Leadership main focus for Williams
Leonard Williams has a personal goal for this season, and it has nothing to do with statistics.
“It’s just being a better leader to my teammates,” the Jets defensive end said, “and setting the bar on how to come out every day and work hard.”
At just 23 years old, Williams already is looked up to by others on this young Jets roster. While some might cower from such a pedestal, Williams is embracing it. He took a course at the Ascension Leadership Academy in San Diego this offseason, and continues to try to validate what he learned on the practice field.
“Every [team] that I’ve been a part of, I’ve naturally been able to get in a leadership position,” he said. “It’s not because I force myself to that position, it’s because I show up to work, and make sure my teammates are doing the same thing.”
Leading by example comes easy to Williams. He hasn’t missed a game since the Jets drafted him sixth overall in 2015, and had a team-high seven sacks last season. Defensive line coach Robert Nunn praised Williams’ determination to improve and constant effort in camp.
“He seems to be a guy that learns something every day,” Nunn said. “He does what you ask him to do very easily. Plays hard, works hard, and I look forward to seeing where it goes.”
The leadership quality the third-year man out of USC struggles with? Getting on his teammates. That sort of thing is “out of my comfort zone,” Williams said. But this year, he is committed to doing a better job of speaking up and not worrying so much about whether his teammates like it.
It makes sense Williams would assume a major role. On a Jets team filled with question marks, he is one guy who can be counted on to produce. Along with the aforementioned seven sacks, Williams had 68 total tackles (eight for a loss) and two forced fumbles in 2016. He was named to his first Pro Bowl as an alternate.
And yet, Nunn insisted we haven’t seen the best of Williams. Not even close.
“I don’t believe he’s scratched the surface of where he can go,” Nunn said. “I really believe that.”
In 2017, fans have every reason to expect a Leonard Williams who takes a step closer to that high ceiling Nunn alluded to, and who continues to progress as a mentor.
As for whether he would accept an even bigger role, Williams did not back down.
“Yeah, I welcome it all the time,” he said, “I like to be a winner, and I like to be a leader.”