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 0-5 start to the NFL season. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,Williams stated the Jets “probably have the worst defense in the league.”
The Jets are off to their worst start as 1990, and a key factor, according to Williams, is a meaningful lack of takeaways and pressure on opposing quarterbacks.New York is the first NFL team since 1933 - when the statistic began being tracked – to play five games without forcing a single turnover.
“We’re 0-5 and defense, to me, has been the problem - the reason we’re 0-5,” Williams said. “To be a unit, to be a 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 rush has also faltered as a strong season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they recorded four sacks – two by rookie Will McDonald – in a narrow 34-32 loss. They’ve managed just three sacks in the four games as.
“We just have to find a way to get to the quarterback and affect him,” Williams emphasized.
Williams, who is currently managing a groin injury and had limited practice participation Thursday, acknowledged he’s been consistently facing double teams and is working to improve his technique to overcome them. ”I’ve been dealing with it for like three or four years,” he said. “I just have to be better at beating double teams and passing between two guys on every play.”
He expressed confidence that the coaching staff has provided the team with the necessary solutions, and the onus is now on the players to execute.
Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee jr.echoed Williams’ sentiment, stressing the importance of team cohesion and trust.”We all have to commit,” Brownlee said. “We all have to trust each other. The guy next to me has to trust that I have his back and I have to trust that he has my back.”
Williams dismissed the idea that playing a game abroad would offer a change of scenery to spark improvement, stating, “If we were at Florham Park right now, it would be the same conversations…you have to fix things.”