Saban says Quinnen has wings to fly
The greatest college football coach of all time believes that Quinnen Williams is the perfect player for today’s NFL.
Alabama’s Nick Saban, ruler of the college football universe, left little doubt that his former pupil has all the making of being a superstar for the Jets.
“He’s athletic,” Saban recently told NFL Network about Williams. “So, he’s a really good pass rusher. He’s not a gigantic, huge, overpowering guy, but the rest of it is perfect for this day and age of football.”
Saban praised his former defensive lineman’s “initial quickness and use of his hands” and ability to “get off blocks quickly.” The 6-3, 303-pound Williams was taken by Gang Green at No. 3 overall in the draft, and he was the top player on many teams’ boards for good reason.
“I go back to the initial quickness (and) the use of his hands,” Saban said. “This guy is a really smart, instinctive player. I think sometimes people overlook how that impacts someone’s production… and his production here was fabulous.”
Williams morphed from rotational player to star, with eight sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss and 70 stops for Saban last season. Quinnen Williams and Leonard Williams are expected to be a formidable interior pass-rushing duo for Gang Green.
“We think we have the ability to have a very stout defense up the middle,” general manager Mike Maccagnan said. “When you have two really good interior rushers, that would really give teams a lot of problems.”
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will likely move the rookie all over the defensive line to take advantage of all his gifts.
“I’m a great learner,” Williams said. “And I can do it all.”
Saban wouldn’t disagree.