Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden believes his team has a “challenge” on their hands with New York Jets rookie Quinnen Williams.
New York Jets rookie defensive lineman Quinnen Williams isn’t tearing it up on the stat sheet. However, that doesn’t tell you the entire story with the first-year player. He’s improving with the experience he’s gaining and is a prized possession in the eyes of the organization. And turns out, the Jets aren’t the only ones who perceive him that way.
Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden spoke about Williams as his team prepares to take on the defensive lineman. The Raiders and Jets kick off this Sunday, and Gruden believes his team has a tough task on their hands with the rookie.
“They’re the No. 1 rushing defense in football and [Quinnen Williams is] the reason why,” Gruden said, per Al Iannazzone of Newsday. “He’s healthy and moving around much better than he did earlier in the season. There’s a lot of stuff you got to learn in your first year in the NFL, especially when you play for Gregg Williams. It looks like he’s playing with a lot more confidence, energy. He’s a force in there. It’ll be a challenge for us.”
Williams has racked up 20 combined tackles, two tackles-for-loss, four quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended through eight games. He and the rest of this defensive line within Gregg Williams’ 3-4 set are working to fill the void left by Leonard Williams. The Jets recently traded the veteran to the New York Giants for two future draft picks.