Ian Williams' journey to the 49ers

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
^ ^ I have half-heartedly tried to predict the front 7 fitting on the 53... and I just can't.

Seriously, it's harder than people realize esp. when you factor in the real unknowns of the CB/S positions!

DE (4): Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Quinton Dial and Lawrence Okoye; Tank Carradine (PUP) - Demarcus Dobbs, Will Tukuafu and Tony Jerod-Eddie are gone. Tank is brought along slowly as well. They may keep Dobbs over Divens but we use the NT/DE positions as interchangeable a lot. So who adds more immediate value?
NT (3): Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams and Lamar Divens (6'3" 340) - Mike Purcell is gone and Divens is my surprise early pick - he is used against the power running teams and in goal line and short yardage situations; this was a major weakness for us. Ian and Dorsey rotate...a lot!
OLB (4): Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier and Cam Johnson - Parys Haralson is my surprise cut here. Cam shows he can seal the edge well AND pass rush making Haralson expendable. Do we really need more than 4 OLB's? If Haralson is retained, he is going to push a very good player off the 53. Tough call.
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Dan Skuta and Nick Moody - Michael Wilhoite, Nathan Stupar and Darius Fleming are gone.Read more at http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/173235-guess-the-53/page19/#jzUVku8zjVW57tqd.99

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
^ ^ I have half-heartedly tried to predict the front 7 fitting on the 53... and I just can't. Depending on how injuries dictate? We will be cutting loose some very good backup talent.

Should be loaded this time around.

I think with Fleming being injured he either goes to PUP or is cut. Leaves Willis, Bowman, Wilhoite and Moody at ILB. At OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier then if they are keeping Skuta at OLB it will be tough to decide between Skuta and Johnson. If they choose both thats 6 and seems unlikely. Could list Skuta at ILB even if they keep him at OLB... means 4/5 ILBs Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite/Skuta/Moody (2 of 3 or all 3) and then Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Johnson. Seems unlikely we would keep 5 at both spots.

Then DL I'd say Smith, McDonald, Dorsey, Williams, Carradine and possibly Dial are all locks. Leaves room for probably 1 or 2 more. Tukuafu and/or Dobbs. Okoye PS, Jerod-Eddie back to PS.

That's my bess guess. Who knows we could put Dial or Carradine on PUP and that means Tukuafu, Dobbs and Okoye could make it. As for ILB my best guess is Fleming PUP/Cut so Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite, Moody then at OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Skuta. Fangio said Johnson has improved a lot so who knows could be hard to get rid of him. Really have no idea right now. We are so stacked this year could be the hardest to pick in a long time.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
^ ^ I have half-heartedly tried to predict the front 7 fitting on the 53... and I just can't.

Seriously, it's harder than people realize esp. when you factor in the real unknowns of the CB/S positions!

DE (4): Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Quinton Dial and Lawrence Okoye; Tank Carradine (PUP) - Demarcus Dobbs, Will Tukuafu and Tony Jerod-Eddie are gone. Tank is brought along slowly as well. They may keep Dobbs over Divens but we use the NT/DE positions as interchangeable a lot. So who adds more immediate value?
NT (3): Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams and Lamar Divens (6'3" 340) - Mike Purcell is gone and Divens is my surprise early pick - he is used against the power running teams and in goal line and short yardage situations; this was a major weakness for us. Ian and Dorsey rotate...a lot!
OLB (4): Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier and Cam Johnson - Parys Haralson is my surprise cut here. Cam shows he can seal the edge well AND pass rush making Haralson expendable. Do we really need more than 4 OLB's? If Haralson is retained, he is going to push a very good player off the 53. Tough call.
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Dan Skuta and Nick Moody - Michael Wilhoite, Nathan Stupar and Darius Fleming are gone.Read more at http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/173235-guess-the-53/page19/#jzUVku8zjVW57tqd.99

Interesting for sure, and I wouldn't waste time suggesting you are wrong.

