Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich knew what they had in Quinnen Williams when they arrived in New York during the offseason.
They couldn’t have predicted his brother making a similar impact.
Quincy Williams was widely viewed as a depth addition when the Jets claimed him off waivers from the Jaguars at the end of training camp. New York needed help at linebacker after Jarrad Davis injured his ankle in the preseason and after Blake Cashman sustained yet another injury at the beginning of the regular season. The 25-year-old Quincy was thrust into the starting lineup.
He has been a tackling machine ever since, totaling 61 stops and eight for a loss in 10 games. Twenty-two of those 61 tackles have come in the Jets’ last two games; Quincy has played a major part in New York’s defensive turnaround.
“You got a guy who has the ability to make that splash play because of the speed and the explosiveness and the instinct he has,” Ulbrich said of Quincy on Thursday. “Now he’s becoming reliable and dependable in the complex of the defense, so it’s really cool.”
Quincy is not on the same level as his brother when it comes to being an All-Pro caliber player. But Ulbrich has seen more than enough to think that he could develop into one of the league’s better linebackers with more seasoning.
“I still think there’s way more in the tank for him,” Ulbrich said. “He’s a good player that’s playing good that has the ability and the potential in his body to be a Pro Bowl-type player.”
As for Quinnen goes, he’s inching closer to becoming a Pro Bowler in what has quietly been a strong third season with the Jets. The Alabama product has 40 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, six tackles for loss and six sacks in 10 games. His season-high for sacks is seven.
Quinnen has some climbing in the voting to do if he wants to make the Pro Bowl this season — he currently trails five other defensive tackles — but he’s on his way to establishing himself as one of the most dominant players at his position.
“Quinnen’s awesome,” Saleh said. “He’s been great this entire season. I think he’s a Pro Bowler, personally. He’s a fantastic young man. His work ethic, all of it. His numbers are up there with some of the best ones in this league. He shows up to work every day. When he steps on the football field, whether it’s practice or the game, his effort is as good as anyone and his production is as good as anyone.”
Earlier this season, the Williams siblings became the first pair of brothers with sacks in the same game for the same team since the stat became official. Maybe one day they can team up to give the Jets a Pro Bowl duo on defense.
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