Hurting rookie Williams falling far behind
BOURBONNAIS - The clock is running and, unlike Mick Jagger, time is not on Chris Williams' side.
The Bears' finished their 10th training camp practice Wednesday night under the lights at Olivet Nazarene University football stadium without Williams, who has missed 8 of them with a strained back. The first-round pick from Vanderbilt was supposed to have made a serious move on the starting left tackle spot by now, but six days after being injured, he's barely able to break into a jog.
He hasn't made much of an impression on the veterans with whom he is supposed to be developing continuity.
"I don't have a comment on Chris Williams," said six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz. "Being in camp and getting reps when you're a rookie is important for everybody."
The inactivity doesn't bode well for a player who already faces a difficult transition at one of the most demanding positions on the field, protecting the quarterback's blind side from the best pass rushers in the league.
"He needs to get back soon," said Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner. "He needed to get back a few days ago. I'm not saying he can't play because he hasn't been here, but at that position, you've got to get work. Any position you have to get reps. You have to get out there, especially if you're a rookie. "You've got to get the timing, you have to get the feel for it. He's got to get the feel for the speed of the game and all the adjustments. The only way you can get it is being out there."
If Williams is diligent is studying his play book and taking mental reps during practice by hearing the play call and then going over in his head what his assignment is, he can minimize how far he falls behind.
"He's extremely intelligent, he works hard, and he studies," Turner said. "Mentally he's going to be very well prepared. But he's not getting the physical reps."
Jury's still out: In 1995, while playing in Ron Turner's offense, Erik Kramer established the franchise record for passing yards in a season with 3,838 and touchdown passes with 29.
In the 12 seasons since then, only one Bears quarterback has thrown for more than 14 TD passes -Rex Grossman with 23 in 2006.
Kramer, who will handle the color commentary on the Bears' preseason games on Fox-TV, was asked what he though has prevented anyone else from putting up numbers similar to his in the same offense.
"Well, for one thing, they didn't have a running game last season, which we did," Kramer said. "And I don't know that they've had a game-breaking receiver, although you could probably say that Bernard Berrian was (last year). They do have better pass-catching tight ends than we did.
"I'd hate to say it was the guy pulling the trigger until I see them play a lot more."
In 1995, rookie Rashaan Salaam led the Bears with 1,074 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, but as a team, the Bears averaged 3.9 per attempt, nearly a yard better than their league-worst, 3.1-yard average last season. Kramer's wide receivers, Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway, combined for 144 receptions, 16 TDs and more than 16 yards per catch. Graham had 82 catches for 1,301 yards and Conway caught 62 passes for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Camp tidbits: Cornerback Charles Tillman was excused from Wednesday's practices for personal reasons. ... Wide receiver Mark Bradley, running back Garrett Wolfe, safety Kevin Payne, defensive end Dan Bazuin, offensive tackle Chris Williams and defensive tackle Tommie Harris all sat out both practices.