Will, Sam, Mike and now Jack.

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams has played them all.

Williams played all three linebacker positions — the weakside or Will, strongside or Sam, and middle or Mike — for Mike Shanahan during Williams' first five seasons in the NFL. So while other Broncos teammates might privately fret about the transition to a 3-4 scheme under new coach Josh McDaniels, Williams isn't concerned.

Williams will play what is called the "Jack" linebacker position — meaning he will be the inside linebacker who is lined up away from the opponent's tight end.

"I love my new position," Williams said Wednesday in his first public comments since the 2008 season ended. "I think the position highlights what type of player I am. It allows me to do what I do best."

The fact Williams is happy should come as welcome news to Broncos fans after Williams endured one of his most challenging seasons last fall. Williams, who never missed a game in his first four seasons in the NFL, suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in November and sat out five games.

He also played through shoulder pain and had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in January.

"It was kind of an off-and-on thing. Some weeks it would be fine, and you know I'd do an awkward hit or land funny and then it would be painful," Williams said.

After months of rehab, Wednesday marked Williams' official return to the practice field. Williams admitted he felt "a little rusty" but said months of meetings and film study have helped him adjust to his new role on a revamped defense. "This is my first day out, but just being in the film rooms and Coach telling me, 'On this play you have this' and 'On this play you have that,' I think that, because this and that is what I do best," Williams said.

Williams' role could be similar to that of Patrick Willis with the 49ers, who in 2007 led the NFL in total tackles while playing in the same spot for Mike Nolan, Denver's new defensive coordinator.

Williams said the new spot gives him the potential to be just as productive here in 2009.

"I like to say I like to go to the ball and make plays," Williams said. "I can't make plays if I've got a thousand guys on me."

Williams figures to be the only returning member of the team's starting linebacker corps from the end of last season after the new coaching regime released Jamie Winborn and did not re-sign Nate Webster.

Along with cornerback Champ Bailey, defensive end-turned-linebacker Elvis Dumervil and possibly defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, Williams is one of only a handful of 2008 holdovers to retain a starting spot on the defense.

"We still have a positive attitude. We don't have a chip on our shoulder like we've got to prove this and prove that to the world," Williams said. "We feel that we knew we had talent last year, because of injuries and things like that, a play here, a play there, things didn't go too well. This year, we see it as a chance to make that up."

(denverpost.com)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos value D.J. Williams' versatility at linebacker even if at times it's vexing for him.

This season, he'll be asked to relocate to another new linebacking spot, his fourth change in six seasons.

But he's not grumbling because Williams feels like he just landed a plum position. With Denver switching to a 3-4 formation, Williams will play inside and away from the tight end.

That frees him up to roam around, react and wreak havoc.

"I love my position," Williams said Wednesday on Day 2 of the Broncos' passing camp. "I think the position highlights what type of player I am. It allows me to do what I do best."

Since he was drafted by Denver in 2004, Williams has bounced around from one linebacker spot to another, just depending on which defensive coordinator wanted him where in their particular scheme.

He's enjoyed his time at middle and weakside linebacker, detested his stint at strongside. That's one spot he never wants to play again.

Williams was moved to strongside linebacker in 2005 to make room for Ian Gold, and didn't have much fun. In that position, Williams came out on passing downs.

"As long as I don't have to go back to Sam (strongside), they can put me anywhere," Williams said.

Under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, Williams will have more flexibility to make reads. When asked to give an overview of his duties, Williams grinned and said, "Go to the ball and make plays."

Sounds similar to what Nolan allowed Ray Lewis to do when Nolan was in charge of the Baltimore Ravens' defense.

"I'm enjoying what it is so far," Williams said.

And that's been all of one day.

Williams wasn't cleared to participate in team drills until Wednesday. He's been recuperating from offseason surgery to fix his right rotator cuff.

"It went pretty well, still a little rusty," he said of his first day back.

Williams said the shoulder injury really didn't bother him much during the season.

No, what bothered the Broncos co-captain was a partially torn MCL in his knee that sidelined him for five games — not to mention the disastrous play of the defense.

The Broncos finished at or near the bottom in every major defensive category, contributing to the team blowing a three-game lead with three to go and failing to make the playoffs. That ultimately led to the firing of Mike Shanahan, a coach Williams was sorry to see go.

"He's a great coach," Williams said. "Honestly, I put that on the players more than anything ... You can do all the coaching you want, but the players still have to play the game."

Williams realizes a dark cloud looms over a disappointing defense that surrendered 448 points last season. It's even guilt by association for newly signed free agents such as defensive backs Renaldo Hill, Brian Dawkins, Andra Davis and Andre Goodman.

"We've got 10 or 12 guys that have chips on their shoulders that weren't even here (last year)," said Williams, who was the team's second-leading tackler in 2008. "They just take the burden of what we did last year on them."

Hill said the reputation of Denver's defense wasn't exactly flattering, especially the play of the secondary.

"I was hearing it wasn't a good year," he said. "A lot of injuries, a lot of deep balls going over the head. That's just the perception I heard."

Now that he's here, Hill has a different take.

"We should be the top secondary in the league," he said. "I don't think anyone is expecting anything less. That's how we're approaching it. We all hold each other accountable and are expecting to be that."

