Ben Volin: Patriots Trade For Lions OT Mike Williams

captain stone · Aug 25, 2015

Chiuba E. Obele said:
Adam Bogdan ‏@PatriotsInform 1h1 hour ago
...would be at RT most likely.

That would be extremely disappointing. We don't need any more feckin RTs.

BingoBrown · Aug 25, 2015

6'6" 304 lbs that a biiiig boy.Did we get two for the price of one?
This guy isn't going to throw up a line man is he.

mgteich · Aug 25, 2015

Bobsyouruncle said:
Two things, first- the Lions have a fan board?

Yeah, they have a board since he year they went 4-0 in the preseason.

BobDigital · Aug 25, 2015

Well fans sometimes over value their own players so i don't want to read too much into it.

I look at this as a trade similar to Worthy. He will fight for a roster spot and maybe make it as one of the last players and maybe not. For all we know a few weeks from now we get our pick back and he is back on the Lions.

primetime · Aug 25, 2015

mgteich said:
Yup, using a 7th for a scrub convinced me.

Yeah, I can't believe people are reading anything into this. The chance the guy makes the team coming in at the end of camp is pretty slim, let alone this being any sort of referendum on Vollmer, who's one of the 6 or 7 best players on the team.

Sciz · Aug 26, 2015

I wanted him a few years ago for the Crumpler role, which is basically that of an offensive lineman who can catch if he's left uncovered. If we project him there now, then that makes him a candidate for the spot that most people assume will go to Hoomanawanui.

At tackle...I don't know. The Pats have a clear top 4, each of which could be considered a lock to some and a trade/cut candidate to others. If you told me that Williams was definitely brought in to play only tackle and didn't tell me which of the other four he was replacing, then my completely uninformed guess would be that Cannon's injury was the deciding factor. We all hope that's not the case, but may not get any kind of answer on that front for a while.

jacigar · Aug 26, 2015

I believe this opens spot for Jimmay Mundine at TE/ WR( ala Hernandez. )Now Williams can be #2 Blocking TE and BU OT . They would compliment TE Gronk and Chandler.(Hman probably cut). This gives us WR ,s Small Edelman, Harper/Krause, LG Dobson,Lefell,Wayne, St Slater TE/WR Mundine Gibson IR Ame6'ndola (cut) Gronk 6'6, Chandler 6'7,Williams 6"6,Mundine 6'2 WR Edelman 5'10,Harper/Krause 5'11, Lefell/Dopson 6'3,Gibson6'0 Wayne 6'0 No more crying about Smerfs

supafly · Aug 26, 2015

Sciz said:
I wanted him a few years ago for the Crumpler role, which is basically that of an offensive lineman who can catch if he's left uncovered. If we project him there now, then that makes him a candidate for the spot that most people assume will go to Hoomanawanui.

At tackle...I don't know. The Pats have a clear top 4, each of which could be considered a lock to some and a trade/cut candidate to others. If you told me that Williams was definitely brought in to play only tackle and didn't tell me which of the other four he was replacing, then my completely uninformed guess would be that Cannon's injury was the deciding factor. We all hope that's not the case, but may not get any kind of answer on that front for a while.

Agree that it could make Hooman expendable, along with some other factors such as the addition of Chandler, etc. After all, these extra OT can play the role of blocking TE and probably catch a handful of passes amongst them over the course of a year. That's about the same pace as we'd expect from Hooman, and it may allow them to free up a roster spot in the meantime.

Another theory that probably doesn't hold much water would be the potential for a guy like Cannon or Fleming to back up the IOL position(s), although I personally doubt it.

scout · Aug 26, 2015

I like it. Sometime I'm thinking Nick Saban talked to BB about this guy. Why all the ranting over a late pick. You would think BB never produced late round magic or won a World Championship.....No, this means the end for Volmer.

jacigar · Aug 26, 2015

Mundine Kansas 2015 Hernandez Florida 2010
H/W 6'2 240lb 6'2 245lb
40yd 4.67 4.64
3 Cone 6.98 6.83
reps 20 30
vert 38 33
b/jump 10.01 9'3
last yr 45/584 13.0avg 68/850 12.5 avg
career 86/1082 12.6 avg 11 td 111/1382 12.5 avg 12td

mihap · Aug 26, 2015

Jimke said:
The Patriots like to use Fleming as an extra blocker on running plays. Maybe, Williams will
replace him and is a better blocker in this capacity.

and he can catch. Jumbo package coming

NG Pats Fan · Aug 26, 2015

ashley1992 said:
Let's hope it's a 7th round pick.

