Bears move Williams inside, but disappointment hard to block out

After missing the last three games with a hamstring injury, Chris Williams is happy to be back in the starting lineup.

But Williams, who was sidelined after one series in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys, doesn't seem thrilled about playing left guard.

If there is such a thing as a glamour position on the offensive line, it's left tackle because he's the guy entrusted with protecting a right-handed quarterback's blind side, usually from the opponent's most fearsome pass rusher.

Oh, and by the way, left tackles usually make more money than the other offensive linemen.

Williams, who started the first two games this season and the last five games last year at left tackle, seems a tad miffed at what he may consider a demotion.

It's difficult to say that with certainty, however, since Williams hasn't been going out of his way to talk to the media.

On Wednesday, when a crowd of reporters gathered around his locker as he was dressing, Williams requested some space.

“Let me get dressed, he said, seeming to indicate that once he was more fully clothed, he would break his silence.

No such luck. When he was finished dressing, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman walked through the crowd and disappeared into an off-limits area of the building. On Friday, the 2008 first-round draft pick finally consented to speak.

“How are you? Williams was asked.

“I'm all right, he said.

How do you feel about the move?

“I feel good about it, he said.

“Why? he was asked.

“Because I get to play football again, he said.

There wasn't a lot of discussion this week when it was decided that Williams would move to guard.

“I mean, they told me, Williams said. “I just do what my coaches tell me. It wasn't like a lengthy explanation was needed.

Usually starters don't lose their jobs because of injuries. When they are healthy, they get their spot back. But that hasn't happened this year on the Bears.

When backup quarterback Caleb Hanie suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason and fell to No. 3 behind Todd Collins, he stayed at No. 3 after he was recovered. He has since been put back at No. 2.

When right guard Lance Louis suffered a knee injury in Week Four, he lost his job to Edwin Williams, and he hasn't gotten it back, even though he's 100 percent.

It will be interesting to see what happens with left guard Robert Garza when he returns from arthroscopic knee surgery in a few weeks. Garza started the first five games and was a starter with the Bears for 5 ½ seasons, but it doesn't seem like there are any guarantees.

Chris Williams is at least back in the starting lineup, but he'll be playing a position he hasn't played since his sophomore year at Vanderbilt, when he was protecting Jay Cutler. He says he's comfortable at guard, but there are differences.

“Guards have different responsibilities, Williams said. “Just a little different assignment-wise. The guys in there are bigger. It's closer quarters in there. But it's all football. Technique is all the same.

Offensive line coach Mike Tice has praised Williams' run blocking, but that may have also been a knock on his pass protection, which is Job One at left tackle. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz also believes Williams can play effectively inside, but he's not sure he'll stay there or eventually move back to tackle.

“We're still trying to figure that out, Martz said. “We think that he can be a big factor for us, and with Garza (out) with that knee, as physical as Chris is he's natural inside because he's so stout, and that helps us in protections and in the running game, obviously, too. We just need to get our best guys on the field.

After Williams was hurt, Frank Omiyale moved from his right tackle spot to left tackle, and now promising rookie J'Marcus Webb is the right tackle after veteran Kevin Shaffer got two starts there when Omiyale first made the switch.

When Williams was drafted 14th overall, the plan was for him to be the Bears' long-term answer at left tackle, and that may still be how it plays out.

“I don't worry about it this week, he said. “We'll worry about that later. “I mean, a job is a job. I'm going out here to play football. It doesn't matter where I line up at. I'm going to give it my best shot, and I'm going to play as hard as I can. If it's left guard, left tackle, defensive tackle, safety, whatever. I will play whatever.

Follow Bob LeGere's reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com