Tag: quinnen williams

Jaguars vs. Jets: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Jets: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 15 coming off a refreshing victory at Tennessee last Sunday. It’s only the team’s third win of what has otherwise been a tumultuous losing season.

This weekend provides a favorable opportunity to add another mark to the win column, although the team’s draft positioning may once again falter. The Jaguars host the New York Jets in 2024’s first matchup between teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups in Jacksonville’s next-to-last home game of the season.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Jets CB Sauce Gardner

It’s becoming clearer that the Jaguars rookie sensation is already one of the best players on the roster. He was a key reason for the team’s success in Nashville last weekend with eight catches on 12 targets for 86 yards, putting his season total at 54 grabs for 851 yards and six touchdown receptions.

This weekend, Thomas will go one-on-one against one of the best cornerbacks in football, Sauce Gardner.

The Jets have not had the season they were hoping for and are a mess of a franchise at the moment. However, the two-time All-Pro Gardner remains a bright spot, and winning against him in coverage is no easy feat.

That said, Gardner has had some struggles this season, especially on deeper crossing patterns, which could favor Thomas in space and offer run-after-catch opportunities against man coverage.

If Thomas has yet another productive day against Gardner and the Jets secondary, Jacksonville has a chance at winning two games in a row.

Jaguars LT Walker Little vs. Jets pass rushers

There’s a reason the Jaguars extended Walker Little to a three-year, $40.5 million contract. His play since becoming the team’s starting left tackle hasn’t been perfect but has been trending upward in recent weeks, especially in pass protection.

According to Next Gen Stats, Little’s quarterback pressure rate is the fourth-lowest among starting left tackles with at least 150 snaps.

Little faces a daunting task this weekend, however. His likely opponent on most snaps, Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV, has 10 sacks and 52 quarterback pressures on the season.

The Jets are like the Jaguars defensively as they have more trust in their four-down linemen to generate pressure by moving them around the line, rather than pulling out all the stops like some teams.

Little will need to be prepared for whoever New York will throw his way. Don’t forget about Haason Reddick, Michael Clemons and, occasionally, Quinnen Williams.

Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby vs. Jets run defense

Bigsby has established himself as Jacksonville’s running back of the future while putting the team in a tough position with his fellow running mate Travis Etienne Jr. While that is not the topic of this section, how Bigsby can beat New York’s run defense is.

The Jets rank No. 16 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (119.9) and run stuff percentage (17.1%), and have allowed the 11th-most expected points added (EPA) rushing.

This could be another week where Bigsby sees another 20-plus touch game. The key to turning usage into production is trusting the blocks of interior linemen, center Mitch Morse and guards Brandon Scherff and Ezra Cleveland.

Bigsby is one of the league’s better space-creators and the Jets have allowed the ninth-most yards after contact per attempt (3.14) in the NFL. Bigsby’s 4.9 yards per attempt on inside-designed runs are the seventh-most in the NFL this season, according to Next Gen Stats.

While running backs may not matter to some, Bigsby will play a key part in Jacksonville’s chances at victory this weekend. Bringing him down won’t be an easy feat for New York.

Quinnen Williams was the dark cloud over C.J. Stroud, Jets defeat Texans 21-13

Quinnen Williams was the dark cloud over C.J. Stroud, Jets defeat Texans 21-13

New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams had his imprints written all over his team’s victory on Thursday night. With the Houston Texans frequently in plus territory, Williams and Jets defense unleashed everything they had in the tank to keep quarterback C.J Stroud out of he end-zone.

Stroud had a dismal night trying to attack the No. 2 pass defense in the NFL. Through 30 attempts, Stroud completed just 11 passes for 191 passing yards, and he was sacked eight tines.

With muddy looks for Stroud, Williams did his diligence in the pass rush, tallying 1.5 of those eight sacks on the night. Williams’ pressure and strip sack stopped a promising Texans scoring drive in the first half, setting the tone for relentlessness on defense the entire evening.

While the Jets did allowed running back Joe Mixon to get off, their ability to stall the Texans drives turned out to be a crucial component needed to help them stop their losing streak in front of their home crowd.

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3 keys to a Jets victory vs. the Texans in Week 9

3 keys to a Jets victory vs. the Texans in Week 9

The New York Jets will hope to add a win to their record in 2024 in Week 9. The team will face the Houston Texans at home.

As usual, it will never be a walk in the park in the NFL. If the Jets (2-6) expect to beat the Texans (6-2), there will be a few key things New York will have to focus on against Houston.

It will have to be a full-team effort, make no mistake. But these factors could weigh heavy on whether or not New York leave with a win or loss.

Here are three keys to the Jets pulling out a victory against the Texans:

Stop the run

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The Texans were already set to be without Nico Collins (hamstring). Then it was announced that Stefon Diggs will not play against this entire season due to a knee injury.

Houston quarterback CJ Stroud is low on weapons. That might mean a larger emphasis on running the ball. The Jets need to stop Texans running back Joe Mixon. Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and New York’s linebackers will play a big part in this department.

