New year, new goals for Williams

08.06.2009

He's a little angry, a little anxious and a little lighter than he was a year ago.

Corey Williams says he's more than a little ready to atone for last year's struggles, both on a personal and team level.

The Browns traded their second-round pick at the start of the 2008 free agency season for Williams, who'd blossomed from a sixth-round pick to a terror in Green Bay and was seen as a key cog of rebuilding the Browns' defensive front.

Though he started all 16 games at left end for the Browns, he was never fully healthy and never really caught on to the team's 3-4 defensive scheme after playing in a 4-3 with the Packers. Williams said he's come back healthier, about 15 pounds lighter and with a renewed focus on getting back to being the type of disruptive player he was when he posted back-to-back 7-sack seasons in Green Bay in 2006-07.

"My attitude is totally different," Williams said. "I've got revenge on my mind. I've got to get back. Last year wasn't a great year for me, but this year I'm going to turn it around."

Williams said he's loved the extra hitting the Browns have done in the firs six days of this year's camp - "I needed that," he said - and hopes it will serve the Browns well as the season progresses.

He also hopes he can serve the Browns well, regardless of what his role might eventually be. He's played both right and left end in practice this week.

"Right now I'm happy to be out here, happy to be working," he said. "I want to prove what kind of player I am."

QUICK HITS - James Davis continued to deliver Thursday afternoon with a slicing, 55-yard touchdown run during team drills...The running game was the focus throughout the session, highlighted by a three-layer inside run drill early in the session that featured plenty of big hits...Brodney Pool had a diving interception during team drills...More than 200 kids attended Thursday as guests of the Browns through the "Read with the Browns" program. They signed up through their local libraries.

WHAT'S AHEAD - Browns Backers Weekend officially kicks off with Friday's second practice. The Browns will be on the field at 8:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Friday. There's one practice (1:30 p.m.) Saturday before Sunday's Family Day scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Admission is free and kickoff is at 1 p.m.