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Corey Williams 'not happy since day one' with lack of playing time: Browns Insider

By Mary Kay Cabot
December 02, 2009, 8:31PM

BEREA, Ohio -- Corey Williams admitted he's been unhappy about his lack of playing time and role all season.

"I haven't been happy about it since day one," the Browns' defensive lineman said. "I'm not going to go all the way into it about how I feel about it, but I haven't been happy at all. That's anybody. Anybody wants to play. I want to play as much as I can."

Williams, who hopes to work some at nose tackle now that Shaun Rogers is out for the season, said he's stated his case with the coaching staff.

"I've had conversations," he said. "What we talked about in the office stays in the office. I'm to the point now, it is what it is. I just go in when they need me."

Up to now, that hasn't been very much. Williams, acquired by former Browns general manager Phil Savage in a trade with Green Bay for the Browns' second-round pick in 2008, has rotated into the end rotation sparingly and is 18th on the team with 16 tackles. He also has two sacks.

It's not the kind of playing time or production you'd expect from a player who received a whopping contract the day of the trade. Coming off back-to-back seven-sack seasons as a tackle in Green Bay's 4-3 scheme, Williams received a 6-year, $38.6 million extension with $16.3 million guaranteed and more than $23 million over the first three years. He counts $8.83 million against the cap this season and will count $8.283 million next season -- if he's still around.

Williams made it clear this week that he doesn't like playing end and wants to get back inside, either in a 3-4 or 4-3. It wouldn't be surprising if he asks for a trade in the off-season.

"I know I could turn some heads inside," he said. "That's what I do. That's who I am. I know I could go anywhere and start. I just love being down on the inside because stuff happens more quickly. Out there on that end, stuff happens slow and I don't like that."

Browns coach Eric Mangini said Williams could see more time in the nose rotation behind Ahtyba Rubin.

"He's worked in there, more so throughout the course of the season than in mini-camp and training camp and he's done a nice job," said Mangini. "The thing about him is he's a little different than your typical nose, because he's got some good wiggle. You can stunt him and do things like that that you wouldn't maybe do with just a pure mauler type. That adds an element of uncertainty for the offensive line. He has done a nice job in terms of taking on the center, being stout, so that's a possibility."

Mangini said end C.J. Mosley has also volunteered for nose tackle duty.

"He wanted to try it out and I thought he's done some nice things in there," said Mangini.

Williams said of Mangini considering using him at nose, "I hope he does. I don't see why he wouldn't. They know what I can do. It's no secret."

Cribbs' progress: Josh Cribbs said his agent and the Brown are "making good progress" on his contract renegotiation.

"I feel really good about where we are right now," said Cribbs. Mangini also said last week the Browns "are moving forward" on a new deal.

Furrey's award: Mike Furrey was chosen by his teammates as the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award winner, given to a member of each team who exemplifies the qualities of Block, the former trainer of the Baltimore Colts. Criteria include courage, compassion and community service. Furrey returned this season from a concussion and is tireless in his charity work.

"It's kind of crazy how people get recognized for that stuff, when I feel that's what we're called to do," he said. "When I first found out I was getting the award, I didn't think I deserved it. I've been around a long time and have voted on a lot of candidates that have won the award and some people have been through some crazy situations in their life -- life-changing situations. Obviously I got mine because I was coming back from a concussion and doing stuff like that. I kind of didn't fit the category as much as some people that were honored in the past."

Furrey, who will see more time at safety in the absence of Brodney Pool (concusssion) said he'd be shocked if he started there.

Coleman, Wimbley idle: End Kenyon Coleman and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who both suffered knee injuries in Cincinnati, sat out Wednesday's practice, but Mangini said "I think we have a shot with both those guys. We're going to have to see how the week goes and see how it plays out." Six players were limited, including running back Chris Jennings with an ailing shoulder. Jennings, who will be needed more with Jamal Lewis (head) out, had his shoulder wrapped.

Blackout update: An estimated 4,000-5,000 tickets remain for Sunday's 4:05 p.m. game against the Chargers and it will be blacked out within a 75-mile radius if the tickets aren't sold by 4 p.m. Thursday. It would mark the first blackout in the new era.

Roster moves: The Browns signed defensive lineman Brian Schaefering off the practice squad to their 53-man roster. Schaefering was originally signed by the Browns as an undrafted rookie in 2008 out of Lindenwood University in Missouri.

