THE MAN WHO SELLS THE JETS
Free agents see DC as Gang’s big draw
Gregg Williams knows his ABCs better than Alec Baldwin. He’s a tough, no-nonsense football lifer with a Super Bowl ring to back it all up and seal the deal.
So, when Pierre Desir hit the open market two weeks ago, the Jets turned to the right man to lure in the former Colts cornerback.
Williams’ five-decade football life is sprinkled with knowledge and passion. He is a leader of men, which matters more than ever these days for a star-crossed franchise searching for relevance and respect.
“I got to talk to Coach Williams,” Desir said Friday about Gang Green’s recruiting efforts. “And really got to know him and his coaching philosophy and what he’s trying to do with the team and the defense and his direction. That’s what kind of sold me and wanted me to sign with the Jets.”
Desir, who will turn 30 before the start of the regular season, took a leap of faith in some respects given that he hasn’t played a lot of the press-man coverage that Williams prefers since college. Williams, however, is a chameleon, smart enough to adapt personnel to maximize the group. He’s flexible.
Williams’ first season with the Jets was proof positive of that. Gang Green overcame a litany of injuries, including a ruptured defensive central nervous system (linebackers C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson), to finish with the league’s No. 7 ranked unit. The Jets finished 10th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA efficiency rankings.
Williams also mixed and matched with countless cornerback combinations after his Week 1 starters underwhelmed. He was resolute in less-thanideal circumstances, finding solutions rather than whining about problems.
It’s why Desir wasn’t the only player swayed by Williams when deciding to sign with the Jets.
Williams was the main draw for a number of free-agent acquisitions in the past few weeks, according to sources. They came to the Jets specifically because of the defensive coordinator.
Several players, like outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, specifically returned because he believed he would maximize his production under Williams. No, the free agents didn’t give a discount to the Jets, but if the money was equal, Williams helped break the tie.
“Just talking with guys throughout the league, they love him as a coach,” said Desir, who’s penciled in as the team’s No. 1 cornerback right now. “Player-friendly coach. I think that’s very important. They see how it is from a player’s perspective. I’m very excited to be a part of his direction (and) how he sees the defense with the culture that
he’s trying to bring.”
Williams will try to get Desir back on the right path after an uneven 2019 campaign when he allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 64.9% of their passes with a 96.5 passer rating into his coverage. General manager Joe Douglas admitted that assistant GM Rex Hogan, who came over from the Colts, provided good intel on the veteran.
“When you watch the tape, the thing that jumps out is how distinctive Pierre is, especially in zone, and how good his ball skills are,” Douglas said. “When he has a chance to make a play on the ball, he’s going to get the interception or the PBU.”
Desir, who gave up five touchdowns last season, managed career-highs in interceptions (three) and pass deflections despite missing four games with a hamstring injury.
“I showed that I could still compete at a high level,” Desir
said. “I think my ceiling’s very high. I’m only to continue to get better. I’m going to learn from what happened the year before and continue to grow as a player.”
It’s possible, especially with Williams around.