Turnover battle

(Getty)

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not turn the ball over in New England last week… and the Jets still lost. Even without a few star players on offense, Houston is a much better opponent. New York cannot give the Texans extra opportunities.

Get a kicker (seriously)

USAT

Speaking of that loss last week… it was by three. Greg Zuerlein missed a kick and an extra point. If those go between the uprights? It might have been a win.

Since then, Zuerlein has been placed on injured reserve and it seemed like he was going to be demoted anyway since two kickers, Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader, were signed to the practice squad. One of them will be called up prior to kickoff and whoever it is has to convert chances.

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Chiefs DT Chris Jones is focused on wins over individual stats: ‘I’m not really a numbers guy’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is focused on wins over individual stats: ‘I’m not really a numbers guy’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defensive line continues to play well to start the season, dominating individual matchups. The group is led on the field by Chris Jones, an All-Pro who is making an impact beyond the stats.

Jones spoke to reporters on Thursday about the emphasis on stats for defensive linemen.

“I think it all varies. The kind of guy like Quinnen Williams (Jets Defensive Lineman), he doesn’t have the stats, but the impact that he has on that defensive line, that defense as a whole, doesn’t compare to what he’s doing in the game, throughout the game, taking on the double team so somebody else can get open,” said Jones. “So, when you take that into account, I don’t think as a defensive lineman, it’s hard to be appreciated as much unless you got 10 and 15 sacks, and unless you got the numbers. But it doesn’t take away from what he’s contributing to their team and their defense success.”

Jones has three sacks through five games this season but focuses on the bigger picture of winning games.

“I think this is overall,” said Jones. “I mean, when you look at a lot of guys who don’t have the numbers but have such an outstanding year, the numbers don’t match up. It’s one of those games, man, and it’s okay not to have the numbers,” said Jones. “You can’t pay attention to numbers. Team success is the best success. You know what I mean? So, I’m not really a numbers guy. I don’t really care. “

Jones had fun with the media attendance, going back and forth about whether his numbers mattered, but he did get his point across about valuing winning over everything.

Quinnen Williams explains what he brought to London in a Quinnen way

Quinnen Williams explains what he brought to London in a Quinnen way

The New York Jets have made the trek out to London and some of the team’s “luggage” brought over, naturally, included defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

The All-Pro defender has made the journey before. The Jets (2-2) will face the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 5. The last time Gang Green went across the pond was in 2021, so Williams has been there before.

A local reporter asked Williams about his latest trip over. Williams was asked what exactly made it with him to England.

In all fairness, it’s not the most direct line of questioning–But Williams made his response a one-of-a-kind Quinnen one nonetheless.

Williams started to respond… but wanted to make sure he was doing so in the right way.

“Like, as in clothes?” Williams said.

Williams’ full response can be found in the SNY clip below:

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Jets DL Quinnen Williams hypes up Sam Darnold ahead of their matchup

Williams couldn’t help himself when asked about his former teammate despite their upcoming matchup.

Quinnen Williams knows what Sam Darnold felt when he was drafted highly by the New York Jets. Williams was drafted in 2019, a year after Sam Darnold, so he got to know the now-former Jets quarterback for some time.

That bond hasn’t been broken despite their career paths separating, and now they find themselves as opponents on Sunday. Williams couldn’t help himself when asked about his former teammate despite their upcoming matchup.

“I think he’s doing a great job. He’s playing out of his mind right now, he’s balling right now, he’s doing a lot of great things. I was here with him for a couple of years. Super excited to go against him, it’s gonna be a great challenge.”

Williams has become an All-Pro player and has been rewarded by the franchise with a four-year, $96 million extension. Of course, Sam Darnold wasn’t as lucky, but when one plays at a higher level, what can you expect?

Perhaps with a strong 2024 season, one that has already started at an MVP level for Darnold, he, too, can join Williams in the contract department.

Jets vs. Broncos: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 4

Jets vs. Broncos: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 4

The New York Jets will host the Denver Broncos in their upcoming Week 4 matchup.

Even with it being a big, early season AFC clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Jets (2-1) against the Broncos  (1-2) matchup:

OL Olu Fashanu vs. ED Jonathon Cooper

 (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Pretty simple one here: How does Fashanu look in his first-career start? Cooper will be lining up on the edge on the right side of the Jets’ offensive line. Cooper has three sacks so far this season and Pro Football Focus grades him positively in the run game, too. He is PFF’s 10th best edge defender against the run this season (73.3).

DL Quinnen Williams vs. OL Luke Wattenberg

(USAT)

Coming into Sunday’s matchup, PFF has ranked Wattenberg as the 31st best center in the NFL with an overall grade of 51.5. That’s No. 31 out of 32 qualifying centers. That is bad.

