What I Would Ask To Find Out Who Chris Williams Of The Chicago Bears Is

Offensive tackle Chris Williams was taken by the Chicago Bears with the 14th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt. Williams suffered a herniated disc during his first professional season that forced him to miss the preseason and the first seven games of the regular season. Even when he got healthy, Williams never really made an impact as a rookie. Heading into the 2009 season, Williams is slated to be the Bears' starting right tackle and bigger things are expected from him.

1) Having spent a large chunk of your rookie season injured and the rest of it not getting a lot of playing time, do you still kind of feel like a rookie heading into this season in terms of game experience?

2) What was your experience like as a rookie?

3) What were some of the biggest surprises you encountered in your first pro season, not only on the field, but also getting acclimated to Chicago and the fans of the Bears?

4) What was your injury experience like and what did that do for your development as a rookie?

5) What was your initial reaction when the Bears signed Orlando Pace?

6) What has your relationship been like so far with Pace?

7) Since Pace is one of the all-time greats at the tackle position, how do you think having him around will help you on the football field and in your development?

8) Do you see Pace as someone who could mentor you over the next few seasons? 

9) Usually offensive lineman get noticed when they do something wrong, because it results in a quarterback sack or a stuffed run play, do you ever feel like a forgotten man playing on the offensive line?

10) What would you say to people who already think you weren't worth a selection in the first round?

11) There are five players, including you, on the Bears roster who went to Vanderbilt. That amount of players is usually reserved for a football powerhouse like USC, Florida, Oklahoma or Texas. What kinds of emotions does it bring about knowing that Vanderbilt is well represented on this team?

12) What's the relationship like amongst the Vanderbilt guys?

13) You and Earl Bennett, also from Vanderbilt, were each rookies last year that didn't have much of an impact on the season. Bigger things are expected out of both of you this year. Do you and Earl talk about your roles and the expectations at all, and if so, what are you two usually talking about?

14) Do you feel any pressure going into this year, knowing that the team expects a lot from you?

15) Obviously the number of Vanderbilt players jumped this year when the Bears traded for Jay Cutler and drafted D.J. Moore, how has it been welcoming them to the team?

16) In your biography on the Bears' website it says you weren't a starter until your senior year of high school, at that point in your life could you even imagine you would ever play in the NFL?

17) The guy who started in front of you before you were a senior, any idea where he is now?

18) Some of the things in your personal section of your biography on the team website indicate you are a pretty smart guy. What were your career aspirations before you realized you could be a professional football player?

19) Why that career? What was the draw?

20) What aspects of your individual game do you need to continue to improve upon?