I can see Divens cut loose, and adding in Dobbs. I just don't see us going with more at NT than Dorsey and Ian W.

I can see Parys' veteran awareness beating out Cam J.. who can be safely put on the PS again.

I think you have the ILBs as I would.

On the 53 (in your scenario), I can see us trying to slip Okoye on the PS when the time comes for Tank to return to the 53.


Mostly, I am feeling relieved of NOT having to make these decisions. I can trust enough in what the coaches will see in each practice. Maybe I'll get more opinionated on it after the preseason games. Maybe? I say? hahaha, yeah right...

edit ^

Originally posted by Gore_21:
I think with Fleming being injured he either goes to PUP or is cut. Leaves Willis, Bowman, Wilhoite and Moody at ILB. At OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier then if they are keeping Skuta at OLB it will be tough to decide between Skuta and Johnson. If they choose both thats 6 and seems unlikely. Could list Skuta at ILB even if they keep him at OLB... means 4/5 ILBs Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite/Skuta/Moody (2 of 3 or all 3) and then Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Johnson. Seems unlikely we would keep 5 at both spots.

Then DL I'd say Smith, McDonald, Dorsey, Williams, Carradine and possibly Dial are all locks. Leaves room for probably 1 or 2 more. Tukuafu and/or Dobbs. Okoye PS, Jerod-Eddie back to PS.

That's my bess guess. Who knows we could put Dial or Carradine on PUP and that means Tukuafu, Dobbs and Okoye could make it. As for ILB my best guess is Fleming PUP/Cut so Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite, Moody then at OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Skuta. Fangio said Johnson has improved a lot so who knows could be hard to get rid of him. Really have no idea right now. We are so stacked this year could be the hardest to pick in a long time.

... will be fun to see how all of this unfolds, either way!

I see Johnson beating out Haralson for a roster spot if he continues to have a strong camp.

Younger, cheaper, higher upside especially as a pass rusher, and adds more to Special Teams.

I think Okoye winds up on the practice squad because I think we can convince him that we offer him the best chance to develop and succeed so I don't think he would sign with anyone else even if offered.

Originally posted by Jikkle49:
I see Johnson beating out Haralson for a roster spot if he continues to have a strong camp.

Younger, cheaper, higher upside especially as a pass rusher, and adds more to Special Teams.

I think Okoye winds up on the practice squad because I think we can convince him that we offer him the best chance to develop and succeed so I don't think he would sign with anyone else even if offered.

I disagree, Haralson's experience and run support should be enough to make the roster. I actually see both guys making it.

This thread has me jizzing with excitement over the potential of our d-line when all of them are healthy

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
... will be fun to see how all of this unfolds, either way!

Agreed, so much up in the air with all the injuries. So many battles going on... usually I would make a roster prediction by now and only be up in the air about a few guys and feel pretty confident in my predictions. This year I did mine and I second guessed myself all day.

As for Haralson some of you could see him gone but with him restructuring and only making like 1.25 or 1.5 mil I just don't see him getting cut. Look at how much we missed him last year. Just don't think Lemonier or Johnson are ready to be 3rd OLB. They have so much to learn pass rush wise and run stopping wise. I think Haralson will likely be gone after this year but just don't see it happening this year.

As for Williams I think this was him when he first joined the team:




most recent picture, hard to see but to the right of 63 Tony Jerod-Eddie. If anyone has some better pictures of him recently would appreciate it. Bottom like was seems like he's in a lot better shape.

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:

Originally posted by Gore_21:

I think with Fleming being injured he either goes to PUP or is cut. Leaves Willis, Bowman, Wilhoite and Moody at ILB. At OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier then if they are keeping Skuta at OLB it will be tough to decide between Skuta and Johnson. If they choose both thats 6 and seems unlikely. Could list Skuta at ILB even if they keep him at OLB... means 4/5 ILBs Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite/Skuta/Moody (2 of 3 or all 3) and then Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Johnson. Seems unlikely we would keep 5 at both spots.