Williams looked elite against the New England Patriots in Week 3. And as we saw, if he has a big game, that ripples down the Jets’ defensive front. If Williams can do that again, it’s going to be a bad day to be Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

WR Garrett Wilson vs. CB Patrick Surtain II

 (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Broncos’ secondary is among the best in the NFL so far this season. Even so, the Jets still have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback who should be trying to keep Denver’s defense on their toes by toss the ball around the yard. Let’s see him and Wilson officially have a breakout party in this one against Surtain.

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Report card: Jets fall 32-19 to the 49ers

Report card: #Jets fall 32-19 to the #49ers:

The New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers clashed in a Week 1 contest to begin the 2024 NFL season.

The Jets (0-1) ended up falling 32-19 to the Niners (0-1). It was a game that had a lot of hyped around it and Gang Green mostly fell short.

With that, here is Jets Wire’ position-by-position report card grades for Week 1:

Aaron Rodgers finished only 13-for-21 passing with a touchdown and an interception. The giveaway was a tipped ball so we can’t put all that on him. However, his debut 2.0 did not live up to the hype. Turning the free play into a score was the QB’s best moment.

Breece Hall did have a touchdown to cap a positive first drive. After that, he did not get involved enough at all. The offensive line let him down in a big way. Hall did grab five catches in the passing game.

The entire Jets’ tight end group felt invisible. According to Pro Football Focus metrics, Jeremy Ruckert was the top-marked player in this unit at a 60.9 overall grade solely for blocking.

It was a two-sided coin for the Jets offensive line. Rodgers had time to complete some passes but the group was so woeful running that ball that the imbalanced game plan made it difficult on the passing attack. PFF’s top marks in the trenches were handed to Alijah Vera-Tucker (67.5) and John Simpson (66.3).

It was an abysmal effort from the Jets’ defensive front. Two sacks of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came via the secondary. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams only had one quarterback hit while pass rusher Micheal Clemons had a third sack.

Most notably was the poor tackling and failure to close any gaps or set an edge in the ground game as 49ers’ back Jordan Mason ripped off 147 yards on the ground. Unfortunately, Haason Reddick was not acquired to fix the run defense either.

The linebacker round out the front seven and they had their miscues against the run as well. At least their efforts in the passing attack were positive. All-Pro tight end George Kittle has had much better days, he had four catches for 40 yards.

The secondary held up their end of the bargain against the pass for most of the evening despite a poor pass rush helping them. No touchdowns in the air for Purdy, and the defensive backfield did their part in attacking the QB since Tony Adams and Sauce Garder had sacks.

The lack of tackling very much was found in the secondary, bringing this grade down.

Not much out of the kickoff return department. Thomas Morstead had a booming 60-yard punt, at least.

An offseason of growth for the Jets’ Quinnen Williams continues into training camp

Robert Saleh continues to see growth from Quinnen Williams.

The development of Quinnen Williams continues as the New York Jets defensive lineman finetunes his game.

An improved Williams is a scary proposition for opposing offensive lines, given that the Jets star was already among the best defensive players in the NFL.

Last year, his fifth in the NFL, saw Williams have 62 total tackles and 5.5 sacks for the Jets in 2024. In an ESPN survey of NFL executives and scouts, Williams was ranked as the second-best interior defensive lineman in the league.

For head coach Robert Saleh, Williams is making continued strides. A Pro Bowl selection in his last two seasons, complacency has not set in for Williams.

“He’s having a good camp,” Saleh told reporters on Monday.

“He’s going about his business, he’s honing in on his craft, he’s been working on a few things, so I think he’s in a really good place.”

The Jets took Williams with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

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Monday was a good day for the defense according to Saleh. The unit showed up, with Saleh saying that the offense was a bit slow to “get going.”

“Trying some new things.” Saleh said.

“I gave credit to the defense because the defense was playing pretty tight today.”

Jets star CB Sauce Gardner believes Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will be great

Sauce believes in Jayden Daniels.

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had his first welcome to the NFL moment during Thursday’s joint practice against the New York Jets.

Daniels wasn’t bad by any stretch during the practice, but Washington’s offense had problems moving the ball against New York’s talented defense during 11-on-11 drills.

The Jets have multiple defensive stars, including defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, linebackers Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley, and cornerback Sauce Gardner. On Thursday, Daniels got a close look at some of those stars, particularly Gardner.

While they had some friendly trash-talking on the field, Gardner was complimentary of Washington’s rookie quarterback after practice.”

“He gonna be nice,” Gardner said of Daniels. “I was just talking to him down there, and he was like, ‘I would’ve been able to get that throw over anyone but you.’ We was just joking with each other. I know LSU, I know they talk a lot, so when we first lined up, I was talking, ‘he young, he young,’ I was just trolling him, and he was smiling. I just told him you’re going to be real good. It was great just to be able to line up against him. As a corner, you wanna go against a rookie quarterback, but he’s one of those guys; he’s developed; obviously, he was drafted that high.”

Before practice, Daniels was seen speaking to Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers did not practice.

Although Daniels has yet to take his first NFL snap, he clearly has fans across the NFL. Gardner is one of the league’s best players.