jtomm Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 Bill Kostroun for the NY Post The Jets needed someone to replace Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd in the middle next to Quinnen Williams. Woods and his good friend Quinton Jefferson will be the ones splitting the duties. “I’ll speak for me, just going out of our comfort zone a little bit,” Saleh said. “You guys know me by now, I prefer them a little bit small, fast, I take speed over size every day. But in his past, he’s shown he can [play fast.] And the way he takes care of his body and where he is at this stage of his career, he’s never really had a chance to do it, but you can see in his foot speed on tape that he has the ability. “And now it’s just a matter of him getting used to as [defensive line coach Aaron] Whitecotton would say, ‘Take the seat belt off and let’s roll,’ so I’m really excited to see how much better he gets as training camp goes.” Woods has had moments in training camp when he has burst through the line and blown up plays.He moves well for a man of his size and he’s figuring out life in the Jets defense after playing for the Seahawks last year. “It’s a different style,” Woods said. “This is more of a hit you in the face, let’s get nasty, let’s get grimy. I like that.“Other teams I’ve been on have been more catching, making sure the linebacker is right, which is cool too, but I like this style better.” At 36, Woods believes he still has plenty left in the tank. He said he takes it one year at a time now and sits down with his wife after every season to decide whether he wants to keep playing.The Jets say his age has not shown up in any negative way in camp as he enters his 13th season. “He’s got the energy of a younger player,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “He comes out here and attacks every day. Yeah, it’s going to be exciting for him to reinvent himself in some ways. For his entire career, which has been a long one and a very good one. He’s caught, he’s played a lot of 3-4 principles where they read offensive lineman, and he’s world class at that. “He’s been one of the best in the league that for a long, long time, so for him now to get an opportunity to put things on his terms a little bit and jump off the ball and create some havoc, it’s going to be exciting to see because he is a big, powerful man that has more speed and explosion and athleticism than you think.” >> https://nypost.com/2023/08/07/jets-al-woods-ready-to-get-nasty-in-new-role-looks-like-fun/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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