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Portions of two recent columns about Tank Williams:
Injury-riddled Tank Williams is ready to move forward - by NESN's Jeff Howe
Tank Williams ready to roll: eager for a fresh start - by Boston Herald's Ron Borges
Injury-riddled Tank Williams is ready to move forward - by NESN's Jeff Howe
“I just went up there and worked hard in the training room, worked hard in the weight room, working hard in the classroom now, and hopefully when it’s time to put the pads on and those things, I’ll be able to go out here and compete and execute like I did in previous years.”
Williams was having a strong camp last year for the Patriots, playing both his natural position at safety and also at middle linebacker. It looked like he was going to see some significant playing time at linebacker and saw a number of reps with the first-team defense before the injury.
He is ready to stay versatile again for head coach BillBelichick, who chose to re-sign Williams last March. Williams — whose real name is Clevan and lifelong nickname is a cruel form of irony — doesn’t care if he is playing deep in the zone, close to the line or just fills in off the bench. At this point, he is just happy to be upright with a new chance to contribute for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
“I just try to know everything so that wherever they put me out there, I’m ready to execute and make plays,” Williams said. “As long as I’m able to do that and play it well, I think I’ll be all right.
“I’m definitely excited, looking forward to this year, getting out there, making some plays, staying healthy. I’m definitely feeling good.”
Tank Williams ready to roll: eager for a fresh start - by Boston Herald's Ron Borges
When the Pats signed Williams a year ago as a free agent after six years in the NFL and two years in rehab from previous knee injuries, it was postulated that he would be groomed to replace the aging and oft-injured Harrison.
Had things gone as planned, that process might have been accelerated, but Williams was lost for the year before Harrison himself went down last season. Whether Harrison returns is an open question he said he’ll answer no later than June 1, but Williams made clear yesterday his question has already been answered. He’ll be back on the football field this fall.
Williams insists he’s also ready to accept again the demands of playing both away from the line of scrimmage in the traditional safety’s role and close to it in what approximates an inside linebacker’s position. At 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, Williams is bigger than Harrison and nearly as edgy when it comes to delivering a blow to running backs trying to penetrate the Patriots front line. Whether or not Harrison returns from his fourth straight injury marred season, Williams understands opportunity awaits him only if he can avoid what has become his own growing injury bug.
“If I’d been able to get out there and play my assignments, I felt I could have helped the team even if Rodney stayed healthy,” Williams said. “I’m a player known to be able to play back from the line of scrimmage or close to the line of scrimmage. I’ll play wherever they ask me. They want me at nose tackle taking on wham blocks like Vince Wilfork, I’m there.”
“You execute and make plays on the ball and you’ll have a position on the team,” Williams said. “A large part of it now for me is mental. You have to make sure you’re strong enough to be able to make all the cuts but you have to believe your knee will hold up when you do, too.”
Tank Williams insists he believes. Now all he needs is some cooperation from his legs to prove it.