PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY--COREY WILLIAMS most improved NFL Player

[Bretsky]

Man in the middle

Williams atop most-improved list in ’07
By Mike Wilkening
Nov. 8, 2007


With the NFL season at its halfway point, we asked NFL scouts and executives for their opinion on the league’s most improved players. Rookies were not considered. All respondents were quoted on condition of anonymity.\

1. DT Corey Williams | Packers — What separates Williams, said one personnel man, “is his ability to defend the run as well as being a very good inside pass rusher.

I think they have some guys who are more ‘one or the other’ (types), but he does both.” Another personnel man opined, “He has a lot of confidence. He can rush the passer. He can split the double-team. He does everything he is capable of doing.”

2. QB Derek Anderson | Browns — “He played well in the Kansas City game (last season). Other than that, he was inconsistent,” said one respondent. “But some of that was (a factor) of not having a (clear-cut No. 1) guy. This year, he’s done it pretty much every week. The big thing you’ve always heard is that it’s Derek’s job for now until Brady (Quinn) is ready to take over. … And he’s made that transition tougher.”

3. SLB-DE Robert Geathers | Bengals — “He is their guy (on defense). He plays the pass. He rushes the passer. He’s explosive.”

4. OLB Calvin Pace | Cardinals — “He’s probably made the most improvement of anyone on the Cardinals. At (outside linebacker), he is comfortable and playing well.”

5. CB Antonio Cromartie | Chargers — “He just seems to be in the right place in the right time for them. He’s starting to get better and better.”

[Partial]

Lock him up.

[Bretsky]

Yes, get it down TT

Here were some other honorable mentions

Others mentioned: Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton, Raiders RB Justin Fargas, Giants RB Brandon Jacobs, Packers DT Johnny Jolly, Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

[gbpackfan]

It will be a HUGE mistake if TT doesn't sign this kid. We suffered through all his developmental years and now that he is playing great, we are about to let him go? Come on! Good D-linemen are very hard to find. Just because we draft Harrell doesnt mean we can let Williams go. Harrell hasn't done shit yet. TT, get it done!

[Bretsky]

Williams might be asking free agent market money. TT has did a very good job, but I still think overall he's a tight ass and I'm not sure he wants to pay top dollar for another DL when he's invested good money at that position and also just spent his first round draft pick on a guy that's been doing much of nothing on most game days.

[Partial]

Williams might be asking free agent market money. TT has did a very good job, but I still think overall he's a tight ass and I'm not sure he wants to pay top dollar for another DL when he's invested good money at that position and also just spent his first round draft pick on a guy that's been doing much of nothing on most game days.

The thing to think about is that he isn't a starter, and we already have a first round pick coming up. I would say lock him up and trade him eventually if we don't need him. Better safe than sorry and better getting something in return for him than nothing.

[Bretsky]

Williams might be asking free agent market money. TT has did a very good job, but I still think overall he's a tight ass and I'm not sure he wants to pay top dollar for another DL when he's invested good money at that position and also just spent his first round draft pick on a guy that's been doing much of nothing on most game days.

The thing to think about is that he isn't a starter, and we already have a first round pick coming up. I would say lock him up and trade him eventually if we don't need him. Better safe than sorry and better getting something in return for him than nothing.

Negotiating him as a non starter forces him out the door; he's better than most starters. So if that is the mojo than you almost have to encourage TT to let him go. I agree to lock him up and trade him is better than sending him out to test free agency though.

The first round draft pick has shown next to nothing up to this point. That argument is a loaded weapon in itself.

One might argue we drafted Harrell figuring Williams would leave.

One might argue the two should have nothing to do with each other.

One might argue Harrell has looked like junk and that makes it more important to keep Williams.

Who knows what the right answer is there.

[Partial]

The right answer that Williams is a heck of a player and Harrell looks like junk. Cannot let a guy like that get away TT. GEt it done!!!!

[RashanGary]

If Williams is willing to take a fair deal, sign him up. If he wants the moon, let him go.

[Joemailman]

I don't buy the theory that TT drafted Harrell thinking he would lose Williams. I think TT values quality depth on the DL. None of our other DT's have the pass rush abilities of Williams. TT will use up some of his considerable cap room on Williams.

[RashanGary]

I don't buy the theory that TT drafted Harrell thinking he would lose Williams. I think TT values quality depth on the DL. None of our other DT's have the pass rush abilities of Williams. TT will use up some of his considerable cap room on Williams.

I think it will get done too, but there are media rumblings that Williams wants to get to the UFA market. If that is the case, I think Williams might be a little overrated (because he plays with a bunch of good lineman) and will get more on the UFA market than he is worth. In that case, I'd let him go.

[b bulldog]

Will Mike Montgomery and Justin Harrell be good enough to fill his vacancy if he leaves?? If yes, than only resign him to a fair deal but if no, we may need to give him some big $$ and than we may need to redo Kampy's deal also.

[RashanGary]

Will Mike Montgomery and Justin Harrell be good enough to fill his vacancy if he leaves?? If yes, than only resign him to a fair deal but if no, we may need to give him some big $$ and than we may need to redo Kampy's deal also.

That's what I was worried about. As soon as you give Williams the moon, it compounds itself because you have to then give Kampman a big raise. It's a tough situation because Williams is not worth 6 mil per year and then another 2 mil per year because the the raise Kampman would have to get, then Barnetts deal looks like a rip off, then Jenkins is gettting robbed, then we get back to Driver.

Who knows what to do. Best case is getting it done now for a fair deal and not having to worry about it in the off season. That is up to Williams though. He probably knows he'd get big offers if he makes it to UFA so maybe he's jsut saying "screw you, I'll wait it out and take the risk"

[the_idle_threat]

IMO, Williams is a good DT, but he's not irreplaceable. He's not even the best DT on the team.

JH has this one right---TT should offer a him a good deal that doesn't make the Kampman or Jenkins deals look bad, and if Williams is intent on getting overpaid in free agency, let him go.

It's a well-established fact that the team's deepest position is defensive line, and Williams was what---a 6th round pick? Williams is very replaceable.

[b bulldog]

wILLIAMS WON'T BE HERE NEXT SEASON IMO.