Leonard Williams need not look far for leadership that will move Jets forward

[Gas2No99]

Leonard Williams need not look far for leadership that will move Jets forward

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When independent doctors working last week’s New York Jets-New Orleans Saints game removed Leonard Williams because of a possible concussion, New York’s 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive tackle didn’t get it.

“I still don’t think it was anything huge,” said Williams. “It didn’t look like I was stumbling or got hit really hard or anything like that. They were being on the safe side, and they didn’t want to risk me getting any head or brain injury.”

The Jets (5-9) are the ones who have stumbled this season. When they host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, there will be no playoff berth on the line for the home team.

 

Leonard Williams believes it's not up to the coaches to hold the players accountable for making the Jets a success. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

The process of determining how to make the Jets a playoff contender next season has begun in earnest. Williams, the third-year pro out of USC, is clearly at the heart of a defense that has played well at times. The doctors did the Jets right by protecting one of their key assets.

Williams believes the asset the Jets most need going forward is more leadership from within. “I still think, just on a player’s standpoint, I’m not the type of person that likes to point fingers at coaches or GMs or anybody, so I just like to put it on myself," Williams said Friday. “I like to put it on myself and my teammates. There’s obviously things we can do as players, as well, because at the end of the day, this is our team and we’re going to be the ones on the field, not the coaches.

“And sometimes when we see things wrong, it’s going to be up to the players to step up and say something besides waiting on a coach to step up and say something. We can’t always wait for a coach to say restart the period because we’re not doing good. We have to have leaders, multiple guys on the team to step up when they see something happening and say something about it. I think that's what it’s going to take."

Williams has been cleared to play Sunday. But coach Todd Bowles wouldn’t disclose if fellow defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson would be with him. Wilkerson recently was late for a team meeting, and the Jets can open some serious cap space if they cut the former Temple star after the season. If Wilkerson should get injured in one of these final two games, the Jets would lose that option.

 

Clearly, Wilkerson hasn’t displayed leadership qualities this season, and his production has dipped. With the trade of Sheldon Richardson, the once-mighty troika of Williams, Wilkerson and Richardson has been trimmed to just Williams. He has the character, talent and intelligence to assume a leadership role.

Williams certainly sounded like a foundational player for the Jets as he discussed finishing a season with no playoff prospects. “The main thing is just staying locked in, staying focused. And the No. 1 overall thing that we’ve been sticking to since the year started is being united," Williams said. “No matter what season we’ve been having, no matter what the record is, we’re going to play for each other. And you know we play to win the game.

“We’re obviously not going to go out there planning to lose or anything like that. We’re going to plan to win, like we always do, so it’s not like we’re hanging in the towel or anything like that. If we’re going out there to play, we’re going out there to win."

[jetfan39]

it's so easy to respect this guy.  wish we had 53 like him

[BurnleyJet]

He's the one we need to pay.

[j4jets]

 

4 hours ago, jetfan39 said:

it's so easy to respect this guy.  wish we had 53 like him

Yup, just like how Mo used to be prior to that I’ll pay raise he received. 

[Kleckineau]

Williams, Lee, Adams  talk talk talk talk talk.........

Is it asking too much to wish these guys would just zip it and start producing commensurate with their draft positions?

[bla bla bla]

8 minutes ago, Kleckineau said:

Williams, Lee, Adams  talk talk talk talk talk.........

Is it asking too much to wish these guys would just zip it and start producing commensurate with their draft positions?

Did Williams just put this out there for no reason? It seems like he was asked a question and responded, it would probably look worse if he just said "next question".

[k-met57]

10 minutes ago, Kleckineau said:

Williams, Lee, Adams  talk talk talk talk talk.........

Is it asking too much to wish these guys would just zip it and start producing commensurate with their draft positions?

love the words but this is spot on. Williams was supposed to be the best player in the draft and has been an average NFL starter, Lee had like 6 out of 13 games where he stood out (maybe), and Adams wasnt as good as Maye in his rookie year.

[The Crusher]

7 hours ago, jetfan39 said:

it's so easy to respect this guy.  wish we had 53 like him

The way Macc drafts eventually we just may.

[Integrity28]

He is a pro. It’s nice to have one, finally.

Most if his quotes are an indictment of the HC/GM combo, even if meant not to be. I wish they were pros. 

[Integrity28]

4 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

The way Macc drafts eventually we just may.

53 defensive linemen? Sounds about right.

[bla bla bla]

1 minute ago, Integrity28 said:

Most if his quotes are an indictment of the HC/GM combo, even if meant not to be. I wish they were pros. 

How'd you get that out of this article?

[Integrity28]

11 hours ago, bla bla bla said:

How'd you get that out of this article?

The only thing that compels a player to repeatedly point out that it’s not a criticism of the HC/GM ... is the reality that they are deserving of criticism.

[bla bla bla]

3 hours ago, Integrity28 said:

The only thing that compels a player to repeatedly point out that it’s not a criticism of the HC/GM ... is the reality that they are deserving of criticism.

I'd assume questions meant to bait a player would provoke similar responses, no?

[Integrity28]

11 hours ago, bla bla bla said:

I'd assume questions meant to bait a player would provoke similar responses, no?

lol, sure... everything is the media’s fault! Fake news! 

[bla bla bla]

5 minutes ago, Integrity28 said:

lol, sure... everything is the media’s fault! Fake news! 

Well no but how else do you want him to answer that question?

[Integrity28]

4 hours ago, bla bla bla said:

Well no but how else do you want him to answer that question?

I don’t care how he answers. I’m also not going to argue over hypothetical answers.

I’m just pointing out an observation about how he actually did answer.

[bla bla bla]

9 hours ago, Integrity28 said:

I don’t care how he answers. I’m also not going to argue over hypothetical answers.

I’m just pointing out an observation about how he actually did answer.

My argument is that he didn't really say much and it seemed like a very generic answer. There aren't too many ways to approach certain questions, the media tries to bait players to say something controversal. 

[Integrity28]

20 hours ago, bla bla bla said:

My argument is that he didn't really say much and it seemed like a very generic answer. There aren't too many ways to approach certain questions, the media tries to bait players to say something controversal. 

Maybe try not having an argument.

[Joe W. Namath]

Leo is a JAG.  Let him walk if he wants more then a JAG salary.

Cant be giving money to guys who dont make game changing plays.  Those days are over.

[shevys]

On 12/23/2017 at 3:28 AM, j4jets said:

 

Yup, just like how Mo used to be prior to that I’ll pay raise he received. 

Except that’s not true. Mo hasn’t been a leader on this team, ever.