I know, I wouldn't want to give up anything more. pM

manxman2601 · Aug 26, 2015

Quick twitter search to get a feel for Williams' pre-season so far:

Perhaps some recent praise from Lombardi will result in an expanded role for one of Riddick's 2013 draft mates, offensive tackle Michael Williams.

"He's really been playing well," Lombardi (Lions' OC) said of the former seventh-round pick. "If I was going to pick a most improved (player), maybe he's the guy that I would pick."

Williams said last week he feels like he's reaching a point where he's figured out his new position, and he's done much better in one-on-one drills this year than in camp last year. Though there's still work to be done, Lombardi said Williams has improved on "everything."

"Just the way he sets, the quickness he's getting off the ball, the urgency he gets to his landmarks," Lombardi said. "Just a lot of technical things."

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp...t-michael-williams-raising-eyebrows/31673379/

@jkatzenstein 9h9 hours ago
At least four other teams expressed interest in OT Michael Williams, whom the Lions traded to the Patriots today.

@JoshNorris Aug 14
Watched some of NYJ vs DET this morning. Very cool to see former Alabama TE Michael Williams play well at RT for the Lions.

@BrandonAlisoglu Aug 14
I watched a lot of OT Michael Williams tonight and came away impressed. Improved a ton.

The Lion's regular RT is currently on the PUP and Williams has been getting his fair shot ar first team reps with Cornelius Lucas, although, if the Lions are trading Williams, I presume that means that Lucas has won the job.

Wilfork#75 · Aug 26, 2015

Snake Eyes said:
YES! He was a binkie of mine before he was drafted, super pumped about this!

Yes! He was my biggest binkie that draft. I love him for the blocking TE/backup OT role.

I don't know how he has done in Detroit, but at Alabama he was also an excellent special teams player. Nick Saban loved him. He's the best blocking TE I've seen in college football.

Luxusdk · Aug 26, 2015

But wasnt he more like 6.8?

varjao · Aug 26, 2015

It looks like he is a player with upside. I like, and adding Groy who also have some playing time in regular season games last season, BB is improving the back end of the offensive lineman. Better than last year with Devey and Kline.

Hooman will have good competition this year and there might be a trade coming, I just don't think it's the starter tackles, if Cannon were healthy he would be a candidate.

patriot1136 · Aug 26, 2015

mihap said:
and he can catch. Jumbo package coming

Ground and pound!

BTTA · Aug 26, 2015

Sometimes the coach brings players in to create competition where he sees it slacking off a bit. Who knows what he's seeing/thinking?

I have been wondering how he was going to respond to the emergence of "nickel as normal." How many teams are acquiring defensive talent, and spending time in practice, preparing to defend a power running game? He generally seems to be a year ahead of everyone else in adjusting to the trends.

Of course, as soon as the Pats accomplish something with it, the League will pass rules against it. And have the refs stand over the ball to delay the snap while the opposing defensive coaches try to figure out how to respond.

Galeb · Aug 26, 2015

betterthanthealternative said:
Sometimes the coach brings players in to create competition where he sees it slacking off a bit. Who knows what he's seeing/thinking?

I have been wondering how he was going to respond to the emergence of "nickel as normal." How many teams are acquiring defensive talent, and spending time in practice, preparing to defend a power running game? He generally seems to be a year ahead of everyone else in adjusting to the trends.

Of course, as soon as the Pats accomplish something with it, the League will pass rules against it. And have the refs stand over the ball to delay the snap while the opposing defensive coaches try to figure out how to respond.

I think it would be more than just a power running game. It would be a power running game with 3 or more potential 6'5"+ receiving targets. Image a single back goal line with , Gronk, Chandler, Solder and Williams on each end of the line. Pats red zone offense looks like it's going to be sick this year.

patriot1136 · Aug 26, 2015

Plus I would imagine the power running game opens up the passing game, especially in the end zone.

Ben Volin: Patriots Trade For Lions OT Mike Williams

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