Williams excited about new opportunity
Newly acquired left tackle looks forward to a lot more winning with the Niners
Trent Williams is smiling. He is rejuvenated. He is the 49ers’ new left tackle, hell-bent on winning games and a Lombardi Trophy.
“It was extremely important for me, being at this point in my career,” Williams said Thursday of his championship aspirations. “I’ve played a lot of football. I haven’t won a lot of games. I just wanted that to change.”
He most certainly is not in Washington anymore, ending that 10-year tenure Sunday with a draft- day trade to the reigning NFC champions.
He is also a popular addition on the 49ers.
Among those welcoming him is cornerback Richard Sherman, who’s become close with Williams seven years after getting too close in a postgame tussle after a playoff game in Washington.
“I know a lot of people don’t know this, but me and Sherm talked that night after that incident and buried the hatchet then,” Williams said. “... We’ve been good friends for a minute. I’m kind of happy being on a team with him.”
Here are the top 10 responses Williams had Thursday in a video confer
ence with Bay Area reporters: HOW MUCH DOES HE LOOK FORWARD TO REUNITING WITH KYLE SHANAHAN, THE 49ERS COACH WHO WAS WASHINGTON’S OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR FROM 2010
14? » “I’m extremely excited to get back in a building with not only Kyle but there are a ton of coaches who were with me my first four years of my career. It’s going to be a happy reunion.
“This was a preferred destination on mine, just because of the familiarity I have with Kyle and the offense. Obviously with this an ascending team, I thought I’d fit right in.” DID HE VETO A TRADE LAST WEEKEND TO MINNESOTA, AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE 49ERS SEVEN YEARS AFTER BE
ING IN SHANAHAN’S OFFENSE? » “As far as the trade goes, no, there was no necessary for a veto for me. The Vikings long term, and what I looked at long term, it didn’t sync up. They just really dropped out. It wasn’t me refusing to go.
“As far as what I can offer to this offense, the reason I was drafted to Washington is the way this offense marries up with my skill set. It’s still the same. It’s a hand and glove fit. I know this offense like the back of my hand.” HOW CLOSELY HAS HE WATCHED THE 49ERS LAST SEASON AND WHAT EXTENT HAS HE COMMUNICATED WITH JIMMY GAROPPOLO?
» “Last year I had a lot of time to sit and watch a lot of football. With the success of this team, it was on prime time a lot, so I watched ton of 49ers tape, and with me being so familiar with the coaching staff, I just always kind of felt as a part of the extended family. I always had a bias view when I watched the game, going for Kyle. I watched it closely.
“I haven’t had a chance to touch base with Garoppolo yet. I’ve talked to a few guys of this team. But the way things are now, we haven’t had a chance to formally meet.” WHY IS HE FINE WITH PLAYING OUT THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT? » “We both agreed on we can take a wait-and-see approach. It’s last year of my deal. Obviously it’s an incentive for me to play well. They gave up a third-round (pick) next year, so they’re invested in the deal as well. Both parties are interested in something long term but I’m more than OK with just getting my feet wet and just playing it out.” WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES JOINING A TEAM WHEN BEING AWAY THIS OFFSEASON? » “Under regular circumstances, it’d be extremely challenge. It’d be next to impossible to be as effective as you want to be without having a proper offseason. In this case, I literally can go line up in that huddle and go run a play today. That’s how familiar I am with the offense. The learning curve is a lot shorter.” HOW IS YOUR CONDITIONING AND DID NOT PLAYING LAST YEAR MAKE YOU FRESHER, AS SHANAHAN SUSPECTS? » “Kyle is 100 percent rate. It’s crazy being 31 and I feel like I’m 25 again. It’s my first year off of football since the second grade. It’s like 25 years of straight football ev
ery August. My body has had a chance to rest, a chance to heal. I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a position with no aches or pain. I feel rejuvenated to say the least.
“As far as working out, that’s a staple of mine and allowed me to play through so many injuries. It’s allowed me to grow as a player. I’m always heavily invested in sharpening my tools in the offseason.” HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO JOIN A TEAM WITH CHAMPIONSHIP ASPIRATIONS? » “It was extremely important for me, being at this point in my career. I’ve played a lot of football. I haven’t won a lot of games. I just wanted that to change. I’m an ultra competitive guy, regardless, and go the extra mile when I shouldn’t. Doing that when you know at the end of the year you have a real possibility of holding up the Lombardi Trophy, it’s a lot easier and the vibe is different. You work for a different reason that just maintaining the elite level of your play every Sunday.”
WHAT PRESSURE DOES HE FEEL REPLACING JOE STALEY AT LEFT TACKLE? » “I don’t really feel pressure. Joe is an outstanding player. He’s been a Hall of Famer, or will be. His legacy is his legacy. I have my own and have to work on mine. Me being the best me is doing the best I can to to carry a torch. You don’t replace a guy like Joe. It’s one of those guys you get used to being there, it takes time not having that face in the locker room. You don’t replace him, you just learn to live without him, and hopefully I can make that a little easier.” WHAT ARE HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THE 49ERS DEFENSIVE LINE? » “I watched them a lot, I watched almost every 49ers game this past season. They’re the best in the league. What Nick ( Bosa) has done ( last season) is second to none. (Arik) Armstead and Dee Ford are elite players in their own right. The mixture of guys you add in, the young guy from South Carolina in (Javon) Kinlaw, it’s a deadly mixture. They’re going to be harassing quarterbacks all year. I’m excited to compete against them on a daily basis and that will help me get my feet wet.”
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IN THE BAY AREA? » “I just want to get on the field, man. I can’t lie. I’ve been champing at the bit for some time. I’ve had a roller coaster of emotions because I did go back (to Washington) at the trade deadline, I was getting ready to play. Now I’m champing at the bit to get on the field with a Super Bowl-caliber team, that’s all I can think about right now.”