Jets know their defense has to get much better quickly, starting with London game vs. Broncos
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, right, and defensive end Will McDonald IV react durin practice at The Grove in Watford, England, on Wednesday. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
HERTFORDSHIRE, England — Quinnen Williams blamed the Jets’ awful start on the defense.
The Jets (0-5) are the NFL’s lone winless team. Williams, a captain and leader of the defense, put it all on his underperforming group.
“We are 0-and-5 and the defense to me has been the problem, the reason why we’re 0-and-5,” he said after practice Thursday.
The Jets have allowed at least 30 points three times. They have only one sack in the last 10-plus quarters and are the only team with no takeaways this season.
Coaches and players talked about how this trip to London, where the Jets will play Denver on Sunday, is a chance to bond and grow closer. Williams, a one-time All-Pro defensive tackle, said it doesn’t matter if the Jets are in England or Florham Park, New Jersey; their sole focus needs to be on climbing out of this hole.
Williams is in his seventh season with the Jets and is tired of losing.
“When you’re 0-and-5, you got to fix things,” he said. “When you’re probably the worst defense in the league, no matter where you’re at, you got to fix things if you want to win football games and go in the right direction.”
The Jets have players who have been a part of highly ranked defenses under former coach Robert Saleh. The defense was projected to be a strength again. Instead, the Jets are No. 22 in total defense and have allowed the second-most points. They also haven’t generated much of a pass rush.
Williams sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the season’s first defensive snap. The Jets had four sacks in that game. They have three since then.
“We just got to find a way to get to the quarterback and affect the quarterback,” Williams said. “I think that’s the number one thing that’s going to help this defense ascend.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks took accountability on Thursday for the Jets’ shortage of sacks and other defensive shortcomings, including their tackling issues. According to Pro Football Reference, the Jets have 49 missed tackles, tied with Cincinnati for the most in the NFL. The Jets had 16 in last week’s lopsided loss to Dallas.
“Everything’s on me,” said Wilks, who has come under fire in his first season with the Jets.
Aaron Glenn has continued to express confidence in Wilks and said he won’t take play-calling duties away from him, but the defense has been a major letdown.
Wilks said he has to scheme ways to get more one-on-one matchups and find ones that will put Williams and edge rusher Will McDonald in better position to make plays.
“That’s what this league is all about; it’s trying to find the right matchup,” Wilks said. “I got to do a great job with [Williams] to [McDonald] and getting these guys in position where they can go execute because they’re very talented guys that we know can perform at a high level.”
The Jets should get a lift on Sunday with the likely return of versatile edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who has missed three games with an ankle injury. Johnson participated in practice on Thursday for the first time in nearly a month.
“Jermaine is a Pro Bowl-caliber player, so to have him on the field is going to be unbelievable,” Williams said. “But the guys that’s been on the field are unbelievable also. We all can take a step forward and do things the right way to help this defense not only win but get better.”
Teams have been directing most of the attention toward Williams. They’re sliding the protection toward him and doubling him frequently. McDonald hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 1. Neither has Williams, who said he has to do a better job of “defeating” double-teams.
Williams is remaining positive. He believes the defensive coaches are preparing the Jets the right way and said the players have to do a better job of keeping teams from scoring.
“No matter what happens on offense, no matter what happens on special teams, no matter what happens in the world, our job is to defend the end zone,” Williams said. “Defend the 1-yard line all the way to the opposite 1-yard line. We have to do that, and we haven’t been doing it.
“We have the solutions to be able to do that, and I can’t wait to apply our solutions.”
Two-minute drill
Returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis and has a chance to play for the first time since Week 1 . . . The Jets opened the 21-day window on linebacker/ special teams player Ja’Markus Weston, who has been on injured reserve since August.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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