2010 draft class and the fact that the Bears do not have a pick within the first two picks of the draft, if Briggs could net the Bears a draft pick within the first two rounds of the draft it must be considered.
The true test will be if Jamar Williams makes the most of any continued playing time he receives the rest of this season. The more Williams proves his value at 25-years-old, the easier it may be to get high draft pick value for the elder Briggs.
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