Broncos defensive lineman Kenny Peterson has already flipped the page on last season, preferring to forget all about the past.

"You can't worry about what the defense did last year. This is a new era, a new coaching staff, a new philosophy, a new everything," he said. "Pretty much what we did last year is null and void. You can't even count it. We have new faces, new everything. New is the word of the day."

Williams definitely knows that as he's relocating to another new position. So far, he likes the construction of this defense.

"We had talent last year, but because of injuries and things like that — a play here, a play there — things didn't go too well," Williams said. "This year, we see it as a chance to make that up."

(ap.com)

Between a torn-up knee and a bum shoulder, the past seven months have been a pain for Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.

A return to full health, though, is approaching. Williams will meet with head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos this morning with the expectation he will be cleared to participate in the team's practices on a limited basis. It would be Williams' first organized action since shoulder surgery in January.

A torn rotator cuff was just one of the physical maladies Williams endured last season. Williams was leading the NFL in tackles through the first seven games, but he suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee Nov. 2 against Miami.

(denverpost.com)

The Broncos confirmed that D.J. Williams will play weak inside linebacker, or the "Mike" in their new 3-4 defensive scheme.

IDP leaguers take note. Under new coordinator Mike Nolan, this was Pat Willis' position in San Francisco and Ray Lewis' in Baltimore. Teams are still going to run on Denver often and Williams will regain 120+ tackle potential.

(rotoworld.com)

In a move that helps to reduce some of the dead money resulting from the release of cornerback Dre’ Bly, the Denver Broncos have created $3.6 million in cap space by converting a $4.5 million roster bonus owed to linebacker D.J. Williams into a guaranteed payment.

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, the move spreads the payment over five years for cap purposes.  The cap charge for 2009 is reduced, then, to $900,000 — giving rise to an extra $3.6 million in cap room for the league year that commences on February 27.

The $3.6 million in cap savings resulting from the restructuring of Williams’ deal offsets only a portion of the the cap charge relating to Dre Bly’s release.

Per a source with knowledge of Bly’s deal, his remaining bonus proration is $9.45 million.  Because 2009 is the last capped year, the entire amount will have to be absorbed under the 2009 cap.

But since the Broncos are clearing Bly’s $3.25 million salary and $400,000 workout bonus, the net cap hit is $5.8 million.  So with Williams’ adjusted contract, the Broncos are only $2.2 million in the hole. 

(profootballtalk.com)

One of the repercussions of Denver’s transition to a 3-4 defense is yet another change of positions for D.J. Williams, who has not played at the same spot in back-to-back seasons since 2004-05. Sources say having Williams, who is athletic enough to play inside or outside in a 3-4, gives the Broncos some flexibility in the draft and free agency. If the team decides to use an early pick on a linebacker, it won’t have to stew over whether to take someone who can play inside or outside. Instead, Denver can take the one they deem the best available, regardless of position, and then alter Williams’ position accordingly. The constant changes have made things more challenging for Williams, who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, but he has played well no matter where he lines up and he doesn’t seem shaken by it.

(profootballweekly.com)

If it's the Broncos' offseason, it must be time to wonder which linebacker position D.J. Williams is about to play.

"We're going to try and put every player in the best position that allows us to be as successful as we can," said Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. "Whatever combination that winds up being, obviously D.J. will be a big part in that. And we'll look forward to getting him out there and putting him in position to where he can be a really good football player."

Williams first has to get healthy. He recently underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. He has begun light rehabilitation, although his arm will remain in a sling during his downtime.

At linebacker, Williams has played the weak side, strong side, middle and weak side again in the past five seasons. If the Broncos move to a 3-4 defense for the 2009 season, he could be considered for an inside linebacker position.

(denverpost.com)

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams is wearing a sling after he underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder last week.

Williams, the Broncos' first-round draft pick in 2004, will be out four to six weeks before he begins his normal training and full rehabilitation. Williams' best overall season may have been his first, when he played his natural weakside linebacker position and finished third in the NFL defensive player of the year balloting.

But Williams was switched to strongside linebacker in 2005 and middle linebacker in 2007, and went back to the weak side in 2008. The Broncos gave him a six-year, $32 million contract extension before the 2008 season, and after a terrific start, he was bothered by knee and shoulder problems.

Williams may have to make another position adjustment for the 2009 season as the Broncos' new coaching staff phases in a 3-4 defensive system.

(denverpost.com)

Everybody knew Broncos LB D.J. Williams was hurt while trying to play in the final two games of the season but few knew the extent of his pain and now it’s being reported that the weakside linebacker is facing offseason surgery — on his shoulder, not his knee. Williams suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the Broncos’ eighth game against Miami which caused him to miss the next six games and he was listed on the injury report the last two weeks with knee and shoulder injuries.

(denverpost.com)

The Rocky Mountain News suggests that D.J. Williams (knee) could move to middle linebacker full time now that he's healthy.
Williams, who's listed as probable, was playing inside on passing downs before his injury. Denver wants to keep rookie WLB Wesley Woodyard in the lineup and it could come at current MLB Nate Webster's expense. Denver could also move Webster to the strong side, replacing Jamie Winborn.

