Inside The Jets with Leonard Williams (11/5)

all the service members who are intendance tonight. It is Salute the Service Week for the New York Jets, so a very special week for the Green and what. Yeah, it is a special week. You know, we like to honor those who serve for our country and thank you so much for everything them and their families have sacrificed for our freedom. So you know, we'd like to give him a salute. E A loaded schedule because on Tuesday, uh, the Jets are gonna host Navy military members for a

flag football game at MetLife Stadium. That will always be fun, and the Jets are also gonna donate five thousand dollars too Long Island carriers to feed hundreds of veterans as well. That's beautiful. You know, they're getting together for that football game, and MetLife Stadium is going to be exciting. Some of the players are gonna be coaching. Oh yeah, you gotta gotta have the players, and there's probably gonna get real competitive and feisty. Would be a good time. Yeah, let

a lot of trick play, double passes and everything. So and then on Wednesday, there will be special Salute to Service jerseys for the Jets to wear at practice. Players are gonna autograph them and Commuter Relations will put those up for auctions. So special jerseys throughout the week for the Green That's gonna be cool. Man. I love what they're doing. I wish we did this back when I was playing, you know. I love to be a part

of something like this. And then festivities will conclude Sunday, of course, at Montlife Stadium, as the New York Jets host the Buffalo Bills their annual Salute to Service game. But let's get to the moment at hand. The Jets now three and six with a thirteen to six defeat to the Miami Dolphins. This is the first time all year this team is three games under five hundred. What

did you think about the game? Overall? It was it was a tough one, you know, it's a tough one to watch, you know, because the defense played so well. You know, I thought, um that they dominated this game. They only gave up six points. Um. Offensively, you can never they can never really get anything going, so you know, that was that was a little bit frustrating. I'm sure

it was for the for the team as well. But you know, I thought the Jets played good enough to win this game, you know, but when you lose that turn Yeah, defensively they did, but when you lose a turnover battle, you know, you don't really give yourself a chance to win the game. So you gotta take care of the football. Defensively, you know, they played great, but

they didn't turn the ball over. They gotta get get some turnovers, get the ball to Sam Darwin and some great field position to give him some opportunities to capitalize inside. The Jets is supported by Elective Insurance Responses Everything Eric Allen and Eric Coleman. Here we're gonna be joined momentarily by Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The Big Cat you have been in those post game locker rooms after you

put forth a great defensive effort. How frustrated are you at that point, knowing that you put together a winning performance, your side of the ball took care of business. Well, you know, as a defender, it is very frustrating, you know, because you know, uh that you played well enough to win this game. But at the same time, you keep it in perspective because there have been plenty of games where the offense probably bailed you out. So it's a it's a team effort. You know, you win as a team,

you loses a team. But when you play that good on defense, you know you would like to come out with a victory, and uh, you know, it's gotta be frustrating. It's gotta be frustrating for the offense as well, you know, not being able to make the plays that they want to, uh, knowing that they was probably did a great job of scheme in the Dolphins, had a great game plan for the Dolphins, but when it came to playing, the Dolphins

out executed him. What does it say about the standard this defense has that the guys talked much like you are Sunday in the postgame locker room where I was there in South Florida hard Rock Stadium. The fellows were saying, we had to come up with takeaways, and I'm thinking to myself, you guys did everything. But yeah, I mean, but that's what you expect of your out of your defense. You know, when you have such a dominant group on the on that side of the ball, they want to

win the game themselves. You know, they want to give them you know, know know when you have a rookie quarterback who's gonna take his lumps, he make his mistakes. As a defense, you want to come in and and over exceed all your expectations. You not only want to keep them off the board, but you also want to score on defense. You want to you know, get some turnovers on defense and make some big plays to help win this game. Okay, So what do you think about Jamal Adams?

After the game, we went we went to his locker and I actually put this on social media, and I think a lot of people saw this as that he said enough is enough. I'm sick or lose him. I think he just echoed everyone else is at a to you know, I think this is a team full of winners. I don't think any of them are used to win. And you know, you when you go to NFL teams, most of the roster is built up off of winners, Guys who won in high school, guys who won in college.

