FLORHAM PARK
White Curtis Martin Jerseys , N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets were dominant on defense in their season opener, with one player after another coming up with
highlight-reel plays.Five interceptions, big tackles and lots of pressure on the
quarterback marked the 48-17 victory in Detroit last Monday night .“I couldn’t
stop smiling, man,” linebacker Avery Williamson said, “for like the whole
night.”Despite all that, though, the Jets see plenty of room for
improvement.“Our mission this week is to step it up,” cornerback Morris
Claiborne said. “Our feeling is we’re not taking this game as something we’re
going to be stuck on. No, we’re trying to be better than that game. So, this
week, we’re coming out and trying to be better than last week. We’re not playing
like we’re stuck in the past or anything like that.“We’re going to go win this
game, just like last week.”The Miami Dolphins certainly know what’s coming
Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and that’s a Jets unit noticeably faster than it was
last season — and even in previous years, for that matter.Improving the overall
speed on defense was a focus for coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike
Maccagnan, and that was on full display against the Lions .“That was fun,” said
Williamson, in his first season with New York after four with Tennessee. “You
see everybody making plays, it’s just a great time.”Linebacker Darron Lee had
two interceptions, while Claiborne, cornerback Trumaine Johnson and safety Jamal
Adams also had picks. It was the most by the Jets in a game since Oct.
3
Curtis Martin Jerseys 2019 , 1999, when they also had five against Denver.Lee returned the first of his INTs 36 yards for a touchdown that gave New York a
31-17 lead in the third quarter. It was the Jets’ first defensive score since
2013 — a span of 73 games, which had been the longest drought in NFL
history.“It’s definitely a good stepping stone in the right direction,” Lee
said, “and we definitely want to throw some consistency with that.”It was also
the first INT of the third-year linebacker’s career. He was just getting
started. About 2 1/2 minutes later, Lee picked off another pass by Matthew
Stafford.“I feel like he played a phenomenal game,” Williamson said of Lee. “He
was everywhere, flying around and making tackles and two interceptions.”Lee
might be the biggest wild-card on the Jets’ defense. The 2016 first-round pick
out of Ohio State had two solid but unspectacular seasons to start his NFL
career. While he finished second in tackles both seasons, his lack of big plays
has been a major knock.Even former Jets linebacker and current sports radio host
Bart Scott called for the athletic Lee to be more physical and come up with
game-changing plays.Well, one game into this season and Lee is looking
much-improved in both areas.“I’m never satisfied,” he said. “I’m just going to
keep pushing and trying to get better every single day. … I feel pretty
comfortable with what we’re doing, so I guess that enabled me to play fast.”Both
Lee and Adams spoke after the game about how they were able to predict the play
calls by the Lions, and the players credited the coaching staff for thoroughly
preparing them.“They’re going to come to us if we’re in the right spots,”
Claiborne said. “Our coaches put together a great game plan to have us in those
spots to be able to make those plays. So, you’re in those spots, but ultimately,
it’s up to you make the play.”While Williamson and Johnson are new to the Jets’
defense this season, many of the key pieces are back and have experience working
in the system. That includes Adams and fellow safety Marcus Maye, who are both
in their second seasons — although Maye missed the opener and likely will sit
out against the Dolphins with a foot injury.“We definitely can play faster, and
I think it helped with communication,” Lee said. “We’re communicating across the
board a lot better. It wasn’t really necessarily like that last year because
there were a lot of people new to some stuff and having two rookies
White Joe Klecko Jerseys , but now, we definitely are communicating from the D-line to the linebackers to the safeties and the corners.”Five interceptions might be
a lot to reasonably expect on a weekly basis, of course, but the Jets saw what
they can do when they’re clicking in all areas on defense.And that’s without
even having any sacks, an area that has been widely criticized in recent
seasons. But, the Jets generated lots of pressure and had four quarterback hits,
including two by defensive end Leonard Williams.“I think we can be really good,
man,” Williamson said of the defense. “I’m still learning the little intricate
details of it all, but I feel as a unit, we could be great. I feel like the
talent is there. We have great coaches. We just have to continue to come out
there and work hard every day and continue to do what we’ve been doing during
camp.“The sky’s the limit for what this unit can be.” FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) —
The New York Jets got a big building block for their new-look defense with their
first pick in the NFL draft.Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was
selected No. 3 overall Thursday night, giving coach Adam Gase and defensive
coordinator Gregg Williams a playmaking pass rusher and run stopper who will be
counted on to beef up New York’s defensive line and form disruptive a 1-2 punch
with Leonard Williams.“I don’t know what the expectations are what we could do
together, but I know that I’m coming in to be a dominant player up front and be
a dominant player in general,” Quinnen Williams said during a conference call.
