From the scouting combine in Indianapolis comes this weighty nugget - newly acquired safety Jimmy Williams is tipping the scales these days at 230 pounds. When he worked out for the team earlier this winter, he weighed 220 pounds. Weight was one of the things that got Williams in trouble with the Falcons. When Atlanta drafted him in 2006, Williams weighed about 215 pounds. (in fact, he weighed 213 at the 2006 combine). The Falcons were not happy when he reported last spring at more than 230 pounds and they cut him in June. The 49ers would like to see Williams at 220 pounds.
Williams began his career in Atlanta as a cornerback and was moved to free safety. Scot McCloughan today said that Williams could play either free or strong safety, and he implied that the team's safety starters already are on the team. That's either an admission that this is a weak, weak year for safeties in both free agency and the draft, or a bit of subterfuge on the eve of free agency.
McCloughan also said some of the younger players on the team need to step up:" I don't want to get into specific names, but they need to. That is what is so important about the draft, identifying your type of guys. They need to play. ... They need to step up. It's a year later and they should step up."
McCloughan is likely talking about Dashon Goldson, who teems with talent but has not been able to unseat Mark Roman at free safety. Perhaps he's also referring to Marcus Hudson, who hasn't shined as either a safety or cornerback and was on the bubble for being cut last season.
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More bad news for a free-agency market that is becoming more sparse by the hour -- the Dolphins locked up Vernon Carey, one of the best prospects at right tackle, with a multi-year deal.
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Wyoming running back Devin Moore yesterday held a private workout in Indy, his home town, making him the first player to work out at the combine. Moore's 4.41 40 time is drawing a lot of buzz, but what jumps out to me is his 27 reps of 225 -- not too shabby at all considering the guy weighs 190. To put that number in perspective, last year's RB champ in the bench press was Jonathan Stewart, who's a much bigger man. Stewart hoisted 225 pounds 28 times. Fourteen teams reportedly watched Moore work out. The 49ers were not one of them.
-- Matt Barrows
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