New York Jets: “That Alabama little thought process has sailed away”
The Crimson Tide won two SEC titles, one national championship, and a 41-3 record in Quinnen Williams’ three seasons at Alabama. The team also participated in the CFP national championship game every year.
However, the defensive tackle feels like that was a long time ago after playing for the New York Jets for five seasons. Williams signed with the Jets as the third choice in the 2019 NFL Draft, and the team has since finished 27-56 and endured the NFL’s greatest postseason drought—13 seasons.
Williams remarked, “That Alabama little thought process has sailed away. I’ve been in the NFL for a long time.” “Right now, man, all I’m thinking about is winning football games. Our desired level of success has not materialized. But you can look at the team now, man. You can look at what the coaches and organization have done. You can look at how we practiced today and what we’re doing in OTAs right now with the camaraderie, improving and teaching one another. Iron sharpens iron, and we’re moving every day toward our goals of making the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl.
Our major priority is the process rather than the outcome, so at the moment we’re simply concerned with improving daily and carrying out our individual responsibilities to become the best players we can be in order to function as a cohesive team.
With a 7-10 record in 2023, the Jets’ anticipated breakthrough season came to an end. Aaron Rodgers, the four-time NFL MVP, was acquired by New York last year in an offseason deal; however, the quarterback suffered a season-ending injury in the first game.
When Rodgers returns in 2024, the positive perspective has also returned.
Williams stated, “Right now, we’re just focused on attacking every day and being the best version of ourselves every day, and hopefully we win enough football games to be at the top of the NFL, not just the AFC, but the Super Bowl as well.” However, for the time being, we must concentrate on winning today, winning our treatment, winning our workouts and weightlifting, and winning on the field in terms of technique, strategy, and other such things so that things could go smoothly when we line up on Sunday.
As the finest interior lineman in the country in 2018, Williams was awarded the Outland Trophy at Alabama. He has been recognized for the Pro Bowl in the NFL the last two seasons, and in 2022, he was selected to the first team of the All-Pro team.
Williams, however, acknowledged that he might have done better and dedicated himself to getting better in 2024.
Williams remarked, “I wanted to work on a lot of things.” “Just be consistent first and foremost. I’m just packing my pass-rush bag with extra tools. I feel like I have a lot of work to do in terms of learning new moves and counters, even though I do a lot of good things in pass rush. Therefore, my main focus was adding a bigger pass-rush bag and continuing to be consistent in my daily weightlifting and training regimen.
Out of the 13 defensive linemen and edge rushers on the Jets roster, only Solomon Thomas has played in the NFL for a longer duration than Williams.
As an experienced leader, Williams stated, “It’s pretty cool.” It simply humbles you and keeps you on the right path because you know that guys look up to you and that they will ask you questions. For this reason, I always try to be at the top of my game and know my playbook inside and out so that, should a young guy ask me a question, I can respond appropriately. I also try to set a great example by acting morally every play, every day, and every down. If I’m acting immorally, those who follow me will also act immorally. Those who are following me will follow my lead if I’m doing the right things.
“It feels amazing to put my best foot forward and be the best version of myself.”
This week, New York has two more workouts before its offseason program comes to an end with a required minicamp on June 11–13.