(rotoworld.com)

It appears the Broncos will have to play another week without their two best defensive players.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said left cornerback Champ Bailey and weakside linebacker D.J. Williams were downgraded during practice Thursday.

"A little bit tight for both of them," Shanahan said.

Williams has been out since suffering a third-degree sprain of his left medial collateral ligament against Miami on Nov. 6. Bailey and Williams did participate in practice on a limited basis Thursday.

The one defensive starter who will return this week is Nate Webster. The middle linebacker had been out since suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee on Nov. 6.

Webster had a second-degree sprain, which was not as severe as Williams' injury.

(denverpost.com)

Broncos WLB D.J. Williams (knee) has resumed practicing without limits and is on track to start this week.
Williams, the best player on Denver's front seven, should immediately regain his full-time starting role from Wesley Woodyard. Woodyard was decent in Williams' absence, but D.J. offers more big-play and run-stopping ability.

(rotoworld.com)

The NFL Network reports that Broncos WLB D.J. Williams will miss the next four weeks with his MCL injury.

It sounds like Williams tore his MCL. Rookie Wesley Woodyard (6'1/212), who some teams viewed as a safety prospect coming out in April, is highly unlikely to be as potent against the run as Williams (6'1/242). The Browns should be able to run off LT Joe Thomas' back all game Thursday night.

(rotoworld.com)

DENVER (Map, News) - The already hurting Denver Broncos defense suffered another serious injury Sunday.

Weak-side linebacker and captain D.J. Williams went down with a knee injury in the fourth quarter of Denver's 26-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The injury happened as Williams tackled running back Ronnie Brown on a screen play.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Williams injured the MCL in his knee. Shanahan indicated he didn't expect the linebacker to play Thursday in Cleveland.

"I can't give you a timeframe, but it will be a little while," Shanahan said.

(examiner.com)

Sources in Denver say Broncos WLB D.J. Williams is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season, but it’s been overshadowed by the defense’s dreadful performance. This year Williams moved to his third position in the LB corps in as many seasons, shifting from the middle to the weak side, but he hasn’t let the constant shuffling affect him. 

(profootballweekly.com)

It's slim pickings this week since only one AFC West team won Sunday.

Denver's defense bounced back from allowing 113 points in the past three weeks and the Broncos beat Tampa Bay, 16-13. So, we're selecting a Denver defensive player for the AFC West player of the week: weakside linebacker D.J. Williams.

Williams was tremendous in Denver's solid defensive performance. Williams has been good all season and he kept it up Sunday. He had 11 tackles and one of Denver's three sacks. He also leapt high into the air to break up a long Tampa Bay pass play in the third quarter.

Williams is quietly one of the NFL's better linebackers. The 2004 first-round pick is making a strong case for his first Pro Bowl selection. Williams, who signed a long-term contract on the eve of the regular season, has preserved through some tough times. He has played all three linebacker positions. Williams is thriving now that he is back at his original NFL position.

(espn.com)

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams is one of five finalists for the GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week award.

He is competing with Miami linebacker Joey Porter, a Colorado State product; Atlanta defensive end John Abraham; Philadelphia defensive end Juqua Parker; and Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield.

Fans can vote for the award until 2 p.m. MDT Thursday at NFL.com/gmc. The winner will be announced Thursday night at NFL.com.

Williams made a game-high 16 tackles in the Broncos’ 34-32 win against New Orleans.

Porter recorded three sacks, a forced fumble and six tackles (three for a loss) in the Dolphins’ 38–13 win over New England.

Abraham had two sacks in the Falcons’ 38-14 victory over Kansas City. He finished with three tackles and one forced fumble.

Parker had 2.5 sacks, five tackles (two of them for loss), a forced fumble, a pass batted down and four quarterback hits in the Eagles’ 15-6 win against Pittsburgh.

Winfield notched his first sack of the season, forced a fumble, recovered the ball and ran it back 19 yards for a touchdown that tied the score in the Vikings' 20-10 win against Carolina.

(rockymountainnews.com)

Broncos reporter Mike Klis breaks down a key play from Denver's 34-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High:

The play: The Broncos led 34-32, but the Saints had third-and-1 at the Denver 24 with 2:19 left. The Saints handed off to their short-yardage back, Pierre Thomas, who was tackled in the backfield by Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams for a 1-yard loss. On fourth-and-2, the Saints had Martin Gramatica try a 43-yard field goal. He missed, wide right, and the Broncos won.

Point/counterpoint: On the pivotal stop, the Broncos lined up eight players on the line of scrimmage, with Williams on their far right. Another Broncos linebacker, Jamie Winborn, was on the far left. Saints coach Sean Payton filed a complaint with the league saying Winborn lined up offside — and still pictures and replays suggest New Orleans has a beef. Someone should complain to Payton for not accounting for Williams, who was lined up fair and square and made the play even though it was run away from him.

"D.J. was free on the backside, and with his speed and quickness he was able to make the tackle on the backside," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Had the Saints gotten the first down, Payton said he would have run the clock down to about four seconds before having Gramatica attempt what would have been a shorter kick. Thus, the significance of Williams' play can't be underestimated.