“I know, for sure, Leonard Williams is a dominant player all around the board
and together we can do anything we work our butts off to (do).”The Jets fielded
trade offers from several teams leading up to their selection and general
manager Mike Maccagnan made it clear he was open for business. But, New York
ultimately stayed put and took a player many considered the best in the
draft.“There was never an offer or a deal that we felt good enough to move back
from,” Maccagnan said shortly after drafting Quinnen Williams. “Quite frankly,
we’re very happy with the player that was available. We thought there was a good
chance he would be up there.”The 6-foot-6, 303-pound Williams was a force for
the Crimson Tide last season as a nearly unblockable D-lineman who has an
intriguing combination of quickness
Joe Klecko Jerseys 2019 , power and strong hands.Williams wasn’t a starter before last season, but went on to win the Outland Trophy as college football’s best
interior lineman. He had eight sacks last season for Alabama, and 19½ tackles
for loss — causing many scouts to compare him to Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Aaron
Donald.He is Alabama’s highest drafted defensive player since linebacker
Cornelius Bennett went No. 2 overall in 1987.“I knew something like this was
possible, but not this fast,” the 21-year-old Williams said. “It happened very
fast, but I’m enjoying every moment, man, every little bit of it.”This marks the
third straight year the Jets have seen a highly touted player who many
considered the best available “fall” to them. It happened last year when they
took quarterback Sam Darnold at No. 3 overall and safety Jamal Adams at No. 6 in
2017.The Jets’ biggest need entering the draft was an edge pass rusher, and
while Williams doesn’t necessarily fit that mold, he should make New York’s line
even more stout by joining Leonard Williams, Henry Anderson, Steve McLendon and
Nathan Shepherd, the team’s third-round pick last year.There has been some
speculation that the Jets could look to deal Leonard Williams, who is entering a
contract year, but Maccagnan appeared to quash that talk.“We like Leonard quite
a bit,” Maccagnan said. “We actually like the idea of putting all these guys on
the field at the same time. We have the ability to, I think in our minds, have a
very, very strong defensive front and I’m really excited to see how Gregg
Williams can use all those players.”Maccagnan envisions Quinnen Williams being
able to complement Leonard Williams by strengthening the middle of the defensive
line and taking some pressure off the veteran. There’s also the potential to use
the youngster some at nose tackle, at defensive tackle and perhaps even on the
end.And, Quinnen Williams is game — and extremely confident.“It is very similar
to the things they did at Alabama
White Wayne Chrebet Jerseys , but whatever they want me to do, whatever I need to learn, I’m coming up and learning because I’m a great learner and I can do it
all,” he said. “I can play all five positions, so it doesn’t matter where they
put me at or where they place me, I’m going to be able to do it all.”The Jets
have selected third overall in the NFL draft just twice previously since the
1970 merger, including last year when they traded up to get Darnold.The other
time: 1981, when they took running back Freeman McNeil, the franchise’s
second-leading rusher.The Jets are hoping Williams will be a big-time hit, too,
and make his impact felt on opposing quarterbacks and running backs.“You combine
the technique, you combine the instincts, you combine the athletic ability,”
Maccagnan said, “I think he has the parts and pieces to be a really good
player.”NOTES: The Jets have no second-round selections and don’t pick again
until the third round (No. 68 overall), but Maccagnan wouldn’t rule out trading
into the second. “I think we’ll probably look into it,” he said. “It really
depends on how the board unfolds.” … Among the positions the Jets could target
Friday night and Saturday: outside linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver and
offensive line.