In addition, the team signed running back Jed Collins and defensive back Michael Grant to the practice squad. Former Bengals and Colts running back DeDe Dorsey was among a handful of players tried out by the Browns on Tuesday, but as of Wednesday evening, he had not been signed

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If he is still around next season and we switch to a 4-3 (A very likely scenario depending on who is hired) I think we will finally see what we wanted Williams to be all along. He just doesn't fit our scheme. He was a beast in GB playing the 4-3.

I like the 3-4 defense a lot but the fact is most of our players are better suited to play in a 4-3 defense. We don't have and have never had the horses to run the 3-4. At this point I would be all for the switch.

I really liked this trade at the time but seems like the current regime isn't using him to his strengths. Playing in a 3-4 where Rogers and Rubin are the middle men I would guess has a lot to do with it. If we were playing a 4-3 there would be plenty of room for him on the inside.

Another situation of trying to force a player into a position they do not want to play and and assuming the results would be the same.

Finally a player speaking out to defend EM...oh wait

"It is, what is"....that's seems to be the player's attitude towards EM..."he is, what he is"...stubborn and nobody will change him...they are all just waiting for him to get fired and probably throw a party that night just like many Jets players did

Guy wants to play...Good - hopefully we see a lot of Rubin at NT - Corey is looking pretty big and what happened to switching our D up a little - I'd like to see a lot more of the 46 D these last few games...come on lets go Attack!!!

JMHO

Up to now, that hasn't been very much. Williams, acquired by former Browns general manager Phil Savage in a trade with Green Bay for the Browns' second-round pick in 2008, has rotated into the end rotation sparingly and is 18th on the team with 16 tackles. He also has two sacks.


Even though you're not a fit, your shoulder was hurt last year..
Best way to deal with it..move him inside and rotate with Rubin...

If Mangini does one good thing this year it'll be to lock up Cribbs. Please let that happen.

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Finally a player speaking out to defend EM...oh wait

"It is, what is"....that's seems to be the player's attitude towards EM..."he is, what he is"...stubborn and nobody will change him...they are all just waiting for him to get fired and probably throw a party that night just like many Jets players did

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Yep ...no agenda here....

This may just be the ghost of drafts past telling me this, but switching from the 3-4 makes it a little bit easier on our scouting departments not making guys switch positions. The 4-3 is just so much easier to find personnel with. Now I know when you have the personnel for it the 3-4 can give you just so many looks schematically but it will be world's easier acquiring talent with a simple 4-3. Why cling to it?

Sorry to rant about the scheme again as we've discussed this in threads past, but you have to admit there is great truth to that. I just feel we need to switch back.

It's not like the 3-4 has worked wonders here. We tried it out, no luck.

I wouldn't mind seeing the 4-3 with some big guys up front. When Rogers is healthy, could rotate Rogers, Rubin and Williams in for the middle. That's a pretty decent looking middle IMO.

Rubin is an absolute horrible fit for a 43, and if we go that way then he's useless to us. We basically get better at LB with a switch to the 43, but we get a whole lot worse when it comes to the DL. We have NOBODY on this roster who could be a successful 43 DE, and that is where your pressure comes from in a 43. We also have NOBODY who plays OLB currently that can put pressure on the QB.

As someone else said, it's tomato...tomato......because we still need the same type of players no matter which D we play. The problem with making the switch again is that a large portion of our D roster is just useless in a 43, and we would have a BIG overhaul on that side of the ball. Look at the guys who just wouldn't fit in a 43........

1. Wimbly
2. Hall
3. Viekune
4. Smith
5. Rubin
6. Coleman

All of those guys are significant peices to our D or are recent high round picks. Now one could say that our D is worthless now anyway....lol......and it doesn't matter, and I would agree.

I just hope people realize no matter what D we use we are several peices away from being a good/quality D..........there is no magic scheme that is going to fix the lack of talent that we have.

My opinion is that most if not all of those guys you mentioned should be upgraded anyway. It would be easier to find those replacements in the 4-3 and some of our good players such as DQ, Rogers, and Williams would benefit from the switch.

Most of our players are just useless
The Browns need to stick with the 34 and just stop drafting complimentary backups..
Get a real GM who can draft impact players..thats why EM won't be touching the draft next year...There are some impact prospects coming in this draft..





http://www.gbnreport.com/top100.html

I agree

If we could get a stud OLB and a quality 3-4 DE to team with our current DLinemen our front seven would be pretty good.

