Quinnen Williams has been among the few bright spots for the New York Jets this season, as the second year defensive tackle out of Alabama has already outpaced his rookie production through eight games this season.
Williams has 31 tackles (18 solo) on the season, including seven for loss and three sacks, as he wreaks havoc on the interior of opposing lines. Being one of the Jets best players has also made him a target of trade rumors, as the 0-8 Jets figure to be sellers at the trade deadline. For his part, Williams is just trying to stay focused on the field and what he has to do on Sundays, allowing everything off the field to sort itself out and he’ll keep trying to play and dominate no matter where he ends up.
Last week, Williams spoke with Uproxx over the phone on behalf of his new ad spot for Tide Hygienic Clean to talk about his season so far, his comfort in Year 2, how Nick Saban mantras have become words to live by while dealing with trade rumors, and how unique the Alabama fraternity is in the NFL.
Your production through seven games has already matched what you did last year and it seems like you’re really comfortable and confident in your role. What do you feel has been the biggest difference coming from your rookie year to this year and knowing what you’re going to be asked to do?
The biggest difference is it’s my second year. My first year, it was just everything was new and scheme was new and different things were new in general in my lifestyle and football in general. But this year, my second year, man, I just feel like everything is on a roll. I worked hard this offseason and I worked hard during OTAs and stuff like that to stay healthy, to stay in shape and lift weights and things like that, and I just feel like I’m performing like I should’ve been performing the way I should’ve been performing last year. Like I know I can perform.
You mention the work you did this offseason. What were some of the things you learned from your rookie year that you said, ‘OK, I kinda need to work on this’ in the offseason? What were the focal points for you in being able to come out and be this productive?
Just a lot of stuff, man. I can’t pinpoint anything specifically, but I looked at a lot of guys who were doing it at an elite level and guys that everybody knows that every defensive lineman wanted to be on that elite level and different things like that. So I look at those guys who are on an elite level and see what they do on the field, off the field, different techniques and different things like that, and wanted to make sure it was muscle memory on those techniques and those things so I can’t break it.
Like you said it helps to be in a second year in a system and knowing what Gregg Williams is going to want you to do and the aggression he wants you to play with. How helpful is that in just being solid in the system and knowing what you’ll be asked to do?
It was great, man. Just knowing, like I said it’s my second year, so I was just expecting less things this year. I know the offenses and I know our defensive scheme, so I just knew everything, man, honestly, and it’s just coming much smoother and easier this year.
You’re coming off a Bills game where defensively you guys played really well against an offense that’s been one of the best as a passing offense this season. What do you take away from that game and what you were able to do against Josh Allen going forward?
The main thing is execution. Executing the plays, executing the calls that Gregg calls, and that was the main thing. Everybody executed on one accord, so. That’s the big thing.
When you go to New York, I’m sure people told you you’d have to deal with the noise and a different level of spotlight. There’s obviously trade rumors out there right now and how are you trying to keep that internalized and stay focused on what you need to?
Honestly man, I’m just keeping it out of the way, not really thinking about it. I’ve just got the mindset of, if they trade me, they trade me. If they don’t, they don’t. I’m just trying to be the best person I can be on the field and off the field and just be the best player I can be.
It’s a very Nick Saban thing, right? Keep the main thing the main thing and control what you can control.
Yes. Coach Saban definitely taught me that and it saves football players and a lot of people a lot of headaches at the end of the day, so.
You’re partnered with Tide. What do you have going on with them and this new ad spot?
No one is more excited about the #JerseySwap than @QuinnenWilliams pic.twitter.com/RYzZBW4RKn
— Tide (@tide) November 1, 2020
Coronavirus had happened and they had canceled out the jersey swap on the field and things like that, so I partnered with Tide to do a Tide Hygienic Clean spot with guys like Mark Ingram and other guys in the NFL just to show our gratitude that Tide helped us jersey swap and do different things like that and keeping our jerseys clean.
In the spot you run through a bunch of Alabama guys. How big is that Alabama fraternity in the NFL and how much do you lean on guys when you’re going through something or need advice on something in the league having that network of so many Alabama guys?
Oh man, it’s amazing. I think it’s like 73 of us that came from the University of Alabama into the NFL, and you can really just call anybody. Guys from Pro Bowl level to just beginning, man. So every level, each level, guys who’ve been doing it for a long time and if you need anything you just call one of your buddies and one of your teammates from the University of Alabama and just talk with them. We all a brotherhood at the end of the day, so it’s just great to have.
Are there any guys specifically you still talk to from your days at Alabama?
Not really specifically. I just know if I have any problem or questions I have, I’ve got guys to call.