DJ Williams to WLB (1 Viewer)

[ninerfanatic492000]

If you’re looking for bright spots on this lost Broncos season, there may be one in the middle of the defense.

D.J. Williams is finishing the season well. Williams is second in the NFL in tackles with 133. While detractors will say that middle linebackers do get a lot of tackles, Williams has done a better job of getting tackles than 30 other middle linebackers in the NFL. he only middle linebacker with more stops is San Francisco rookie Patrick Willis who leads the NFL in tackles with 162.

The point is, Williams has done a good job especially late in the season. Williams admitted he was a little off in his move from the outside to the middle after he replaced former captain Al Wilson. But Williams has gotten better.

With that said, it still wouldn’t be a surprise if Williams moved to the weak side next year if Ian Gold is not brought back. Denver could look at a middle linebacker in the draft such as Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis or Penn State’s Dan Connor. But what Williams has proven is that he is a high quality player no matter his position.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2007/1...-rough-defense/now to me WLB seems like the position DJ was born to play. less trash in the way for him to use his great athleticism to run down plays or blow up plays without all the structured things getting in the way.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

more from the denver post

Offseason of change sure call for defenseBy Bill Williamson The Denver Post Article Last Updated: 12/31/2007 01:06:34 AM MSTLinebacker Jamie Winborn (51) had the right to crow a little Sunday while getting seven tackles, including half a sack, in the season-ending victory over Minnesota at Invesco Field at Mile High. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post )Related ArticlesDec 30:Broncos win season finaleDec 31:Time for farewells, gladly and sadlyRetirement party for Smith? Not yetLynch facing emotional decision about retiringLet the difficult decisions beginBests, worsts, more from Vikings-Broncos gameVikings bow out fightingVikings tough to figure outFantasy League Watch: Week 17Wild-card round mixes momentum, restAs the Broncos head into a second offseason in a row without a playoff berth, defensive players departed the locker room Sunday knowing a period of constant change likely will continue. The Broncos finished the season with six new defensive starters since the beginning of the season. Four who weren't on the opening-day roster were major contributors in a 22-19 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High. Cornerback Champ Bailey, the defense's best player, was his typical blunt self. "Oh, there's going to be a lot of change," Bailey said Sunday. "You can't be as bad as we were on defense this year and not have changes. It's going to happen." The Broncos begin offseason evaluations Denver BroncosConsult a printable scouting report for the Vikings-Broncos game by The Post's Mike Klis Analyze a pre-game stats matchup for Sunday's Vikings-Broncos game Play Pick'em for the Vikings-Broncos game View a slide show of images from the Broncos-Chargers game Visit the Broncos Stats Page for roster, standings, team leaders and more Read Bill Williamson's entries on the All Things Broncos blog Ask Mike Klis about the team or NFL in the Broncos Mailbag Visit The Jimmy Page for reports, editorials and exclusive insight including JimmyTube videos Post photos of you and loved ones showing team spirit Pore over the 2007 schedule today with player exit meetings. Coaching evaluations will come later in the week. Defensive boss Jim Bates is among the coaches likely to be evaluated. After he took over for the dismissed Larry Coyer in January, there were big expectations for the Denver defense. Bates had been wildly successful as the defensive coordinator in Miami and Green Bay. However, his system never caught on this season. The Bates defensive scheme, an aggressive system beginning with stout tackles, was scrapped after the bye in Week 6, and Denver used several defensive schemes and changed personnel almost on a weekly basis. Bates politely said Sunday he would talk later about the defense. Defensive back Domonique Foxworth said the defense never got comfortable. "We have to get confidence in our scheme," Foxworth said. "We had so many different schemes this season that it was hard to get confidence in anything because it was always changing." Left tackle Matt Lepsis, who is considering retirement, was a realist. "I think there were a lot of people who played in this uniform for the last time today," Lepsis said. The Broncos need help at all three layers of the defense. On the defensive line, where the team has developed into a decent pass-rushing unit, the Broncos will look for an impact tackle to go along with rookie Marcus Thomas. At linebacker, D.J. Williams moved from strongside linebacker to middle linebacker this season, taking the place of former captain Al Wilson after he was injured and cut. Williams finished second in the NFL with 141 tackles, but could be moved back to the outside if Denver pursues a middle linebacker with the No. 12 pick it tentatively owns in the draft. Weakside linebacker Ian Gold could be a salary cap casualty, and his replacement the past two games, Jamie Winborn, likely will vie for a starting spot. In the secondary, Denver will look for a young safety even if John Lynch, who will be 37 next season, returns. Lynch is seriously considering retirement. "There will be new faces no matter what," Bailey said. "That happens every year, but you'll see (more) next year, for sure." On to the futureAfter a disappointing season on defense, the Broncos will spend the offseason trying to upgrade the unit. Broncos reporter Bill Williamson analyzes three positions of need: Defensive tackle: The Broncos like rookie Marcus Thomas, but they need another big man in the middle to help stop the run. The top player available in the draft at that position likely will be Southern California's Sedrick Ellis. North Carolina's Kentwan Balmer also is a possibility. Linebacker: The Broncos need another starter at this position. The linebackers just didn't make enough plays. The team could move D.J. Williams to weakside linebacker to replace Ian Gold, who may be cut, and move Jamie Winborn to strongside and try to draft a middle linebacker such as Ohio State's James Laurinaitis or Penn State's Dan Connor. Safety: John Lynch may retire. If he doesn't, the team needs to get younger at safety anyway. It could pursue a veteran on the open market or look at Miami's Kenny Phillips. Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com

I'm surprised that there hasn't been any replies to this thread, i mean we are talking about THE 2nd leading tackler in the NFL possibly shifting positions in a IDP forum!!!!!!i guess fill-in LB John Digiorgio who won't see the light of day off the bills bench(besides special teams or injury) next year when all bills LB'er are healthy is more interesting,LMAO.i may have been wrong about Winborn taking Gold's spot but i looks like i was correct in that they want to get him on the field to help there run defense.

