FOXBORO -- After the Patriots completed a trade with the Saints to acquire defensive lineman Akiem Hicks in exchange for Michael Hoomanawanui, it left just three tight ends on the New England roster: Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler and Michael Williams.
While Gronkowski is one of the most unique players in the league due to his size (6-foot-6, 265 pounds), speed and coordination, Chandler provides similar qualities. He's a massive red-zone target (6-7) with the ability to play both inline and out wide as a receiver.
Williams, on the other hand, is cut from a different mold.
The same height as Gronkowski, Williams is listed at 304 pounds. The former offensive tackle was acquired in a trade with Detroit when the Patriots sent the Lions a future seventh-rounder in August.
Since then, Williams has maintained a spot on coach Bill Belichick's 53-man roster and he has played in 71 offensive snaps through three regular-season games. He saw a season-high 32 snaps in New England's Week 3 win over the Jaguars, during which he helped clear space for running back LeGarrette Blount when used in the team's heavy packages.
Though announced as a tackle at the time of the trade, Williams is now listed on the team's roster as a tight end and he wears No. 85.
I spoke with Williams recently about his change in position and what it's been like for him to try to grasp the complex offensive scheme of of the Patriots.
New England Patriots
CSNNE: How jarring has it been to change positions?
MW: "I played tackle for a year and a half. Back to running routes and all that at 300 pounds is different, but I always call myself a football player. You ask me to do it, I do it."
CSNNE: Have you had to lose any weight in order to make the transition?
MW: "I don't think I have to try to get down. I think it's just going to happen naturally. A lot of running. A lot of running in my practices. A lot of movement now. The weight is just gonna come off regardless. I'm not trying to lose weight, it's probably just going to happen. That's how I look at it."
CSNNE: Is there a certain weight you'd like to be at as a tight end?
MW: "It's all about how I feel and how I feel when I'm out there. It's not about a certain a weight. It's about, 'Can he do it? If he can't, then we'll get him down. If he can, then we'll let it come off naturally.' "
CSNNE: Did it take a while to make the adjustment to the conditioning aspect of the position?
MW: "We were in shape in Detroit. It was just different running routes. It takes a couple of weeks to get into that running running shape. I was already in shape. It's gonna take a little more to get back into running routes shape. It wasn't too strenuous. After a couple of weeks I had my breathing down so it wasn't that bad."
CSNNE: What's it like to be see the Patriots offense operate now that you're a part of it?
MW: "It's very impressive. I can tell you that now. A lot of other teams will try to fit you to what they want you to do. I feel like at the Patriots, they say, 'This is what you do, and this is what we're gonna do with you.' It's that simple. They're not trying to change the pieces to the puzzle or anything. They just use what they have, and they put people into their system so that person's skills can be shown. That's the biggest difference from where I've been to now. It just keeps evolving and it's exciting. I can't wait to see it, to be honest."
CSNNE: Are you enjoying it? Is it fun?
MW: "It's very fun. Very fun. I thought I wanted to play tackle two years ago. I thought that's what I wanted to do. Once I caught that first pass the other day [against the Bills], I was like, 'What was I thinking? This is what I do. I don't know what was I thinking.' It's very fun, man. Most fun I've had in three years."
CSNNE: You were a tight end in college and during your rookie season. [Before last season, the Lions moved him to tackle full time.] Did you have to talk yourself into playing tackle?
MW: "I was against it at first, but for some reason I had thoughts that my brand of tight end wasn't being used in the league anymore. I just tried tackle. I actually became pretty good at it at the time. Once I got here catching passes again, I was like . . . 'This is what I want to do.' "
CSNNE: What's the difference in the feeling you get making a block versus catching a pass?
MW: "Don't get me wrong. I'm still a blocking tight end. That's what I am. But it's equal satisfaction for me, blocking, making a pancake, catching a pass. It's equal gratification. I like both. It's more of doing my job at the time, whether it's catching or blocking."