titan
05-06-2010, 11:16 PM
From
http://www.maxdenver.com/blog1/?p=118
Maurice Williams: Experience, Versatility Always Come in Handy
By Andrew Mason
The watchwords for the Broncos’ addition of Maurice Williams are “cautious optimism.”
“Cautious” because of the most recent two years of Maurice Williams’s career. He’s only played six games in the last two years, missed all but the season opener in 2008 with a biceps injury and was waived by the Jaguars last December, only to have the Lions’ waiver claim nullified by a failed physical.
“Optimism” because Williams could prove an invaluable asset to an evolving offensive line if he can recapture the form that made him a starter from his rookie season onward.
Even if Williams cannot return to the form he showed before the biceps injury, he’ll bring Denver’s line two virtues it could use: versatility and experience.
To the first, Williams has started at three different positions as a pro (left guard, right tackle and right guard). To a group of young linemen, Williams serves as an example of what one must do to survive and thrive for the long term; prior to his biceps injury, Williams made a career out of being able to move around and pitch in where needed.
As for the second, the Broncos’ line is young — as is typically the case after a crop of draftees and rookie free agents arrive. One-third of its 15 members are rookies and the nine veterans on the roster prior to the Williams signing have combined for 140 career starts. None possess more than Chris Kuper’s 42.
Much of the Broncos’ starting experience up front left when the club parted ways earlier this year with Casey Wiegmann (168 career starts) and Ben Hamilton (104). Adding Williams alleviates the experience drop-off, and if he can overcome the frustrations of the last two years, he could return to his old form: that of a solid starter.
LINE EXPERIENCE
NAME EXP. GP GS
D’Anthony Batiste 5 12 4
Zane Beadles R 0 0
Ryan Clady 3 32 32
Paul Duncan R 0 0
Dustin Fry 2 4 0
Ryan Harris 4 35 24
Russ Hochstein 10 107 30
Chris Kuper 5 48 42
Chris Marinelli R 0 0
Matt McChesney 3 4 0
Eric Olsen R 0 0
Seth Olsen 2 3 0
Tyler Polumbus 3 31 8
J.D. Walton R 0 0
MAURICE WILLIAMS 10 105 100
TOTAL 381 240
========
I can see how this signing fits in with what McDaniels is trying to do. "Williams made a career out of being able to move around and pitch in where needed." - just the type of player Mcdaniels likes.
Good to see Andrew Mason blogging about the Broncos again, too. He worked for the broncos at one time as I remember.
http://www.maxdenver.com/blog1/?p=118
Maurice Williams: Experience, Versatility Always Come in Handy
By Andrew Mason
The watchwords for the Broncos’ addition of Maurice Williams are “cautious optimism.”
“Cautious” because of the most recent two years of Maurice Williams’s career. He’s only played six games in the last two years, missed all but the season opener in 2008 with a biceps injury and was waived by the Jaguars last December, only to have the Lions’ waiver claim nullified by a failed physical.
“Optimism” because Williams could prove an invaluable asset to an evolving offensive line if he can recapture the form that made him a starter from his rookie season onward.
Even if Williams cannot return to the form he showed before the biceps injury, he’ll bring Denver’s line two virtues it could use: versatility and experience.
To the first, Williams has started at three different positions as a pro (left guard, right tackle and right guard). To a group of young linemen, Williams serves as an example of what one must do to survive and thrive for the long term; prior to his biceps injury, Williams made a career out of being able to move around and pitch in where needed.
As for the second, the Broncos’ line is young — as is typically the case after a crop of draftees and rookie free agents arrive. One-third of its 15 members are rookies and the nine veterans on the roster prior to the Williams signing have combined for 140 career starts. None possess more than Chris Kuper’s 42.
Much of the Broncos’ starting experience up front left when the club parted ways earlier this year with Casey Wiegmann (168 career starts) and Ben Hamilton (104). Adding Williams alleviates the experience drop-off, and if he can overcome the frustrations of the last two years, he could return to his old form: that of a solid starter.
LINE EXPERIENCE
NAME EXP. GP GS
D’Anthony Batiste 5 12 4
Zane Beadles R 0 0
Ryan Clady 3 32 32
Paul Duncan R 0 0
Dustin Fry 2 4 0
Ryan Harris 4 35 24
Russ Hochstein 10 107 30
Chris Kuper 5 48 42
Chris Marinelli R 0 0
Matt McChesney 3 4 0
Eric Olsen R 0 0
Seth Olsen 2 3 0
Tyler Polumbus 3 31 8
J.D. Walton R 0 0
MAURICE WILLIAMS 10 105 100
TOTAL 381 240
========
I can see how this signing fits in with what McDaniels is trying to do. "Williams made a career out of being able to move around and pitch in where needed." - just the type of player Mcdaniels likes.
Good to see Andrew Mason blogging about the Broncos again, too. He worked for the broncos at one time as I remember.