Jets‘ Williams Points to Defensive Struggles as Root of 0-5 Start
LONDON – New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams didn’t mince words Thursday, squarely blaming his team’s defense for their โ0-5 start to the โNFL season. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game โagainst the Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,Williams stated the Jets “probably have the worst defense in the league.”
The Jetsโค are off toโ their worst start โas 1990, and a key factor, according to Williams, is aโ meaningful lack of takeaways โขand โฃpressure on opposing quarterbacks.New York is the first NFL team since 1933 -โ when โฃthe statistic began being tracked – to play five games without forcing โa single turnover.
“We’re 0-5 and defense, to me, has been the problem -โ the โreason we’re 0-5,” Williams said. “To be a unit, to be aโฃ team, we have to come together, especially as a defense, to make sure we do the necessary things that we can do.”
The Jets’ pass rushโค has also faltered as a strong season โคopener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, โwhere they recorded โฃfour sacks – two by โคrookie Will McDonald – in a narrowโฃ 34-32 loss. They’ve managed just three sacks in the four gamesโ as.
“We just haveโข to find a way to get to the quarterback and โaffect him,” Williams emphasized.
Williams, who isโฃ currently managing a groin injury and had limited practice participation Thursday, acknowledged he’s been consistently facing double teamsโฃ and is working to improve his technique to overcome them. โฃ”I’ve been dealing withโ it for like three or fourโ years,” he said. “I just have to be better at beating double teams and passing between two guys on every play.”
He โexpressed confidence that the coaching staff has provided the team with the necessary solutions, and the onus is now onโฃ the players to execute.
Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee jr.echoed Williams’ sentiment, stressing the โคimportance of team cohesion and trust.”We all have to commit,” Brownlee โsaid. “We all have to trust each other. The guy next to โme โhas to trust that I have his back and I have to trust that he has my back.”
Williams dismissed the idea thatโ playing a โgame abroad โwould offer โa change of scenery toโ spark improvement, stating, “If we were at Florham Park right now, it would be the sameโข conversationsโฆyou have to โขfix things.”