Williams finished 2018 ranking 19th out of 129 interior defenders in pass rushing , had 53 QB pressures, 16 QB hits 6th most for interior lineman, and 15th vs the run. He also has the third-most run stops (116), third-most tackles for no gain or loss (53), and fifth-most counts of making the first contact on a runner (183) at the position per PFF. How that equates to 30th when he is at the top of almost every statistic by their measure is puzzling. If we had pressure off the edge, he would be feasting.
Maybe because of things like this "fifth-most counts of making the first contact on a runner" -183 tackles. - 27.
I think 5th most out of 129 players is pretty good. Especially since there's no edge pressure and coverage was near non-existent. His primary role was as a run stopper in Bowles defense and he did an excellent job. You don't think early contact with the runner effects the play? Just like those pressures on the QB, with a better supporting group around him, his #s will increase. Without containment, inside penetration is wasted. As long as the D can set the edge, the inside pressure will result in sacks.
I think if "yards after contact" is a positive statistic for an offensive player - it cannot be a positive statistic for a defensive player as well... Its like giving Leonard Williams, the baseball hitter, credit for foul tips. Its still a strike for the pitcher. Saying Williams had the 5th most foul tips among all shortstops would be a ridiculous - so what? stat
Considering most teams have 2 starting DEs, that's not bad, especially considering the rest of the Dline was in shambles and Leo barely could play his native position.
We played the Cleveland game on Thursday night on the road after a Sunday game. Williams played over 80% of the snaps in both games. The Jets D completely dominated that game early. At the 7:49 mark of the second quarter Cleveland took the ball and was stopped on 3 incomplete passes for no gain. They ran 43 seconds off the clock when Johnson got a unsportsmanlike 15 yard penalty that extended the drive. Cleveland was forced to punt on that drive but instead of 43 seconds they took 4.44 seconds off the clock and reversed the field position from their own 26 to the Jets 41. The Jets O proceeded to run the ball 3 times for -4 yards. Cleveland took over on their own 34 with 1:42 left in the half. They passed the ball 5 straight times before kicking the field goal. The Jets held the Browns in their opening drive of the 3rd period after a 7 plus minute drive to a punt. At this point the Jets D was on the field for almost the entire second half of the 2nd period and the first half of the third period. The Jets O proceeded to run 1 minute and 4 seconds off the clock before Anderson fumbled the ball at the 28 and Hyde returned it to the 8 yard line. The Jets D proceeded to 3 and out Cleveland forcing a FG. The Jets O proceed to 3 and out on the next possession taking 1 minute and 32 seconds off the clock. Cleveland proceed to score a TD on the next possession. I could go on but by the 4th quarter the combination of penalties, fumbles and TOP by our O, along with a 4 day travel game had killed the Jets D. Blaming the Cleveland loss on Williams being on the field for 65 plays with virtually no rest and no help by the defensive backfield or the Jets O is absurd.
Of course yac isn't a positive for the d, but the question is, how man more yards would the runner gain without that contact
I didn't blame Leonard Williams exclusively for the loss. I blamed him for his own personal (lack of) effort in that loss
3 points in the second half, 3 turnovers by our O and 268 net yards. FYI Darnold had a QBR in that game of 38.2. Williams was the best DL men on the Jets by miles last year. There is no other player on our D line who was on the field near as much as Williams. Our D actually played well in that game with the exception of a couple of bone head penalties on the defensive backfield. The O was atrocious in that game. Williams is the only defensive lineman on our team that the offense had to account for last year.
I watched the games. He sucked balls for most of the season. He was practically invisible in most games. LOL at 16 qb hits ya just know these people counted that Walter Payton-esque stiff arm by Josh Allen on this bum as a 'qb hit' for ol' Leonard.
The media pretty much invented the term "hidden production" after Mr. Invisible got shut out on the stat sheet vs Cleveland. Shameless. If they can defend him after that performance they can sugercoat anything he does. Trust your eyes.
We know you watched the games, we also Know you don't know what your looking at.... How many of the Jets sacks were a result of Williams flushing the QB ? Runs stuffed for short or no gain due to Williams making contact behind the line or the runner forced to try to change direction because Williams collapsed the pocket? Even in the Browns game he was disruptive and was the best defender the Jets had on the field that day. Your evaluation is no different then when you were blaming Beachum or Carpenter for any pressure from the left side when Tomlinson missed a block or got knocked on his ass or a RB missed an assignment.
This stuff isn't rocket science. It's a game. When a player is disrupting games on the stat sheet or even off of it it's noticeable. The only games from last season I can remember Williams being very active in is Green Bay (before he got himself ejected) and the Indianapolis game there was another game but I can't recall it now. That's it. He was invisible for the rest of the season.
Actually when you say things like he wasn't doubled I question if you actually watched the games or which games you actually watched. There is a huge difference between watching games and knowing what you're watching.
Hmm, like the Indy game, a game you mentioned as one of only two games where he was active? Because, you know, that game, 0 sacks, 0 assts., 0 tackles, 0 fumbles, 0 INTs. Shameless
A bunch of guys on a message board thinking they have it figured out despite the paid professionals who have been doing this for decades saying otherwise will never NOT amuse me.
