San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams joined teammate Richard Sherman on The Cris Collinsworth Podcast this week. One of the big takeaways was his reaction to Sherman predicting that the offensive lineman would return to the 49ers, the team that traded for him last year during the draft.
Williams liked the idea.
"That's not a bad take, fellas," the veteran offensive lineman said. "That's not a bad take. You all are barking up the right tree."
Williams acknowledged the noticeable difference between the culture created by the 49ers compared to the one he experienced in Washington.
Williams is scheduled to become a highly sought-after free agent in a week. He'll likely receive a big payday somewhere. It still could be with San Francisco. The tackle would like to stay put, and the Niners would love to have him back.
One thing Williams liked about joining the 49ers was reuniting with head coach Kyle Shanahan, who he first worked with in Washington. Shanahan has always been touted as one of the game's brightest young football minds, and you won't get any argument from Williams.
"I'll just say he has that play-calling, and knowing how to set defenses up, and giving you the same look twice but (with) two different plays," Williams explained. "He has that. I mean, I've never seen anybody like it. I've been around, watched some of the best coaches. I've been around the game a long time. I still haven't seen anybody to kind of rival his in-game play-calling and game-planning."
Sherman is also scheduled to become a free agent but has made it very clear that he doesn't expect to return to the 49ers. There is no bad blood between the two sides. The veteran cornerback understands the business and knows where San Francisco stands financially.
Like Williams, Sherman has a great deal of respect for his soon-to-be former head coach.
"I'd agree. That man, I mean, wizard. Wizard," Sherman said. "I've seen him set up everybody (in games). I've seen him set me up."
Williams doesn't notice a significant difference in the Kyle Shanahan he knew as an offensive coordinator in Washington and the one in San Francisco. The coach is candid with his players, which is respected and appreciated.
Sherman mentioned the difference between the only two head coaches he's had in the NFL—Shanahan and Pete Carroll. The latter's interaction with players became repetitive, while Sherman never knows what to expect from a Shanahan-led meeting because nothing seemed scripted. Everything that comes out of Shanahan's mouth is more real.
"I think Kyle's one of the people who can make you run through a brick wall just because you know he's so honest, and he's so transparent with everything he says and everything he does," Williams added. "... You've been around the game. I've been around the game. You don't get that type of transparency from the top."
If Williams does hit the open market, he knows he can flourish in any system. However, he does enjoy playing within Shanahan's and feels the coach knows how to take advantage of his unique combination of power, speed, and athleticism.
"I think Kyle's system, it kind of puts me on display a little bit more than a lot of the other systems," Williams explained. "But I played in the power-running system with [former Washington offensive line coach Bill] Callahan, and the power, the duo, the two double-teams, no puller. That's strictly power, inside-zone type of scheme, and we were very successful in doing that as well.
"I know I can do both. I think the difference is Kyle's system kind of puts that flashiness and athleticism on display more so than any other."
You can listen to the entire interview below.
