The elite play from New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams continued in Week 7. While no sacks or tackles for loss showed up on the stat sheet for the dominant defensive tackle, Williams’ Week 7 excellence was evident all throughout reviewing the tape.
Whether it was pass rush pressure, overpowering run defense stops, or playing with instincts, Williams’ special play constantly popped on film.
Nine of Williams’ best reps from the game last Sunday will be broken down below.
- Jets finally trade Zach Wilson to Broncos for late-round pick swap in 2024 NFL Draft
- Jets soar in 2024’s five-year NFL Draft team analysis rankings
- Zach Wilson skipping Jets voluntary offseason workouts while trade talks stall
New York Jets Film Room: Quinnen Williams
Williams’ highlights started on the first defensive play of the game.
The Broncos run an inside zone split off the jet motion. Williams, at the 4i-Technique, gets chipped with a duo-block off the ball, exhibits play strength while working laterally, and by not allowing the left tackle to properly place his hands, Williams can disengage with relative ease, plug the hole, and wrap to finish.
In this second clip, it’s all instincts from Williams. What enables him to stop this screen are his eyes. After making contact with the center and left guard, he gets his head in a great position and picks up the play fake easily. Then, as he takes a step downhill, once again, with his eyes, he notices the running back slipping out.
Lastly, Williams displays some of his athleticism by quickly stopping, changing his direction, and having the foot speed to get in the passing lane and force a high-and-away throw that goes incomplete.
On this rep, the Broncos block things up in the box awfully well. There is space on the second level for Latavius Murray to break this run. Williams, at the 2i-Technique, where he once again takes on two off the snap, keeps his eyes on the runner from the mesh point and with his lower body strength, keeps churning laterally to make an impressive stop.
On both of these run stops, Williams has used a lack of being able to properly land hands by Broncos offensive linemen as a result of duo-blocks assigned to him against them.
On this play, Williams, again at the 2i, makes a run stop using the Broncos duo-block against them. The center is not able to land hands on Quinnen. From there, he wins with his eyes up, active hands, and play strength.
On the fifth rep here, the first true rush opportunity from these plays, Williams aligns at the 1-Technique and operates on a twist with John Franklin-Myers.
Williams penetrates then Franklin-Myers loops around. The two time it up well, placing stress on the right guard and center, who do not pass their blocks off well. With the confusion and late timing to react created, Williams has a fairly easy path inside the guard to the quarterback, causing a late pressure and a third down stop.
In this play, Williams is key on the lone turnover in this game. At the 2i, Williams is able to defeat the center with relative ease thanks to on the money hand placement and pad level at the point of attack leading to some knockback. With the center working laterally, he cannot set his base or land his hands. Williams keeps his feet moving and has the strength required to disengage.
Williams rips through with his left arm and displays closing speed on the quarterback. It leads to pressure and a rushed throw, causing an interception for Lamarcus Joyner.
With this rep, the Jets’ defense has an opportunity to get off the field on third down.
Williams operates from the 3-Technique. He ends up slanting his rush over the center. Williams has active yet tight, low hands at the point of contact. It makes it hard for the center to properly locate his hands. In turn, Williams creates pushback at the initial point.
With continued active hands and hand strength leading to more power, Williams is able to get his left hand/arm over late, get home with a pressure, and help the unit get off the field on third down.
On play eight, Williams is explosive out of his four-point stance from the 2i. It looks like Williams attempts to swipe Dalton Risner and gets pad level advantage. With low and tight hands, he then gets a clear rush lane by Risner’s outside shoulder. Williams concludes with some power and getting his left arm over.
The final play here, which was the last drive of the game, when impact plays are needed most.
Williams gets out of his four-point stance well and attacks right upfield. He does a great job of having his hands ready and getting low with his pads at the point. Risner loses balance thanks to Williams’ get-off speed, and from there, Williams can easily generate power and push Risner back.
Williams again gets his left arm over late as he attempts to bring Brett Rypien down.
As shown here, Williams is playing utterly dominant whether it shows up on the stat sheet or not. He is impacting the game as both a pass rusher and a run defender. His five sacks and 29 pressures (no other DT has more than 25) put him on pace for 12 sacks and 70 pressures. Special production. The Jets will continue to need big plays consistently from Williams.