Backup OT Ray Willis: An answer for 49ers at right tackle?

by David Fucillo on Mar 2, 2009 12:31 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

Back when Florida Danny was looking at potential offensive tackles for the 49ers, he looked at the various starters around the league. Most of those folks have been getting locked up, requiring the team to consider other options. One guy mentioned in the comments was Ray Willis, a backup offensive tackle in Seattle. I mention him now because Mike Sando did a piece today discussing the best match for each NFC West in the rest of the UFA pool.

San Francisco

Best match: Ray Willis, OT

Signing Willis wouldn't help sell tickets, but it might help solve a lingering problem at right tackle. Willis could come cheaper than once anticipated. He's a big, young, physical right tackle with a mean streak and relatively low miles.

For those wondering about Warner, Sando said that he wasn't the "best match" because he is more suited for the Cardinals offense. However, back to Willis, in Danny's post, briandean asked about Willis. Danny's response:

Willis hasn’t been the “starting” RT for the seahawks. this season was the first time in his career that he had started any games, and 5 of his 10 starts came at G. he only started games at RT due to injuries along the line. sean locklear has been SEA’s starting RT for a few years now. for the piece, i focused only on free agents who were starting RTs for their team.

It's understandable that backups would be hard to assess. So, really I'm just opening the door to everybody's speculation on the subject. Willis was a 4th round pick of the Seahawks in 2005. To give you some context, Willis was the 105th overall pick. At 94th overall, the 49ers selected OT Adam Snyder. The OT right before Willis was Nick Kaczur at 100 (starting in NE) and right after was David Stewart at 113 (starting in Tennessee).

The Seahawks played him behind Sean Locklear and Walter Jones is the left tackle. So clearly there's talent ahead of him in Seattle. I don't know if that's an excuse or not for him not starting, but given that he's been around for four years, that can't be a good thing.

So, should the 49ers make a run at Ray Willis? He certainly won't cost a lot, but that doesn't mean he'd be "cost-effective." If he is absolute crap, then any money is wasted money. So it basically comes down to whether he can beat out Adam Snyder at right tackle. Thoughts?

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Comments

Depth

I know the team wants to add depth via free agency, and adding Willis would do so, but I don’t think it would solve our RT problem. It would give us another guy that can line up at G or T and fill in when needed. In other words, I don’t think we need two Adam Snyders.

It wouldn’t kill the team if they signed a 30-something Right tackle, and then we could snag another RT in the later rounds of the draft to develop behind said 30-something. Especially if that said 30-something can stay healthy and live up to his contract.

(Gosh I don’t like Jonas Jennings)

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 2, 2009 12:37 PM PST reply actions

I like the idea of Ray Willis. That’s why I brought him up in the Danny’s article. He played well when he started at RT. He plays the right style of football. Willis will come cheaper than many starters on the market. And I also still like Adam Snyder, so it would be a good situation for that ever important competition that Singletary likes to talk about.

by briandean on Mar 2, 2009 12:41 PM PST reply actions

I like it

cheap, big, youngish, mean streak, has something to prove…..other than big it sounds like everything Jonas Jennings wasnt. Plus, at this point more WILLIS is probably what this team needs.

Thing A

by sam23 on Mar 2, 2009 12:52 PM PST reply actions

Probably be better than Sims, but he sounds like an Adam Snyder type of player...

He can play a multitude of positions on the offense line well, but doesn’t ever really “shine” in one position. He does sound like an excellent back-up and I would love to sign him for cheap if we can.

by StrictlyFootball on Mar 2, 2009 12:53 PM PST reply actions

If you don’t think Adam Snyder can hold down the job than there is good reason to pursue Ray Willis.

Than again, you know our GM is going to select at least one offensive lineman in the draft and possibly two.

by bignerd on Mar 2, 2009 12:55 PM PST reply actions

Yeah

McC loves him some O-Line talent. Adam Snyder is a valuable utility lineman—I’d be happy to see him stay on the team, but not as a starter.

Throwback unis? Yes. Throwback afros? YES!

by grantmp on Mar 2, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

why not?

he may work out ok. Sims is okay to have on the team….as a third team tackle. so they need dudes.

by save10 on Mar 2, 2009 12:56 PM PST reply actions

Just heard Mort on ESPN News that

Jason Taylor was released, no link yet……

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on Mar 2, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions

I like it...

6-6 , 315 Age: 26

I say we pick him up and let him compete with all the RT hopefuls, he’ll definitely be better competition than a rookie.

How long is Sims’ contract for? And when will we release Jennings, I figure if they don’t release him then Scot is willing to give him another try and chance to stay healthy…

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Mar 2, 2009 1:49 PM PST reply actions