Jets fans have a lot of high hopes for first-round pick Quinnen Williams. Among those excited is Jets legendary quarterback Joe Namath.
The MVP of Super Bowl III spoke about the newest Jet at the United Way’s Gridiron Gala in Manhattan and had nothing but good things to say about Williams. Namath, like Williams, attended the University of Alabama.
“Quinnen is a fine man and he knows how to get out there and work,” Namath said. “If it rubs off on some of the other players in how he prepares, we’re going to continue to improve. Look for the Jets to get better and maybe win a championship sometime soon.”
Williams won’t suddenly unlock a Super Bowl contender in the Jets, but he should be a key piece in a revitalized defense. The Alabama product is an adept pass rusher who knows how to find his way into the backfield for stops. He had eight sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 2018. Williams, combined with Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson up front, should be a menacing force in the AFC East.
A potent pass rush can make life miserable for a quarterback, and Namath believes interior pressure is much more important than an outside rush.
“It’s very annoying,” he said. “It can get into your head if it’s done consistently well and when you look at the tape, seeing who you’re getting ready to play, you see that kind of effort that Quinnen brings to the table and some of these other great defensive linemen.”
Williams has a lot more to live up to now that he’s received such high praise for a Jets legend. Hopefully, he’ll be up to the task of living up to his potential. The first time the Jets drafted a player from Alabama in the first round, he won them a Super Bowl. This time around, they’re hoping for a similar result
