STILL HUNGRY
Quinnen Williams looks different to observers after shedding weight and adding muscle in the offseason. His performance so far doesn’t feel the same, either.
“I can tell the difference,” the second-year Jets defensive tackle said following practice Friday. “Just experience. I had a whole season last year learning the same exact plays. I just feel comfortable in the playbook, just comfortable in the position I’m playing.”
It shows. A disappointment as a rookie, the former No. 3-overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Alabama has begun to shed that unwanted label, playing at an elite level in a Week 2 loss to the 49ers after a solid debut against the Bills.
In defeat last Sunday, he was a disruptive force, producing two sacks, two tackles for loss, four solo tackles and a forced fumble. It was arguably his best performance as a pro. But Williams hasn’t done much gloating about his effort. On Friday, he said his focus was on the future instead of the past and on helping the Jets win their first game.
“I want to be better. I want to win. So anything that I can do to help the team, anything I did wrong in that last game, I want to get corrected so I don’t do it wrong again,” he said. “I’m not really focused on how I played last week or what I did. I’m just focused on being consistent every week and trying to get a win.”
“One of the first things that come out of his mouth is: I could have played better, and that is even more impressive to me,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said.
After the season-opening loss to the Bills, Quinnen
Williams made similar comments, saying he had to do “much more” and “be a dog.” It’s fair to say he achieved those goals against the 49ers.
And now comes another test against the Colts’ elite offensive line. It will be telling to see how Williams performs. His arrow certainly seems to be pointing upwards.
“With confidence builds more confidence,” Gregg Williams said. “He’s got a skill-set that’s up there towards the top of the league.”