Trent Williams Dismisses Play-Tipping Accusations: ‘It’s Pretty Nonsense’

Nov 19, 2022, 7:00 AM | Updated: 11:24 am

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 13: Trent Williams #71 of the San Francisco 49ers blocks during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium on November 13, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 22-16. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

Week 11’s preparation in Colorado Springs has brought on a few conspiracy theories for the San Francisco 49ers, mainly centered around their star offensive lineman Trent Williams.

The All-Pro left tackle has been blasted by social media recently for allegedly “tipping plays” based on his stance at the line of scrimmage. S0me Twitter “analysts” have even reposted specific plays that detail whether the 49ers were going to run, or pass, based on the player’s feet.

But when asked about the phenomenon Friday after practice, Trent Williams reacted with a nonchalant attitude, baffled at the premise itself.

“It’s pretty nonsense,” Williams retorted to the media Friday. “If you just think football is as simple if knowing it’s a run or a pass, you dismiss the knowledge you have to have to compete at a high level.”

He makes a valid point, regardless of the play type you still have to execute at a high level against an NFL-caliber offense like the 49ers. And with head coach Kyle Shanahan designing the plays, the offensive lineman feels pretty confident that his stance won’t give their opponents the upper hand on the field.

“Just cause you know it’s run, you don’t know what type of run. We just installed 50 runs with 6 looks on each run…If that was the end-all be-all, it’d be a big deal. Since it’s not, it’s only a discussion on social media, and not here,” Williams stated emphatically.

All Pro left tackle, Trent Williams, might be “tipping plays”, but here are several reasons why it doesn’t matter at all. #49ers pic.twitter.com/EZuoYWXgdm

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 16, 2022

Other NFL personalities and coaches alike feel the same way as the left tackle, even if he was giving plays away, it’s pretty hard to stop a 300-plus pound lineman barreling at you with velocity. The 49ers themselves have no qualms with the player’s stances as well, feeling that it’s all just social media speculation.

“Oh, it definitely would be a big deal, but I don’t study your viral videos or whoever’s, we’re pretty good with Trent,” Shanahan said earlier in the week.