Content available exclusively for subscribers
Quincy Williams had a rough game in Jacksonville, the kind of game that would get players benched in some places.
I’m not going to go over all the rough plays. Williams is a good person who is doing the best he can. Tough as bootleather.
But here are a few of those less-than-ideal plays:
In the second quarter, running back Bhayshul Tuten caught a 16-yard TD pass from QB Travor Lawrence.
RB Travis Ettiene went in motion to the left, ran a route in the short left flat. Jets CB Quan’tez Stiggers was over there to deal with Ettiene. But for some reason, Williams went over there also, and left Tuten open.
“Quincy Williams was a like a lollipop – he was the sucker on that one, went to Ettiene and left Tuten wide open for a touchdown,” said Jags radio analyst Jeff Lageman after the play.
Williams was also beaten by Ettiene on a quick slant for an 8-yard TD in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Ettiene had a 45-yard TD catch, and Williams seemed to be late getting over on that one.
“Seeing Jets in a ton of man (coverage) and [the Jags] see they can get Ettiene man to man on Quincy Williams,” Lageman said during the game.
And then Lageman added something you won’t read around these parts – “Quincy Williams has had issues in the past with situational awareness and route awareness and the Jags are taking advantage of the opportunity.”
But will you will read in these parts are complaints that Williams didn’t talk to the media after the Jacksonville game.
One writer tweeted about it, and his tweet was mentioned on the popular website – “Awful Announcing.”
Williams did speak to the media on Wednesday in Florham Park. But guess what, nobody asked him one question about his performance in Jacksonville. Not one.
He was asked some questions about the firing of Steve Wilks and some milquestoast stuff about what they are looking to get out of the last three games, but nothing about his rough game in Jacksonville.
If that reporter, who made national news, was outraged about him not taking in Jacksonville, why didn’t he, or any other reporter, ask him about perhaps his worst game as a Jet?
Unbelievable!
But all is right in the world now – Williams spoke to the media . . .
The Jets clearly should make some lineup changes on defense after their troubling defensive performances over the last couple of games, which contributed to the firing of DC Steve Wilks.
While Wilks didn’t do a great job, there are some players not doing their jobs particularly well either.
“The Jets have two linebackers are not playing well,” Lageman said during the game.
So maybe a change is needed at that position.
If you say that, the response you will often hear in the echo chamber is, “Who else are you going to play?”
I’ve always considered that a cop-out answer.
What is the old saying about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result?
They have plenty of linebackers in the building, like Mykal Walker, Jackson Sirmon, Cam Jones and Kobe King.
Don’t give me this BS answer about how else are they going to play? They are with the team, either on the regular roster (Walker, Jones and King) or the practice squad (Sirmon). Why not play them? Could the defense get worse than what we have seen the last two weeks (and in several other games this season)?
They just gave up 48 points to Jacksonville, and a week before that, they were blown out by Miami, who rushed for 239 yards. The QB who helped Miami to that win, and who looked more than capable in that game, was benched yesterday and has been demoted to third-string QB . . .
A couple of really smart low-key personnel decisions by the Jets the last couple of weeks, locking up center Josh Myers and tight end Jeremy Ruckert with two-year deals for reasonable money.
Last week, Myers got a two-year extension for $11 million, and yesterday, Ruckert received a two-year extension for $10 million.
Myers has played well at center for the Jets. He’s not elite, but he’s solid. The combination of Myers and Joe Tippmann has opened up big holes up the middle together on several runs – two roadgraders.
Ruckert is a solid #2 or #3 tight end who is a rugged blocker (had a pancake block on Isaiah Davis’ TD run in Jacksonville) and a serviceable receiver.
Both are high-character, team players you want in your locker room, and the money is pragmatic.
This is a good time of year to lockup players, who aren’t stars, with reasonable deals. In this sport, you never know when you might get dinged, and the last thing a would-be free agent wants is to get hurt late in the year, and try to get a contract in the off-season while rehabbing.
Myers and Ruckert are healthy – might as well get the coin now, and not worry about losing that shot with a late-season injury . . .
Pictured above – Brady Cook’s heavily taped ankles during the Jets-Miami game.
December 18, 2025
Premium will return by 9:30 pm (or sooner) on Friday.
