Leonard Williams' sack total disappointing for Jets
Bills quarterback Josh Allen tries to fend off Jets defensive end Leonard Williams during the second half of a game on Dec. 9 in Orchard Park, N.Y. Credit: AP/Adrian Kraus
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.— Henry Anderson recorded three sacks on Saturday. Jets teammate Leonard Williams has three all season.
The Jets envisioned Williams being a franchise player on the defensive line. But his production hasn’t been where anyone has hoped and has confounded one of his coaches.
“I wish I had the answers,” defensive line coach Robert Nunn said. “It’s one of the most frustrating things of my coaching career is not having more sacks for him the last two years.
“The guy continues to do what we ask him to do. You might want to poll the guys who are against him. There’s not many people who can do what Leonard can do. The list is very short. He’s disruptive.”
The fourth-year end is seeing more double teams than earlier in his career and hasn’t been able to get to the quarterback quickly enough.
Williams had two sacks last season. He had two in Week 5 this year and none since – a string of nine consecutive games.
Williams is a good run stopper and leads the team in quarterback hits with 17. But with him not having the kind of impact that was expected it will be interesting to see whether the Jets will be willing to sign him to a long-term extension when they have the opportunity this offseason.
Shell’s surgery
Right tackle Brandon Shell had knee surgery on Thursday. The Jets have not released specifics of the surgery, but they are optimistic that if all goes well in his rehab Shell will be able to take part in the team’s offseason program. Shell was carted off in the second half of Saturday’s loss to the Texans.
Holiday spirit
The Jets players, coaches, and ownership are donating $800,000 to five non-profit social justice organizations.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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