Bill Callahan has been coaching offensive linemen in the NFL for nearly 25 years. He’s coached some great tackles, too: Lincoln Kennedy, Trent Williams, Tyron Smith. Yet the new Browns OL coach had an interesting comparison when referring to first-round pick Jedrick Wills.
In his teleconference call with reporters on Thursday, Callahan compared the rookie tackle to Barry Sims.
The comparison stems from the immediate switching from right tackle in college to left tackle in the NFL, a process Wills is rapidly undergoing as a rookie draftee. Sims did it very well for Callahan some 21 years ago.
“Barry had come to us as an undrafted free agent,” Callahan said. “He bounced around a little bit. We had two first-round (OL) draft picks. We put him on the left side and he was a fixture there for six or seven years. Jedrick reminded me of him.”
Coach Callahan continued,
“His willingness, number one. when we made the switch, it was seamless,” he said. “There were some bumps in the road, as there always is, but they need consistent reps day in and day out.”
Sims never made a Pro Bowl but was a well-regarded starting left tackle for over a decade in a career with Callahan’s Raiders and then the 49ers. Not bad for an undrafted rookie back in 1999 out of Utah.
Callahan coached two All-Pros in Dallas who made OL position switches. Tyron Smith was a college right tackle who moved to the left side, while Zack Martin moved from college left tackle to right guard under Callahan’s guidance.
The coach is very confident Wills can replicate that level of success. They’re working as best as they can at making the change
“We’ve given (Wills) a number of drills to do,” Callahan stated. “We’ve started with basic things, like stance — left-handed stance. We send video and he sends it back and additionally, I’ve also sent him video of tackles I’ve had in my career that have done it.”
Hopefully Wills can ascend beyond where Callahan’s player comparison, Barry Sims, achieved in the NFL.