Future prospects: Williams isn't resting on the fat, five-year contract extension he received two days before the season opener at Oakland. His 16 tackles against the Saints moved him from outside the NFL's top 45 tackle leaders last week to a tie for sixth this week with 28. His 14 solo tackles against the Saints were a career high, and one of his assists came against Thomas on a fourth- and-goal stop from the 1 late in the first half. It's early, but Williams has a great chance to make his first AFC Pro Bowl squad this season.

(denverpost.com)

This is why D.J. Williams is back at weak-side linebacker.

It's Thursday morning, and the Broncos defense is involved in a 7- on-7 red-zone drill with the Cowboys offense. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo drops back and delivers a swing pass to rookie running back Felix Jones, a 4.4-second burner and the nation's leader in yards per carry in 2007.

Jones heads for the sideline, his sights set on the left pylon, when Williams suddenly comes flying at Jones to cut off his angle and send him scurrying out of bounds about the 5-yard line.

"I just feel the position is suited for him," Denver linebackers coach Jim Ryan said of Williams' move away from the middle last year to the relatively wide-open spaces of his new spot. "That 'Will' linebacker is in space a little more and gives him the freedom to run."

At middle linebacker, the angles were completely different. And, perhaps worse yet for someone as athletically gifted as Williams, it was constricting in the sense he had to free himself from traffic before his speed and change-of-direction skills could be used fully. Nonetheless, Williams finished with an AFC-leading 141 stops, but there was an overriding sense the position wasn't natural.

So, in the offseason, Denver dumped Ian Gold, added Niko Koutouvides in free agency, shifted Nate Webster inside and cleared room for
Williams to return to the weak side, where he had earned a third-place finish in the 2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

In between, Williams also played strong-side linebacker, so his overall count stands at four positions in four years.

"Around Week 6 or 7 last season," he said, "I started enjoying the middle and I started picking it up, and that's why I was kind of a little upset about this switch, because right when I started getting good at it, I moved to another position."

Williams, though, hasn't completely abandoned the middle. In nickel looks, he still plays there. And if the tight end shifts on those passing downs, he might play strong side, too.

'Stressful' but beneficial
So, from a big-picture perspective, his vagabond life in Denver has served as a positive.

"I don't think people realize how difficult it is," Williams said, "but the upside to it is that, when I'm out there, I kind of know what everybody has to do now, just from playing 'Mike,' 'Sam' and 'Will.' . . . So I can kind of help other people."

He admitted all his switching has been "stressful," though, on the surface, one wouldn't know.

"I think that's because, one, I'm a team player and I want the team to win," he said. "But there are times where I felt, 'Are they moving me because I'm versatile and I can do this?' Or, 'Are they moving me because they think someone can play the position better than me?'

"Some of those things go through your head. But as long as every position I play I'm successful at, I don't mind."

Perhaps one drawback to his movement is that it has made it difficult to pin an exact value on Williams, which is important, considering he'll be the team's highest-profile free agent after this season.

The Broncos plan to reach out to Williams' representatives in the next couple of weeks to begin a dialogue on a new contract. But unlike Lance Briggs, Lofa Tatupu and other linebackers who recently have secured high-end contracts, Williams has yet to go to the Pro Bowl.

On the other hand, it's a chicken-and-egg scenario: Has all the moving denied Williams that opportunity?

Further, shouldn't he be rewarded for his willingness to sacrifice without any public groaning?

"I give a lot of praise to him," Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said, "because not a lot of guys can move around and still lead the team in tackles, play at a high level and make a lot of plays. D.J.'s done that. And he hasn't complained one bit.

"For myself, it's taken me years to learn my position, learn routes - and D.J., once he learns one position, he's switching to the next. He's done a tremendous job."

Bly envisions Williams at weak- side linebacker having the same type of impact, from a leadership and on-field perspective, as London Fletcher did when Bly won a Super Bowl with St. Louis in 1999.

"I heard what kind of guy Al Wilson was when he was here. We came out together, and I played with him at the Pro Bowl. And I know what kind of loss it was to the team when he left," Bly said. "I really feel like D.J.'s doing a great job filling his shoes and becoming the leader he needs to be for this football team to take off."

Happy in the Mile High City
Williams isn't ready to take off completely. His positional musical chairs notwithstanding, he admitted he has settled in Denver as a career locale.

"If the numbers are right and things are good, I would love to stay here," he said.

And even if contract talks filter into the season, Williams appears unconcerned that they might be a distraction.

"You know what? It's business and it's my life, so I have to talk about it eventually," he said. "I can't go throughout the day and not think about it, because it's there, it's going to happen."

Denver likely would have the salary-cap room necessary to consummate a deal this fall but would be creative in contract structure to be able to absorb the hit in guaranteed money. Williams, meanwhile, would have to be receptive to receiving split payments. But so far, flexibility, at least on the field,- has been the linebacker's calling card.

It's clear the Broncos, in part, are building their defense around Williams' skill set.

"He's a guy we can utilize on some blitzes, No. 1," defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "We're not afraid to have him either in zone or man coverage, because of his athleticism. So we're not worried about him on running backs, even the really good ones who can catch the ball out of the backfield. And then it's just him being able to fly from sideline to sideline and make plays in pursuit, where teams don't account for pursuit from the outside linebacker."

Felix Jones can attest to that.