Then DL I'd say Smith, McDonald, Dorsey, Williams, Carradine and possibly Dial are all locks. Leaves room for probably 1 or 2 more. Tukuafu and/or Dobbs. Okoye PS, Jerod-Eddie back to PS.

That's my bess guess. Who knows we could put Dial or Carradine on PUP and that means Tukuafu, Dobbs and Okoye could make it. As for ILB my best guess is Fleming PUP/Cut so Bowman, Willis, Wilhoite, Moody then at OLB Smith, Brooks, Haralson, Lemonier, Skuta. Fangio said Johnson has improved a lot so who knows could be hard to get rid of him. Really have no idea right now. We are so stacked this year could be the hardest to pick in a long time.

... will be fun to see how all of this unfolds, either way!

I agree, I expect:

DE: Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Carradine, Dobbs, Dial (NT/DE)
NT: Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey

I think Dobbs makes it due to his ST ability. Of course this prediction is based on these guys being healthy.

Dude got no neck

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
Dude got no neck

Yeah, that's when he first joined the team. Looks pretty soft and out of shape. Dropped 20 pounds, added muscle and I'm sure is in much better shape now. I'm sure his stamina has improved as well. He's going to have to bring it all game long whether he's rotating in with Dorsey or not. Can't have him playing like "bad Sopoaga" where he's getting no push and just conceding when having two guys on him.

Originally posted by DRUSTOPO:

Originally posted by qnnhan7:

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
What happened to Dobbs... They used him at TE, but he showed some good stuff at DT in the 2011 preseason games.

Still around and will be fighting for a spot. Hard to predict whether he will get one... we really have a lot of options, so the backup DL "battles" ahead are going to be really intriguing.

I get this giddy feel about the front 7 this year. Our front just gotten better with the depth and talent at both the D-line and linebackers. Can't wait for Fangio the bring the heat up front in games. Fangio and the D gonna blow up some NFL offenses

SO PUMPED!!!! I think that if Ian can be as good as Soap against the run while providing a pass rush, then Ian + Dorsey ( who is a stud run stuffer as well ) > Soap + RJF. Plus they are younger and cheaper than their predecessors .

Add in that monster Tank, run stuffer Dial, Cam making a big jump this year rushing off the edge, letting Lemonier do what he does best..getting after the QB and our front 7 just got younger, stronger and more explosive! The Seahawks went out and made some short term FA pickups to upgrade their pass rush, but if our young guns pan out, we may have built a young and inexpensive MONSTER front 7 for the foreseeable future!!!

QB'S BEWARE!!!!

Hope Williams can really bring it this season!

Originally posted by DRUSTOPO:
Hell yeah! Love what Im hearing about Ian. He was always a run stuffer

( scouting report when he came out )

Williams is recovering from a torn MCL suffered during his senior season, but he is a quality run stopper that could be an effective two-down specialist. He is near impossible to move when he gets in good position, as he is very strong and has a thick compact body. He is also a hard worker that never gives up on the play. He can be a very stout run stopper, but he is not athletic or technically refined enough to contribute in the pass rush. Williams is a one dimensional player, but he is human hole plugger and should get picked late.

If he added quickness over the past 2 years and can push the pocket from the middle like he's done so far against our 1st team Oline??? We may have a GEM on our hands!!!! Would love to see him start and have Dosey rotate with all 3!!!

From the training camp reports it seems like he has improved his pass rushing ability quite a bit. If he is already adept at stopping the run and continues to be able to apply pressure to the QB, he would be a great addition to our D-line rotation.

Originally posted by tohara3:
Hope Williams can really bring it this season!

Yeah, I was very pleased when we snagged him as an UDFA, and not at all surprised that he is still a 49er. He needs to stay inside though, as I don't see the versatility with his 32" reach at 6' 1", but he might just make a solid starter at the nose. We probably won't be in our base 3-4 all that much anyway.