LAKE FOREST -- The Chicago Bears drafted left tackle Chris Williams of Vanderbilt with the 14th pick Saturday, strengthening an offensive line that showed age and offered little protection last season.
They decided to fill a need on the line and went with Williams over Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah. One potential target came off the board when Denver took tackle Ryan Clady of Boise State with the 12th pick, and Chicago opted not to spend its first-rounder on a running back, passing on Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall.
Williams was in on 836 offensive plays last season and allowed one sack while registering 102 knockdowns, including 12 blocks that led to touchdowns. He is just the second Vanderbilt offensive lineman drafted in the first round, the first since Will Wolford was the 20th pick overall in 1986.
Williams alternated between left tackle and guard in 2005 while helping protect quarterback Jay Cutler, the 11th overall pick by Denver in 2006. He settled in at tackle in 2006 and 2007 and allowed just two sacks.
Williams joins a team that got hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball and stumbled to 7-9 after reaching the Super Bowl the previous year behind a dominant defense and an offensive line that ranked among the league's best. The Bears also have a second-round pick (44th overall) and two third-rounders (70th and 90th).
Chicago's defense figures to be better if it stays healthy, but there are question marks surrounding an offense that ranked 27th last season. With four starters on the line in their 30s, the Bears averaged a league-low 3.1 yards per carry and ranked 30th with just 83.1 yards rushing per game. And their quarterbacks fared no better, getting sacked 43 times - ninth in the NFL.
Chicago needed to replace departed veterans Fred Miller at right tackle and nine-time Pro Bowl pick Ruben Brown at left guard. General manager Jerry Angelo hinted during the week that he would look for a reinforcement in the first round when he said there was more depth in the draft at running back - another weak spot for the Bears.
Angelo has a solid record drafting defensive players, including defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Nathan Vasher. All three have made the Pro Bowl, but on offense, the GM hasn't been as fortunate.
His two highest profile selections - quarterback Rex Grossman and running back Cedric Benson - have battled injuries and inconsistency.
Grossman, the 22nd pick in 2003, got benched after the third game due to poor play. He returned for five games and was more effective before injuring his left knee. Benson, the fourth overall choice in 2005, averaged just 3.4 yards per carry before a broken ankle ended his season.
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