(rockymountainnews.com)

Despite his switch to the weak side, Broncos LB D.J. Williams will play middle linebacker on passing downs this season.
Williams, who wears the defensive headset to relay in signals from the sideline, will be an every-down player and maintain lots of big-play potential due to his versatility. If Denver lets him hit free agency next spring, other teams could view Williams as a full-time MIKE prospect.

(rotoworld.com)

Broncos WLB D.J. Williams will wear the defensive headset to relay in play calls from the sideline this season.
While Williams is no longer at the MIKE, he is playing for a contract and won't come off the field on third down, keeping him highly intriguing as an IDP. He will have the chance to make plays in coverage and should get 100 tackles.

(rotoworld.com)

10. Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers: It didn't take long for Carolina's 2007 first-round pick to shift from the weak side to the middle, but it'll probably take much longer for anyone to move him out of that spot. Beason ranked third in the league in total tackles last season and tied for second in solo stops. He made eight or more solo tackles in a game eight times and got his hands on seven passes, picking off one. Losing Kris Jenkins and Mike Rucker up front might leave more blockers for Beason to sift through, but he has the tools to remain among the league's tackle leaders. 

12. Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Saints: Perhaps no Jet was as negatively affected by the hiring of head coach Eric Mangini as much as Vilma. At 230 pounds, Vilma is the lightest starting middle linebacker in the league (at least until rookie Jordon Dizon officially enters the lineup), and that fact is even more pronounced in a 3-4 defense. Such a scheme creates more traffic in the middle and allows more guards to get to the linebacker level. Vilma had trouble moving through the extra bodies to make his usual number of plays. As if that weren't bad enough, knee surgery ended his 2007 at midyear. If his knee is ready and holds up this year in the Saints' 4-3 scheme, Vilma — who led the league in tackles in 2005 — could outperform this ranking. 

13. D.J. Williams, Denver Broncos: It has to be kind of tough being D.J. Williams. You come into the league and perform quite well as a rookie starter on the weak side. So, of course, the team brings back Ian Gold and shifts you to the strong side. Two years later, the team pulls the plug on middle starter Al Wilson and decides that you'd fit in well there. Despite some natural confusion in the new role, you rank second in the league in tackles in 2007. Obviously, it's then time for you to return to the weak side. Williams' new old role could well be the best spot for him. Although he's bound to face fewer tackle chances than in the middle, he could make more big plays (sacks, interceptions). At the very least, maybe he can finally settle into one role. 

25. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: This might seem low on the list for Lewis, but the Ravens leader has played a full 16-game schedule just once in the past six seasons. At 33, Lewis can still get it done, though. His solo tackles were on pace for the low-to-mid 90s in each of the past two seasons, had he not missed two games in each. He's just a year removed from a career-high five sacks and has picked off two passes in two straight years. Nevertheless, durability is a worthwhile concern, as is the fact that he made five or fewer solo tackles in eight of 14 games in 2007. 

The Broncos will wait before attempting to sign WLB D.J. Williams and C Tom Nalen to contract extensions.
Both are entering contract seasons. Nalen could re-up for another year next spring, but Denver has no reason to be aggressive with him as he comes off an injury and turned 37 in mid-May. Signing Williams will not be cheap.

(rotoworld.com)

One of the keys for Denver as it tries to turn around from a 7-9 season will be linebacker D.J. Williams. He has been moving around more than any NFL player in recent seasons.

Williams came into the league in 2004 and he had instant success as a weakside linebacker. The first-round pick was a runner-up for the defensive rookie of the year. When Denver brought back Ian Gold in 2005, Williams was moved to the strongside for two seasons. Last season, Williams was moved to middle linebacker to replace the waived Al Wilson.

Williams started the season slowly and was often out of position. But he finished strong. Williams had 141 tackles, which was second in the NFL.

Still, the Broncos thought he'd be better off at his first NFL position. Thus, Williams is at the weakside again in wake of Gold being cut. Williams is a fine player but he deserves to have some stability. He was probably at his best on the weakside so it'll be interesting to see how he adjusts to yet another move.

(espn.com)

"Quentin is amazing," said his mother, Jennifer Martino.

Quentin is winning a year-and-a-half long battle with leukemia. He's beating odds that are stacked pretty high against him. Fifty percent of infant leukemia patients do not survive, but after six months in the hospital, and nearly a year of maintenance chemotherapy, Quentin seems to be doing just fine.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't count my blessings for how well he's doing," Jennifer added.

Jennifer is also thankful for the kindness of strangers. She's met others who know the impact cancer can have on a family.

"There as been such an outpouring of love and support," Jennifer told CBS4.

Now another mother is planning a fundraiser for Quentin. Not just any other mother, the mother of Bronco defensive linebacker, D.J. Williams.

"Being a parent and having your child go through this is tough and difficult, and people can use as much help as possible," Williams said.

Williams' mother wanted to help because as a child she had a brother who battled leukemia.

"My mother had a brother who passed away at 10 years old, and it's close and dear to her heart," Williams said.

"She didn't have to know us. She didn't have to know anything about Quentin. She didn't have to meet me to know that she wanted to do something for our family who has a child with cancer," Jennifer said.