If we go 43 (stay 34) there's a good chance that Suh will be our draft pick and Williams/Rogers are gone. So again, we really gain nothing by going to a 34 or a 43...............we need alot of of talent either way. The same thing could be said for the offensive schemes as well. Any scheme works with the proper talent..............our problem isn't scheme it's been acquiring talent for our schemes, and a lack of a consistant philosophy on draft day.

Until we fix those problems there isn't a magic bean that's going to fix this.

You know who I want bro...........Norwood. He will not require a 1st round pick, and would be able to contribute day 1 imo.

I think there are better OLB pass rushers in this draft (Kindle, Hughes, Graham) than there are 4-3 DE pass rushers.

I also think we don't know if Corey can make the switch back to 4-3 DT because 2 years of trying to adapt his body to a 3-4 DE plus his injuries might have made him a different player.

plus, I think D'Qwell would be at best a WLB in the 4-3 (the 'chase' LB)....which means the 2 most important LB spots would be unmanned currently.

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plus, I think D'Qwell would be at best a WLB in the 4-3 (the 'chase' LB)....which means the 2 most important LB spots would be unmanned currently.

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A very good point. Maivia (sp...wrong I'm sure) and Barton would play the same position (the Sam) in that D as well. You still would be short a Mike in the 43. Like I saide you are going to have a ton of holes to fill no matter which D we go to.

Yes I know you like Norwood and I do to a extend..but I've got a eye on several tweeners:


Ricky Sapp Clemson
Brandon Graham Michigan
Brandon Lang Troy State
Jerry Hughes Texas Christian

OK Mr."I don't have an agenda"

Whatever you say...

You can call me out on WHAT?????

The fact that I said that we don't know squat about what is really happening behind closed doors and that people are acting like morons????

Because I don't remember being a rah rah boy for Mangini except to point out that "WE DON'T KNOW THE TRUE STORY"

If Mangini is gone...so be it.....You have NOTHING

If you knew HALF of what you think you know......you could really contribute to a football discussion. You may even have a background of football knowledge...but your ego is so much in the way that you couldn't find a QB if you were locked in closet with Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and Otto Graham...

You come out saying you have no agenda and you take every article and you pervesely twist it in any possible way to have a negative view on Mangini...I have seen Bush and Obama Bashers with less of an agenda than you...

Call me out.....LMAO...OK ...you do that....If that makes you feel all Internet powerful

So, you basically say (and want it to be perceived as your "opinion") that you have no opinion on the matter at hand, because we don't know enough...right?

So you basically repsond on a football message board to opinions that their opinions are baseless and have no validity...and add to that you have no opinion on the matter...and that it would be the best stance to take (again: on an opinion-message board)

interesting hobby

If by "agenda" you mean I want EM gone...yeah, than I have an agenda....but I gave multiple reasons over the last 6 month for it (and I'd say they are evident by now to most of us every sunday, in his pressers...and questionable moves/non moves etc) and I constantly challenge guys like you or Shep or Ytown to dish out some counter arguments...all I get then is a full bag of AIR like your last post or stupid personal accusations

It's like discussing with a kid running out of arguments (or in this case having seemingly NONE), who then cries foul or "you're mean" (adult speech for that is "you have an ego"..wow, Im impressed....as a side note: you better have one at age 20+ btw, lol) as last straw

Also you must have missed when I had an EM "agenda" and applauded the trade down, the 6th round picks and the Allen and Roth pickups...it's just the negatives FAR outweigh his solid moves

Trading for Corey Williams in the first place was a bad move. Especially for a 2nd round pick. He didn't really fit the 3-4, he was more of a passing rushing tackle in the 4-3.

It would be great if he could play the nose and actually prove he has some value to this team.

I think our defense is pretty flexible (probably because we stink in either defense) and can be used in either the 3-4 or 4-3. We have Williams and Rogers in the middle. And we can move Wimbley, Roth, and Hall to defensive end. That would leave Jackson and Maiava to play middle linebacker and one of the outside linebacker positions. And it seems like Bowens is pretty good in coverage and could play outside linebacker in the 4-3. The only guys that don't really fit are Trusnik and Barton. But I don't expect Barton to be around next year anyways.

I get the feeling that we will be moving to the 4-3. Mostly because whoever we hire will want to get away from all the Belichick principles that have been shoved down on throat for the past several years.

Anyway, I can see why Williams is frustrated. He isn't getting much playing time. And when he does it's in a defense he's not comfortable with. Sounds like a situation that would make a guy cranky.

