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Quinnen Williams is back off the COVID-19 list.
And the Jets could use him this week, and have him play on a very high level, harassing Josh Allen with some inside pressure.
But something else to focus on with Williams is improved run defense.
The last time we saw him, in the Jets’ loss in Miami, a couple of run plays of note up the middle
Late first quarter, left guard Austin Jackson locked up Williams opening up a hole for a Duke Johnson 10-yard run up the middle.
In the second quarter, Jackson pushed Williams to the left, right guard Robert Hunt took out Nathan Shepherd, and Johnson ran for 12 up the middle.
Williams is a terrific player, but as a defensive tackle who is on the light side for the position, sometimes, if he doesn’t use his amazing quickness beating interior linemen into gaps, he can have issues in the run game when linemen get their hands on him.
The Jets’ run defense has been a problem all year . . .
Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur spoke to the media today and took responsibility for the failed fourth-and-2 QB sneak at the end of the Jets’ loss to Tampa Bay, as he should. The bottom line about that play is simple – that option can’t even be on the table on fourth-and-2.
“It’s 100% on me,” said LaFleur.
I don’t think Wilson was being selfish as some said on the Jets’ media partner, SNY, after the game for calling that audible, but it was more a rookie mistake. And when you combine a rookie QB with a rookie offensive coordinator, that can happen at times. They are both learning on the job, together.
As for the selfish allegations by the Jets’ media partner, that’s a little crazy. What selfish person in their right mind would call a QB sneak and look to run at massive, powerful defensive tackles Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh. That is more crazy than selfish for a QB who is kind of on the slender side – LOL . . .
LaFleur probably should have talked earlier in the week. Get it out of the way. Bury the story. Coordinators should talk earlier in the week. Why? Because teams like to move on from the previous game early in the week. Their focus later in the week is all on the next opponent. You don’t want to look backward, but this is the only time reporters have to ask about the last game. Coordinators only speak once a week, so this forces reporters to ask coordinators late in the week about things that happened the previous Sunday. Some teams have coordinators speak early in the week, so they can turn the page on the previous game. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels speaks on Tuesdays in New England . . .
The Jets get defensive end Kyle Phillips back this week. Underrated player. Not only does he play hard, but he’s very instinctive. This off-season, the Jets need to improve the instincts at some defensive positions. So the fact that Phillips is instinctive, it makes him an important player for the Jets moving forward. They need to loaded up on instinctive defensive players this off-seas0n. Too many guys right now taking missteps putting them out of position on big plays.
January 6, 2021
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