It's the kind of connection that brings mothers together in the face of a difficult diagnosis.

The fundraiser is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lighthouse Cafe in Parker. Broncos D.J. Williams, Nate Webster and Louis Green will be there to sign autographs and take pictures. 

For those who can't attend the fundraiser but are still interested in helping the Martino family, Jennifer set up a PayPal account to take donations. The email address is caring4childhoodcancer@gmail.com.

For those who can't afford to make a donation, they can help Quentin and other children with leukemia and various types of cancer by making a blood donations. Quentin received more than 40 blood product transfusions during the course of his treatment. You can also sign up for the National Bone Marrow Registry.

The "Thanks Mom" Marrow Drive is going on at www.marrow.org where they are waiving the usual registration fees to be registered on the National Bone Marrow Registry May 5 through May 19. If Quentin ever needed a bone marrow transplant, he would have to get a non-sibling donor from the National Registry because he is an only child.

(cbs4denver.com)

DJ Williams has finally spoken. And what he said pretty much confirms much of what we’ve discussed here on BroncoTalk.

First, to clear up any misconceptions about his successful first year as MLB, DJ stated he was more than comfortable playing MIKE in 2007 and liked running the defense from the middle.

“I enjoyed playing [MIKE] last year, I had fun. I thought I caught on well at the end.”

He also expressed his surprise at being moved bumped from that position this off-season. However, he’s a true team player and has agreed to the move for the team.

“I understand why I had to move; it made the team better. Sometimes you do things that are best for the team and it’s not best for you,”

Does that sound like a guy that’s happy about being demoted? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

But DJ is a professional and a throw-back to the good ole days. He’s a TEAM player and had nothing bad to say about the organization or his Coach.

“I haven’t been happy about the movement, but I like the organization, I like the cit. I love how coach Shanahan takes care of his players, as far as physically, the off-season program. Everybody around the facility, I like everybody.”

The second media point, beaten to a bloody pulp the last few months, was the fact that DJ was best over on the Weak Side. DJ seems to back that up… with a disclaimer.

“I feel like if I played one position all four years, I could probably be the top guy at my position or one of the top guys at the weak-side position. Changing every year kind of stunts your growth. But at the same time, I’ve got knowledge.”

Overall, I think this just verifies what we’ve been saying for months now. DJ wasn’t done any favors by being pushed to WILL from his leadership role in the middle. He was surprised and unhappy about it, but because he’s a team player he is willing make the move to improve the team.

In a league of ME FIRST athletes, it’s refreshing to see a guy like DJ choosing the team over his own personal glory. Compare the way he has handled this off-season against Javon Walker.

DJ had his best year (statically) and the spotlight of running the defense. Javon Walker had a gimped-up uneventful year. However, when both of these two were told to move to second-fiddle positions for the betterment of the team, Javon walked. DJ, however, decided that the team was more important than one man.

DJ play WILL this year – and probably earn himself a trip to Hawaii in the processes. But we’ll always know that his greatest attribute is not strength, agility or speed… it’s his selfless devotion to our Denver Broncos team.

(broncostalk.com)

ENGLEWOOD (AP) - D.J. Williams is used to moving around the Denver Broncos defense, but he hopes his latest move is his last.

Williams has played all three linebacker positions during his four-year career, and for 2008, he's going from middle linebacker back to weak side -- a position he played through college and in his rookie year of 2004.

Switching positions has been an every-year occurrence for Williams, but that doesn't mean it's been easy. Still, he knows that making the team better is priority one, even if it's not the best move personally.

Williams' size of 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds has made him a versatile guy in the Denver defense.

He moved to strong-side linebacker his second year, back to weak side in his third year, and last year he moved to the middle.

He says his strongest position is weak side, but by moving around he's made himself a valuable player.

(ap.com)

Williams was drafted as a weakside linebacker in 2004, moved to the strong side in 2005, then played middle linebacker for the first time in the 2007 season. But after the Broncos finished 30th in rushing defense last year, Williams is being moved back to the outside.

"It's tough to be thrown into a position and be great at it," Shanahan said of Williams' temporary shift to the middle. "I thought he did a good job. You look at all the tackles he had, but I just don't think it was really natural for him."

(denverpost.com)

D.J. Williams will move back to weak-side linebacker, a position he played in 2005, his first year as a starter. Williams had played middle linebacker this past season.

"I thought D.J. was a more natural (weak-side) linebacker," Shanahan said.

(milehighreport.com)

In 2004 an interesting OLB prospect came into the draft as a senior out of Linebacker U. He was fast (4.48 40yd, faster than most WR), freakishly agile (11.4 in the 60yd shuttle, beating the benchmarks set for coverage safeties) and unbelievably explosive (38" vertical, higher than was expected out of CBs and WRs). DJ Williams entered the draft with teammate Jonathon Vilma as the top linebacking prospects, hands down.

Part of what set DJ apart was tremendous lower body strength, which gave him exceptional balance, heightened his agility and made him a powerful hitter. He was regarded as "instinctive in the gap", and a natural at reading his zone. In fact it was rare to find a dissenting opinion on his future greatness and potential. John Madden, who spoke at Williams High Scool team banquet remarked, "DJ is the only player I have ever seen who could go straight from highschool to the pro level." There was only one unanswered question in the minds of many scouts who watched DJ: "You will not see sixty minutes from him in any one game where he absolutely dominated," one NFL scouting director said. "But you see that he is still learning and progressing. You like to see that. I just wonder if he’ll ever be able to play up to his best all the time." Click here to continue reading...

