Jets linebacker Quincy Williams embracing Aaron Glenn's challenge to become better player and leader
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Quincy Williams received a phone call from Aaron Glenn not long after becoming the Jets coach. Glenn laid the groundwork for what he expected from Williams during that 90-minute call.
Williams, an All-Pro linebacker in 2023, has established himself as one of the Jets’ best and most productive players. But Glenn is pushing Williams to do more.
Glenn challenged Williams to become a better player and leader and make sure everyone on the defense understands what they’re doing. Williams has embraced Glenn’s challenge.
“Every year my mindset is to get better,” Williams said after Tuesday’s OTA practice. “Sometimes I don't have a blueprint. Sometimes it takes me a while to find out what that next level looks like. That call right there was one of those things where all the thought process went out the window.
“It was more like, ‘All right, you have your challenge now. Let's create a blueprint to get to those challenges as a team, and then those challenges as an individual because if I get my team goals, then I get my individual goals.’ ”
Glenn appreciates how much Williams is working on all the things they talked about over the winter.
“I told Quincy there were some things I wanted him to work on - and he is doing everything he can to get better at those things,” Glenn said. “Listen, I don’t lie to players, and he’s a really good player. But there are also some things he’s got to get better at, and he understands that. That just shows you a sign of a really, really good player, because they're okay with criticism.
“In this league, even the best players get criticized. But they want to be, too, because they want to be better. And he's one of those guys that want to be better.”
Glenn, the former Lions defensive coordinator, and Steve Wilks, the Jets new defensive coordinator, have a clear vision of how they want this group to play. It was expressed to Williams early and to the defensive players throughout the offseason program.
“The standard for the defense is to play fast, play violent and to be the most feared defense,” Williams said.
The Jets were a top four overall defense the past three seasons under former coach Robert Saleh and coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Last year’s stats are misleading because the defense took a major dip after Saleh was fired and replaced by Ulbrich.
Under Wilks and Glenn the Jets are expected to blitz more. They’re still in the early stages of setting the tone of how they want to play, though. Getting Williams to immediately buy in could end up being an important step.
Glenn had a very good relationship with Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone. He was a captain and leader of Detroit’s defense all four seasons Glenn was the coordinator. Glenn could be trying to establish a similar rapport with Williams.
The OTAs are voluntary, but Williams has been a fixture at them. He told Glenn he would be there. Williams, whose brother Quinnen plays defensive tackle for the Jets, is in the final of year of his contract. Quinnen wants to remain with the team beyond this season.
“The first part of it that I'm working on right now is being the leader on the team, and then also being a part of the foundation of the team,” Quincy Williams said. “Number two was really just getting the defense down pat.”
Williams likes Glenn’s approach. He said Glenn is “straightforward, honest” and corrects things right away on the field instead of waiting to get everyone in a meeting room or film session. Williams doesn’t want to let Glenn or Wilks down.
“The challenge is now to every single day find something to get better at and every single day lead by example,” Williams said. “We got a younger team right now. So being the standard for them, off the field and being the standard for them on the field, that was the challenge.”
Feisty practice
Things got a little heated a couple of times during practice, which isn’t usually the case when there is no pads and everyone is in shorts. Glenn brought the players together and calmed everyone down.
“You want to stop that because we're all in underwear,” Glenn said. “So man, let's practice and let's move forward. But those things happen. It’s football so you correct it and you move on.”
New receiver Josh Reynolds, who spent three years with the Lions, said Glenn wants “intense” practices.
“It gets a little chippy,” Reynolds said. “When guys are wanting to win, yeah, it's going to get a little chippy.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