 

[J Giles Band]

For DJ to have finished 2nd in the NFL in tackles, I found him underrated by most in the IDP world this year. From the misinformed midseason rumor that he was going to be moved back outside, to his low rankings by some, I think a lot of people missed the boat on him.

Possibly because the Broncos defense was so bad, I don't know... But for IDP purposes, that actually worked out in his favor. He finished the season ranked #3 in our league (ahead of a number of long time favorites such as DeMeco Ryans and even Keith Bulluck who was consistently ranked above him by many sites).

 

[Jene Bramel]

Williams moving back outside has been a topic of discussion since the first month of the regular season. As the articles you've posted state, any movement is dependent on whether or not the Broncos choose to draft (or sign) a linebacker this offseason, which in turn may be dependent on whether Shanahan or Bates stick around.

For now, there isn't anyone on the roster who will bump him from the MLB spot. Nate Webster is the only viable candidate and that move could have been made during the bye week, when the rest of the personnel changes were started.

Williams will certainly be a big topic of discussion this offseason. The two articles are interesting pieces to the puzzle. I'm not sure how to read the Bates comment that he'll "talk later about the defense." Since a major part of his previously (i.e. pre-2007) successful scheme was tossed out by Week 6, that could mean anything from him not being with the team to again drafting a bunch of line players in 2008 to keeping the midseason modifications.

I was the biggest Williams supporter here this season -- I had him at 16 in the final preseason ranking after tempering my early offseason top ten expectations after his shaky preseason -- and it was a bumpy ride at times. Looking forward his story, among many others, this offseason. :(

Also, FWIW, I like the Winborn call. Still nervous about his history of poor durability, though, and I can't imagine he'd be a long term fit at SLB as was suggested in the second article. It'd be very surprising if the Broncos chose to put Williams on the weak side and Winborn on the strong side.

 

[J Giles Band]

Jene - in your esteemed opinion... if DJ is moved back outside in the offseason which spot do you think is his more likely destination SLB or WLB?

 

[Simris]

Just doing an evaluation of my idp's.

I was surprised when I saw his rankings.

#4 overall for the reg season and in the last 6.

I got him for a song off the wire pre season, drafted Willis and thought I was looking good.

I come over here to get the latest and see this.

He ranked 70th last year. I think I like him in the middle, although I suppose his #'s may be better as he has developed.

It may depend on how he is used, in whatever system they use, with whatever DC they have next year and the draft. Lots can happen when I want it to stay the same

Height: 6'-1"

Weight: 242

Birthdate: July 20th,1982

Age: 25

College: Miami (Fla.)

Drafted by: Denver Broncos

Year: 2004

Round: 1 Pick: 17

 

[Jene Bramel]

Jene - in your esteemed opinion... if DJ is moved back outside in the offseason which spot do you think is his more likely destination SLB or WLB?

Don't know. If Denver signs/drafts a MLB talent and makes no other changes to the roster, he goes back to SLB. If Gold is released, the decision depends on whether the team likes Webster or Winborn better. Both are replacement level talents, both have been less than durable. Neither have ever played an every down role for an extended period of time. The WLB spot hasn't been a playmaking spot in either the pre-Bates or Bates scheme (and may not highlight his range and size/speed combo anyway) and Williams has proven himself a solid SLB (though he did look good at the Will late in his rookie year). My guess would be SLB today, but I could make an equally strong argument that he could end up at WLB.Either way, it would be a clear hit to his value.Ian Gold never projected over 80 solos in either of two stints at WLB. Williams did have 32 solos in five games at WLB in 2004, though, so there may be a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel should he get bumped to an every down WLB role next year.

 

[J Giles Band]

Thanks

As a DJ owner in a keeper league I'll have my fingers crossed they draft a DT (Ellis or Balmer?) instead of a MLB at #12.

 

[bcr8f]

I thought they'd trade up with SF and grab Willis last season, but was wrong. Now go after Briggs damn it.

 

[Swanson]

As good of a year as DJ had...IDP-wise, there was obviously something amiss with the Denver run defense. Some blame starts up front but the entire "D" has a hand in this. Denver's object s/b to get the best personnel on the field....and if that means moving DJ to an outside spot so be it. Darkhorse play is going after Channing Crowder(he can opt out of his rookie deal and become a UFA) and signing him to play the middle and moving DJ outside. Not sure if Crowder fits Parcells mold of 3-4 LB's in Miami. If he does get away teams s/b lining up for this young stud.

 

[commishkeg]

i was not aware Crowder could possibly be free , that's a good nugget