And when they get to the NFL, it's tough to win, you know. And when you go on these losing streaks and you lose these tough games, these games that are just heartbreaking, it gets old. It gets old quick, and hopefully that it echoes around the team. They take that perspective to practice, They work harder in preparation and go out there and execute. This week, playing against the Buffalo Bills, all right, we're not gonna bury the lead here. What's going on with Sam Donald? Why did he struggle so

much against the Dolphins? Four interceptions, including a backbreaking pick six that made a two possession game, And at that stage in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins, it didn't feel like a ten point deficit. It felt like a twenty four point deficit. Yeah, you know, those are the things that are gonna happen with the young quarterback. You know, he's gonna make his mistakes in front of the world. And it was a combination of Sam trying to force

the ball, trying to make too many plays. Another you know, the Dolphins did a great job of mixing up their defenses and they just made some great plays. So you know, there are a couple of things happen on those interceptions. Um, you know, especially on the one with the linebacker when he to pick six, that was just a great athletic play. Yes, Sam probably tried to force that ball in there, but there aren't too many linebackers that can cover a tight

end on a corner route make that catch. Face but yeah, he was, but it was but it was a great play. And and that's the thing that we say when you get in the locker room. They get paid to sometimes the other team is gonna make big plays and and

the and the Dolphins did when they needed it. Okay, So what has Donald done when he's had success and conversely, what happens when he starts scuffling, Well, you know, I think you see the ball get out of his hands a lot quicker when he when he's having success, he's more confident in what he's doing. Uh, he understands how the defense is attacking them. And you know, sometimes when they mix things up, Sam gets a little uncomfortable, and

and that's it's your quarterback. You know you're gonna lock onto your receiver. You might stare him down too much because at practice he was open. On film, you visualize yourself making this throw. But every once in a while the throw wrinkle into the defense and it doesn't turn out the way you know. That's that's what we take pride in on defense is disguise and coverage make it look the same. At the last second. You might rotate. You might play inside leverage, and in the past you

played outside leverage. So that makes a world of a difference when you're playing against a young quarterback. And those are things that as a rookie you see on the field you after you make the mistake, you don't get to see those things in the film room, where you don't get to watch anyone else make those mistakes. Now, I talked to Chi Pennington about this. Today we take the segment and you can watch it and Jets Flight Plan that there's eleven thirty Sunday mornings here in New

York locally. You also can check it out New York ches dot com. But he said, sometimes you have to take the checkdowns when they're available. Sometimes you're gonna look down the field at your first and second progression and you've gotta come off that using your feet, and then sometimes it's okay to get five or six yards with the dump to your running back. Yeah, sometimes that checkdown or that throwing that ball away out of bounce is

the best throw. You know. Sometimes that defense will put together a plan where every route is covered, you know, and there's no no one opened down the field, and throwing the ball away, checking it down to a running back is your best option, you know. I think back to that third down, third and fourteen when Donald threw that interception on the dig route. They ran the dagger um A nun Wall was on the outside a round a fifteen yard en route and he was staring the

receiver down and you can tell him that situation. It was third down and fourteen towards the end of the game. The Jets needed to continue to drive and Sam thought, you know, I need to get this first down, and sometimes the play is just not there. You need to check it down and live to see another place. So I think he'll learn from that and he'll continue to grow. Well, I'll tell you what strong comments from Sam Donald today as he addressed the New York media as he typically

does filing a ballgame. He he said, it's just not playing to the best of my abilities. Quite frankly, just playing stupid. I thought I played stupid football yesterday, and I just gotta be better. And I know that the coaches know that, everyone knows that. I respect that from your leader. You know, he's a rookie, and it's easy to deflect and say, you know, we all could have played better, you know, offensively are or we could have all made some plays out there. Instead, Sam decided to

take that one on the chin. He pointed the thumb at itself. And and that's very mature of him, especially when you're talking about being in New York, because they're gonna be very critical in the media. We're gonna be very critical of you. And Sam just took it on the chin, didn't say it was anyone else's fault but his own, and he's got to learn from it if

this team is gonna get better. I definitely respect that. Yeah, definitely so much to get to in regards to the New York Jets and Sam Donald, and we'll be back with much more. But you are listening to Inside the Jets Eric Allen and Eric Coleman here at Vanbeld Sports Spirits inside to Windham Hamilton's Park, will be right back. Myers lines up from fifty yards away to try to tie the game. The snap, the placement down, the kick is on the way, it's got the distance floating right

