There is no tougher task for a defensive lineman than going against San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro. Luckily for 49ers defenders, Williams sat out much of this week's mandatory minicamp. That will change once the rigors of training camp begin at the end of next month.
Observing from the sideline has allowed Williams to evaluate the 49ers' prized offseason addition, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. What are the offensive lineman's early impressions?
"I hadn't seen him play (this offseason), but we got enough of him back in [the NFC Championship Game]," Williams told reporters on Wednesday. "But we know what he can do, and I was ecstatic that we ain't got to see him on the other sideline again. That guy's a heck of a playmaker.
"It sometimes seems unreal that we got a player like that to add to the type of defense we have. But I said before, I'll say it again, those guys up in the front office, they work magic. So we add another playmaker, another great player to that defense, and I'm just eager to see him this season."
Drake Jackson has been a storyline this offseason. The second-year defensive end has worked hard to bulk up without sacrificing his athleticism. Jackson has tasked himself with preparing for the length of an NFL season, admitting to running out of gas at the end of his rookie campaign.
Jackson was inactive for six of the 49ers' final eight games last season, including each of the team's three playoff contests.
"I feel like I didn't have enough," Jackson shared last week. "So I just come out and keep working and try to have what I need for the rest of the season. ... I just made sure I hit those areas in the offseason where I was failing or not doing the best job at the end of the season."
What has Williams seen from his young teammate?
"Last year, I thought when you look at that athleticism, he has natural strength," Williams said. "To me, he looked like All-Pro. He looked like he has the stature to be an All-Pro player. He looked like he has the want to. He's very studious. He's a student of the game. He's always asking questions, eager to learn.
"And to see that he actually took that and then went and ate some weights this offseason and bulked up a little bit, I think it's only going to make him one of those playmakers that we need on the other side of Nick [Bosa], keep everything even. He has that talent. I'm looking forward to seeing some big things from him."
