Trent – USA NEWS LIVE

The 49ers' Trent Williams continues to be seeking to improve after his big contract at age 36

enzo2go — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:04:25 +0000

SANTA CLARA – Trent Williams was where he normally was, even when it was a spot offensive tackles rarely enterprise.

Even on the age of 36, Williams isn't one in every of those people locked in a phone booth. After a 6-yard pass from Brock Purdy to Ricky Pearsall Jr., he found himself several yards downfield attempting to bury someone because the 49ers trailed 28-12 within the fourth quarter. That someone was Chiefs safety Bryan Cook.

Cook took exception and threw a right hand into Williams' helmet.

“Oooh,” said Fox analyst and former quarterback Tom Brady. “I wouldn’t tackle Trent Williams. Would you?”

As was often the case in these battles, Williams was the one sent off for retaliation, even when he was not the instigator. He was reminded of that Thursday and showed the skill of a 14-year veteran who knows how the system works.

“No, I didn’t,” Williams said of who threw the primary punch. “But it is what it is. I don’t want to comment on the officials, but of course I had questions about it.”

With the 49ers (3-4) hosting the Dallas Cowboys (3-3) at Levi's Stadium on Sunday night and two longtime rivals attempting to shed the label of underperformers within the approaching midseason, it's only natural that each teams have come under fire their fan base and the local and national media.

Williams missed all of coaching camp while negotiating a three-year, $82.6 million contract extension – the ultimate contract he’s prone to check in his profession. An 11-time Pro Bowl player and four-time first-team All-Pro — just about the universally recognized alternative for the most effective left tackle in the sport — Williams demanded to be paid as such.

The 49ers and Williams didn’t conform to a deal until September 3, so Williams didn’t take part in each the offseason program and camp.

The 49ers' slow start is causing plenty of criticism of the franchise. Williams hasn't gotten much of that since arriving via trade to interchange Joe Staley in 2020, just because he's been so dominant and the 49ers have been excellent for probably the most part.

Judging the play of offensive linemen is a difficult matter for outsiders, even those with training in line play. Williams has all the time been at the highest of just about every evaluation and has unofficially (there aren’t any official stats for offensive linemen) allowed only one sack this season and two more from 2021-2023.

Williams has received great reviews from Pro Football Focus in each run and pass blocking since his arrival, but through seven games this season, his pass blocking ranked him twenty sixth in pass blocking win percentage with 22 pressures allowed in 261 snaps.

Trent Williams (71) formed a wall between the opposing defenders and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13). AP photo

Any suggestion that Williams is slipping is quickly dismissed by Chris Foerster, the 49ers' line coach and run game coordinator, whose relationship with the star tackle dates back to his younger days with Washington in 2010.

“He played better than ever before,” said Foerster. “Some things are actually better than they were a year ago. And it's funny because he missed camp. It kind of bothers me.”

Williams is consistently among the best and most in-depth interviews concerning the 49ers, insightful and colourful, especially relating to his teammates. He is less willing to delve deeply into his own successes.

“I’m just focused on getting better in the present,” Williams said. “I let Coach talk about the product he sees. I will rely on him to coach me and help me get better. My focus is on getting better for this team and getting some wins.”

Tight end George Kittle, who has gone on record saying Williams is among the best football players he's ever seen – perhaps the most effective – hasn't experienced any gaffes.

“I think Trent is still better than 31 other teams' left tackles on a bad day,” Kittle said. “I’m not saying Trent has bad days, but he plays at a high level for us – because we need it.”

Williams said he believes he continues to be learning and recovering. He told the NFL on CBS that he hopes to play until he's 40. His progress is so subtle that he cannot describe it.

“It’s consistency, technique and the little things,” Williams said. “It would sound like rocket science if I attempted to clarify it to you. We play such a tiring position and a superb game doesn't mean you bought a superb result. You can play a nasty game and get a superb result.

“You have to be honest with yourself and not look at the scoreboard. Was the effort good enough? Was it better than last week? This is the only way you can continue to improve.”

Williams, a native of Longview, Texas, enjoyed beating the Cowboys within the playoffs following the 2022 season, in addition to their regular-season win last yr. He laughed at fans who made an obscene gesture at him when the 49ers won 23-17 at AT&T Stadium and enjoyed a 19-12 victory over Dallas at Levi's within the divisional round the next yr.

The 49ers defeated Dallas 42-10 in Week 5 at Levi's Stadium last season.

Not that he takes anything with no consideration.

“Obviously we want to get to .500 before the bye week,” Williams said. “We know each other really well. We both have our backs to the wall. They have the same urgency as we do. We just can’t just say, ‘Hey, we have to go get this.’ We have to do the things that will help us win instead of talking things.”