As Big Willie said... We have absolutely no one who can play DE on this team in a 4-3 scheme. Not a single guy. It can be extremely effective with the right personel, but that's with any defense. Right now, IMO, we don't have the right personel for either scheme. However, our defensive line isn't the problem with our 3-4 in my opinion. It's our linebackers. Really we have one, maybe two linebackers who fit the 3-4 with DQ (on IR) and maybe Wimbley off the edge. I think a switch to a 4-3 would cost even more time to develop a good D.

IMO, we get good production out of our dline now just no quality linebackers to show us the work the front three are doing.

Post deleted by Referee2

Attack... If it worked out like that I'd be extremely happy. There are some solid players you listed there. I really like Suh, Williams, and Lang. I think Lang is a great pick at 75. Also, A.J. Edds. Never have been impressed with his measurables, he's not a combine type of player. However, I know Stanzi, the QB at Iowa so I watch everyone of their games and Edds always makes plays. He is a really tough kid who seems to have a nose for the ball.

I agree with some of the posters. We insist on this lame 3-4, but we have shills to back it up, and stats to prove we lack effective personnel. We need more run stops and pressure, so a 4-3 seems like a real plus to suit people. But I am just a frustrated fan. Just sayin', it's like a baby. When the stink gets bad enough, change it. I am tired of what I have seen all season. IF we have decent on the bench, play it. But EM has a process, which I will wait on until draft day, then get really concerned.

I think that the 3-4 is just as good as 4-3, different styles and different philosophies, but both are quite well proven to be more than effective and adequate at the professional level.
However, our problem has little to do with the scheme and a LOT to do with the fact that no matter which scheme we choose, we NEVER seem to EVER get the right type of personnel to run it effectively.

Further exasperating this is that, without fail and almost like clockwork, as soon as we begin to acquire that personnel, we will have a change at the top and we will shuffle the whole damn deck and reset ourselves to the beginning.

We've been running a 3-4 for,what 5yrs. now?
It just isn't that difficult to acquire guys who fit the scheme.
There basically is no hope that we will ever field a consistantly decent,I didn't good,team.

Cleveland Browns Ed Block Courage Award Winners:
1999 - DE Derrick Alexander
2000 - LB Jamir Miller
2001 - OL Jeremy McKinney
2002 - TE Mark Campbell
2003 - DE Courtney Brown
2004 - RB Lee Suggs
2005 - LB Kenard Lang
2006 - K Phil Dawson
2007 - DB Gary Baxter
2008 - WR Joe Jurevicius
2009 - WR Mike Furrey

My Solution for the defense for 2010 with a switch to the 4-3.

DT Rogers
DT Williams
DE - Free Agent - Aaron Kampman - He struggled with the transition to the 3-4 and is a great 43DE.
DE - Draft - Jason Pierre-Paul - Long DE out of South Florida. Looks to be a third rounder at this point. May rise up the rankings because of measurables.

WLB - DQ
MLB - Free Agent - Keith Bulluck - Maybe my favorite ILB of the past few years. Is an absolute hawk. Stout run stopper, can work the deep middle, smart, and long armed freak of an athlete.
SLB - Draft - Bruce Carter - Powerful guy, can run as well. Mid second round type guy.

FS - Draft - Eric Berry - Stud athlete and stud playmaker. Would be our answer to Reed and Polamalu
SS - Free Agent - Adrian Wilson - Hammer of a guy for the Cardinals. Better playmaker the closer he is to the LOS
CB - Wright
CB - Trade - Antoine Cason - Backup for the Chargers who is a nice athlete back there, trade for Wimbley
Nickle - McDonald/Adams

That's one solution. I like how that starting unit looks. Fill in the rest with low level FAs, the draft and UDFAs. That's probably a Top 10 unit from a talent standpoint.

Didn't know that Adrian Wilson resigned. Oops!

Kampman is going to be looking for a 43 defense. Always loved the way he played. People would love him in Cleveland. Don't know if he'd come.

Bulluck would have to be shown a lot of money. Period. But we have the most cap room in the league. Something you're not taking into account on the multiple high end free agent route.

Cason is a backup. Wimbley would compete with English if Merriman left. Just a thought, but thanks for the feedback.

Just thinking best case scenarios here....I'd love to watch that defense on Sundays next year though.

While we're at it, let's sign Jared Gaither, Jahri Evans, Ronnie Brown, Owen Daniels, Vincent Jackson, and DeMarcus Ware.

The Browns have a chance to do a lot this offseason. The new management can't blow it.