READY TO ROCK
Jets defensive lineman Williams says he’s going to be unstoppable this season
Quinnen Williams’ confidence is soaring after an offseason makeover that he believes will elevate him to rarefied air in his second season.
“I feel like I’ve tapped into that zone,” Williams said after practice on Wednesday. “I’ve tapped into that level that I’m going to be unstoppable and I’m going to get everything right this year.”
Williams didn’t hit the ground running after the Jets selected him with the No. 3 overall pick last year, anchored by “overthinking” that slowed him down. He didn’t live up to lofty expectations that trail every high draft pick, prompting him to initiate a transformation of body and mind.
He’s brimming with confidence now, ready to show everyone that he can become a true difference maker in 2020.
“I’m in great shape (and) great condition,” Williams said. “I got my body fat down. I’m rocking and rolling, man. I feel myself being that person that they drafted me to be… I feel like I’m coming into that person to be a dominant defensive tackle in the NFL.”
“I reconstructed everything… every aspect of my life around playing football this year,” Williams added. “Not making the same mistakes I made last year. So, I really transdiet formed everything I did from my to workouts to my training to my endurance.”
His playing weight has dropped from 303 to 297 pounds, but that’s only a part of his story. Williams’ body fat has dropped, his muscle mass has grown and his outlook is pure.
“I just tell him, ‘You have the skill set to be a difference maker,’ ” defensive line coach Andre Carter said. “‘You have the skill set to be explosive off the ball and wreak havoc. Let’s make it happen and let’s not waste any reps.’ His whole mentality (is) being the best on the field each and every play, every
game and being a difference maker. He’s in a great frame of mind right now.”
Williams admittedly “didn’t have a horrible season” as a rookie even though his numbers didn’t jump off the page. He finished with 28 combined tackles, 2 ½ sacks, six quarterback hits and four tackles for loss in 13 games, hardly the statistical production that anyone expected.
Williams was hampered by a highankle sprain in the season opener that kept him out of two games even if he won’t make excuses for it. His play improved as the season wore on. Williams’ pressure rate jumped from 5.1% in his first nine games to 15.8% in the final four, according to jetsxfactor.com. His 14 run stops in 158 run defense snaps ranked 20th among 117 interior linemen, per jetsxfactor.com.
So, there were flashes of promise.
Now, Williams believes he can put it all together.
“I felt like he’s a little more limber as far as turning the corner, bending the edge,” Carter said. “He’s just leaner from a body fat standpoint. He still had that explosiveness. But now… he’s really coming off. He just has a new positive outlook coming into Year 2. I told him, ‘Look, as long as you excel and step your game up each and every year, it’s a starting point.’ He believes it. He sees it on film… It’s coming on strong.”
Williams didn’t delve into specifics of his pending charge from a March arrest for bringing an unregistered gun to LaGuardia Airport in March other than to admit that “You don’t ever want to have negative energy or negative statements or things come to the organization or to yourself.”
He has channeled his energy to live up to expectations after a dominant lone season as a starter at Alabama.
Williams took the necessary steps to remake his body with a cleaner diet filled with seafood and targeted workout plans that include boxing with trainer Don Somerville of Different Breed Sports Academy in Teaneck, N.J., (Somerville is also working with Le’Veon Bell).
“Last year, I was getting my feet wet with everything,” Williams said. “This year I’m feeling it. I got my body right this offseason. I got my confidence back.”
The Jets are hoping all that adds up to a dominant season.