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Could Trent Williams’ status jeopardize the 2024 season?

enzo2go — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:32:20 +0000

SANTA CLARA — As the 49ers Faithful grows impatient with Brandon Aiyuk's contract deadlock and practice boycott, left tackle Trent Williams' defiance is sparking an outcry on social media, which is addressed on this week's mailbag:

How confident are we that Trent will sign a brand new contract? (@andyz65c10)

Confidence stays high, as do Trent Williams' contract demands. General manager John Lynch said Wednesday there was “good communication” as they “bounced ideas” to eventually reach a breakthrough. Williams is simply halfway through a six-year contract that made him the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman (at an annual salary of $10,000).

Three All-Pro honors followed in as a few years, so it's comprehensible if the 36-year-old Williams desires to get “paid, paid.” When he signed as a free agent in 2021 after a tryout, the ultimate yr of that contract (2026) offered a $32.2 million salary that encouraged Kyle Shanahan to pursue Williams; that salary could also be what he's already demanding. Nick Bosa's contract denial lasted until he signed a record-setting contract just days before last season's opening game, so why wouldn't Williams wish to do the identical? As a reminder, September 9 is the opening game against the New York Jets.

Will the O-Line be their downfall this yr? (@supanove)

Williams' status may determine that greater than the play of the opposite linemen. Rookie Dominick Puni faces a difficult baptism of fireside at right guard in Week 1, where he’ll likely face Quinnen Williams and ex-49ers Javon Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas. Left guard Aaron Banks is anticipated to return to practice next Tuesday after his recent pinky finger surgery. With center Jake Brendel and right tackle Colton McKivitz also returning, there’s a familiarity aspect which will profit the offensive line greater than every other unit. However, Williams is the unparalleled anchor and his absence would sabotage the season.

If Aaron Banks isn't ready for Week 1, would they offer Burford a likelihood or give Zakelj a likelihood since he's taken all of the reps? (@zachudamann)

Banks is a player. It's doubtful that a forged on his pinky/hand would sideline him early in his contract yr. As for the contingency plan, Nick Zakelj could get the nod if he's been practicing there since Banks left. Another option is the more experienced Ben Bartch, who was re-signed on Wednesday. Spencer Burford has barely practiced in a month and has never played left guard.

Is there a possibility that BA will play with no contract? (@spoileralerts)

His absence from practice on Wednesday answers that query. After missing 20 practices for the reason that start of coaching camp, he has been physically healing from neck and back problems that were previously cited as the rationale for his on-field boycotts. His contract still stands, but at a salary of $14.1 million, lower than half the rising market price.

Who is almost certainly to make a deal this weekend? (@michael_budd)

Publicly, Williams' negotiations don't seem so bad. But the 49ers have thrown down the gauntlet to Aiyuk by announcing that he’s physically fit to practice. While which may be just one other negotiating tactic, “at some point you have to play,” John Lynch said before practice Wednesday.

Who shall be called up as TE3? (@romanfour0)

The almost certainly option is Jake Tonges, a child from Los Gatos who has done well and made the initial 53-man roster because the only other tight end besides George Kittle. Eric Saubert re-signed on Wednesday and established himself because the No. 2 tight end. That's the likely three-man unit to switch recent versions of Kittle, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley. Brayden Willis and Mason Pline lurk on the practice squad.

Has George Kittle's tremendous success (not to say his draft position) tainted any future TE signings/draftees in management's eyes? (@maestroRDW)

They will proceed to fish, as they do yearly, to search out a defensive end to enrich Bosa. What the 49ers need is a decent end who, like Kittle, could make the big leap from temperamental rookie to second-year All-Pro. Woerner and Dwelley never made that leap, nor did 2023 draft picks Willis and Cam Latu. Perhaps Pline is a diamond within the rough who can develop on the practice squad.

Who shall be the shooting star this season? And who shall be a disappointment? (@SFG_soccer)

Let's think beyond the growing success of cornerback Deommodore Lenior. The 49ers' last true stars at defensive tackle were Justin Smith a decade ago and DeForest Buckner five years ago. New addition Maliek Collins may very well be a steal this offseason after being acquired from Houston for a seventh-round pick. The disappointment of this season? All 53 players in the event that they don't win the Super Bowl.

Do you think that the team would slightly re-sign Ward or Lenoir? It obviously won't be possible to bring each back? (@BigShot_Mike)

Who knows what the 49ers are budgeting beyond Brock Purdy's second contract (and potentially the NFL's largest)? Ward received loads of praise last season to bolster his contract offer irrespective of how this season plays out. Lenoir's versatility for granted cornerback and within the slot should make him extremely attractive, and he will definitely attract more targets than Ward this season to set his market value. Lenoir ought to be cheaper, however the 49ers' budget could dictate that.

Why Brandon Allen and never the opposite child? (@vb_bassist)

Tanner Mordecai, the 24-year-old kid nearly two months older than Brock Purdy, gained enough admiration to return to the practice squad. Allen, the No. 3 quarterback last season behind Purdy and Sam Darnold, excelled enough in training camp and the preseason to remain on board. Whether Allen is QB2 or if Josh Dobbs swindled his way into that job, Shanahan hasn't said yet and will not achieve this until game day.

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