With Jim Bates leading the defense, should Broncos fans expect to see D.J. Williams in the top five in the league in tackles? If this happens, do you think D.J. would make the Pro Bowl? -- Mike, Englewood

Mike - Yes and yes. The Jim Bates defense is made for middle linebackers. When Bates ran Miami's defense from 2000-04, Zach Thomas finished among the league's top four tackle leaders in four consecutive seasons. In Bates' lone season of running Green Bay's defense in 2005, Nick Barnett had a career year in tackles. And there isn't a scout out there who would argue Thomas or Barnett can match Williams' skill package.

The primary reason why Bates' system is so middle-linebacker friendly is he plays not one, but two gargantuan players at the defensive-tackle positions. This year, 350-pound Sam Adams, 330-pound Gerard Warren and 320-pound Jimmy Kennedy will rotate among the two tackle spots. They will eat up multiple blockers while Williams will be left free to tackle his way all the way to Hawaii.

(denverpost.com)

AP) DENVER D.J. Williams said he's adjusting fine in his move from strong side linebacker to the middle for the Denver Broncos. "Yes, definitely, especially with 16 minicamp practices we've had and now we're down here and had five or six days with the pads on, you get a lot more comfortable," he said Friday. A handful of players are trying to win his old "Sam" linebacker job, and Williams said he's confident whoever emerges will be a big contributor. "You know they're all doing pretty well right now. I'm confident in whoever they put next to me that they're going to get the job done. They're all great athletes."

ENGLEWOOD — Through his trademark dark-tinted visor, D.J. Williams scanned the offense and barked out defensive adjustments like a general heading into battle.

At 6-foot-1, 242 pounds, Williams didn’t look like a player who was still trying to get the hang of things, and he certainly didn’t act like one. But if you ask the fourth-year vet how his transition from strong side linebacker to middle has gone this off-season, the learning curve has been a little steeper than one might think.

“It’s been a daily struggle, but it’s getting better,” Williams said. “Luckily I’ve guys like (John) Lynch and Sam Adams helping me as I go.” As if the move to middle linebacker, often referred to as the quarterback of the defense, wasn’t hard enough, Williams has also taken on the responsibility of filling the void in leadership left by the loss of Al Wilson.

After eight years of anchoring Denver’s defense, Wilson was released in April because of injury and salary cap issues. As a result, Williams, who has played on the outside since his freshman year at Miami (Fla.), was called upon to take over the reigns of the Bronco defense.

HT.: 6-1 - WT.: 242
EXP.: 4 - CAREER GP: 48 (3 postseason)

Moving to middle linebacker after playing two seasons on the strong side and his rookie year on the weak side ... Not only is he expected to play more in his new position, but he will have greater responsibility for making calls in the huddle. "In the past years at 'sam' linebacker, I didn't have much responsibility that was verbal," Williams said. "I kind of gave down and distance, things like that. But now the 'mike' linebacker is kind of leading the whole huddle." ... "He's done a good job right from the start," Bates said. "He's hitting it with both barrels loaded, and we're fired up with him." ... Has never missed a game as a pro.

(denverbroncos.com)

The fact the Broncos didn't take an inside linebacker in the draft speaks volumes for how easily they think SLB D.J. Williams will adapt to a switch to the middle to replace Al Wilson. Previous middle linebackers in new defensive coordinator Jim Bates' system have thrived in terms of production, and Williams' skills have been underutilized to this point in Denver, according to our sources. Free-agent signee Warrick Holdman is expected to have an edge for Williams' old spot on the strong side.

(pfw.com)

ENGLEWOOD — D.J. Williams has gone from the man in the corner to the man in the middle — in more ways than one.

For the past three seasons, the Denver Broncos’ linebacker has been able to maintain a quiet presence with the public. Muted and often grumpy, he’s been sequestered in the shadows of the team’s other stars.

But his role expanded the minute linebacker and former emotional leader Al Wilson was waived in April. Williams will not only move into the middle of the team’s defense, he’s been planted firmly in the spotlight.

“I still don’t like it, but it’s the role I have now,” Williams said during a session with the media this week that might have lasted longer than the total time he spent with reporters previously in his NFL career.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It was only his first day leading the pre-practice breakdown, and already D.J. Williams was willing to pull rank.

After a short introduction, Williams beckoned first-round pick Jarvis Moss to stand in front of his new teammates and open the morning's work. But Moss couldn't captivate their attention with a dance, nor could he work them into rhythm.

This was no time for a tepid response. Not at the first practice of the year, the opening session of the Broncos' 14 organized team activities between now and June 7.

"It's the first day and we needed more intensity than that," Williams said. "I could tell (Moss) was a little nervous.

D.J. Williams may be going from third-down scrub to the league's top five in tackles.

Who says coaching doesn't make a difference in the NFL?

No Broncos player figures to benefit more from the change in defensive bosses than Williams.

Under defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, Williams was a first-round outside linebacker who spent the past two years running off the field on passing downs.

Coyer was replaced this offseason by Jim Bates, who moved Williams over to the middle linebacker position vacated by Al Wilson, who was released because of a neck injury.

The coach said D.J. Williams has started a transition to middle linebacker. Shanahan said Williams, a first-round pick who is entering is fourth season, is suited to the position because of his size.

"I think it will be a natural for him to make the transition," he said.

(denverbroncos.com)

D.J. Williams (76 tackles, 1 sack) Take money and health out of the equation and the main reason Al Wilson is no longer a Denver Bronco is to get Williams on the field more often. After an awesome rookie campaign, Williams digressed a bit the past two seasons and never seemed to fit in to Larry Coyer's defensive schemes. It became obvious right off the bat that it was going to be different for Williams under new Definsive Coordinator Jim Bates, who loves to coach aggressive, freak athletes like Williams. It appears to many that Williams will get the first crack at replacing Wilson inside, a better fit, in my opinion, than the outside. Williams was known for running himself out of position, but on the inside should be freed up to just go make plays, sideline to sideline, similar to Brian Urlacher in Chicago. Whether or not Williams can handle the mental aspect of being a middle linebacker remains to be seen, but there is little doubt Williams can physically do it all.
To say the situation at linebacker for the Broncos is thin would be a major understatement. There is plenty of time for more moves, with guys like Jonathon Vilma reportedly available (we can only dream), and of course the draft, expect the Broncos to add depth. There is some intriguing talent on the roster, though untested, and until guys like Hollowell, Louis Green and Caeron Vaughn get into real-game action the situation at linebacker will be one of concern.

Nate Webster (11 tackles) Webster was on his way as a linebacker, signing a lucrative contract with Cincinnati before the 2004 season only to see it all come crumbling down because of knee injuries. Webster missed 13 games in 2004, then all of 2005 before being signed by the Broncos prior to last season. Webster spent much of the season getting back into game shape, though he did start the season finale against San Francisco. I get the feeling the team saw enough of Webster to feel confident he could be a major contributor next season, even with the proposed move of D.J. Williams inside.
(cbs4denver.com)

Five Pro Bowls. Three 100-tackle seasons. One booming voice of leadership. It's all been removed from the Broncos locker room.

Now the team will have to go about the business of replacing middle linebacker Al Wilson, who has been told by the Broncos his time with team is over.

Wilson will be formally released in the coming days when the paperwork arrives at the league offices.

"It was just one of those situations, it was time for a change basically," Wilson said. "Not that we couldn't get a deal done or anything like that, it was just a situation I think the team wants to go in another direction."

That other direction, at least initially, almost certainly will be linebacker D.J. Williams. Williams, one of the most athletically gifted players on the roster, already has started at least one season at each of the outside linebacker spots and will now move into the middle, at least to see how performs at the position as the Broncos go through their offseason minicamps.

The Broncos could move D.J. Williams to the middle if Wilson is traded. Williams has played his entire career at outside linebacker, but he shined in his chance to play middle linebacker two seasons ago. Wilson sat out the 2005 season finale at San Diego, and Williams played middle linebacker when the Broncos used five defensive backs in a nickel alignment.

Williams played well in that game, but because Wilson and Ian Gold were the linebackers in the nickel defense last season, Williams often came off the field for a fifth defensive back in passing situations.

The Broncos also have Nate Webster, who can play all three linebacker positions, as a backup.

(gazette.com)

Another change for the linebackers could come in the amount of snaps strongside linebacker D.J. Williams gets next season. The previous defensive coaching staff took him off the field in nickel situations, meaning Williams played less than 70 percent of the team's total defensive snaps. But Baker promised he'll get a fair shot to displace Al Wilson in the nickel role in offseason camps.

(rockymountainnews.com)

Former De La Salle High School graduate D.J. Williams always stood out on the football field for the Spartans. Now, he's just trying to keep up with his linebacker mates on the Denver Broncos.

That's no small task when you consider Williams is a member of a linebacking corps that includes Al Wilson and Ian Gold and is regarded as one of the best in the league.

"D.J.'s playing well," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said in a conference call with Bay Area media Wednesday. "He's, obviously, been playing well since he's been here. He's got a lot of athletic ability and he just seems to get more comfortable every time he's out there."

(mercurynews.com)

The Broncos starting outside linebacker grew up with his mother, stepfather and two sisters in the Bay Area. His biological father gave him another sister and two brothers - Worrell, 12th-ranked Cal's starting middle linebacker, and Jerwin, a linebacker who just transferred from Marshall to Division I-AA Sacramento State. D.J. went to nationally renowned De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., which he helped go 36-0 during the school's record 151-game winning streak. He was a three-year starting linebacker - and part-time fullback - at the University of Miami and became the Broncos' first-round pick, 17th overall, in 2004. Williams is single and lives in the Miami area in the offseason.

Klis: Most football fans know about two high school football teams: their own high school and De La Salle. How did you end up there?

Williams: I had a friend named Chris Hodoh. We played basketball growing up all through AAU, 10 years old on up. He went through Catholic schools and his father talked to my mother and said, "I'm going to send my son over here to play basketball." So I initially went to De La Salle to play basketball