and it's no good. Twelve thirty seven ago in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins maintained their lead. Welcome back to Inside the Jets, Eric Ellen and Eric Coleman here at Vandable Sports and Spirits inside the Windham Hamilton's Park Hotel. Inside the Jets is supported by M ANDT Bank, the official community bank of your New York Jets. The call there is Bob was shusan uh. Just a tough day at the office for the Jets scoring two field goals. You're not gonna win many games in the NFL if

you come home with six points. No, you're not. And I remember, you know, back to my Jets days when Herm Edwards used to always say, we have to score twenty four points, you know, And if you look at the average of the other scores, have you win twenty have you scored twenty four points. The you'll win probably twelve of year games, and of course every week is not gonna happen, but offensively, you've got to put a couple of touchdowns on the board to give yourself an opportunity.

Leonard Williams will join us in our next segment and he will be our player guest segment, which is presented by M ANDT Bank, Official Community Bank of your New York Jets. All right, let's get back to Donald. So before the season, he played so well in the spring and the summer that the Jets said, here are the keys, we are going to ride the ups in downs with you. Well, in Miami you experience the down and I think a gut reaction of a fan. Some fans were saying, Hey,

what are we gonna do out here? Should you put Josh McCown in? You have to stick with this guy right now, do you not? I would say so, you know, because I mean, listen, and I'm saying that's extreme, But I'm saying a lot of people are like, what's going on? And he's regressing. I don't know if he's necessarily regressing.

He's gonna have points of the season where you're like Indianapolis, complete of his passes, or he's throwing touchdowns left and right, or the last couple of weeks he's really experienced a couple of roll blocks. Yeah, I mean there, they're gonna be a lot of ebbs and flows, you know, playing quarterback in the the rookie position, and when you're a rookie, you know you're you're gonna go through the ups and downs.

And as the Jets, they decided to go with Sam Donald at the beginning of the year, and like you said, they're gonna have to ride those things out. And and I don't I think listen, last Sunday, he took a step back, but before that he had he had been getting better every week. And I think that he will continue to get better and grow as a quarterback. And I think it's the right decision to stay with him. You know, Um, Josh McCown is is a great player.

I think that if you start off with Josh, maybe you win a couple of games and and phase into Donald. But that's not the way that they went about it. They went with Donald. I thought it was a great decision as well. He played so well in the preseason. He showed that he has the ability to lead this team. And I think everyone has has confidence in him, you know, everyone on the offense and the defense. They definitely do. And I'm not saying and that noise is loud right now.

My point is you heard whispers from fans just being on social media yesterday and some people are like, when I'm moving to football at all, you make a change and you can't do that with the young quarterback. You decided to go with him, and at this point in time, it's not like he's taking a physical beating. He get they get sacked four times against Miami Dolphins, but it's not at that stage of his rookie season where you're panicking. You cannot panic as a franchise, and that's what has

gotten teams in trouble. That's what has gotten organizations and trouble in the past. Yeah, I think you have to have that patience. And when you look at the organizations that have traditionally had success, you know, you know, I hate to bring him up with like the Steelers or or or New England or someone. There's there's continuity there. You know, they're the coaches have been there for a long time. The quarterback you know, everyone has been there

for years and they've developed that say says. You know, it's not gonna happen overnight. You don't just draft a quarterback, plug him in and get some wins. You know, if you're gonna have to work at it, it's gonna be a work in progress. And that's the way that the Jets are going right now. Uh the Jets on the positive side, on the offensive side of the ball, they got Quincy and no Wino back in the lineup, Robby Anderson uh suited up, and Eli McGuire came off injured reserve.

I before we get to a noon while who's his stud I think a new um McGuire can provide a spark for this team down the stretch. He definitely can. And it was great to see him running the football yesterday. Uh. You know, I think that he's you know, as he gets in game shape, as he gets prepared, you know, we we go through this next stretch of the season, he's only gonna get better. You know, he was a guy last year that that you know that he can do everything. He can catch the ball to the backfield,

he can he can protect against the past. A lot of the things that below Pal does. But he's he's a lot younger. You know, he's another he's another dimension. So I think it's gonna be great with he and Crowel back there and you know how yes, you're gonna be missing, but Elijah McGuire can pick up a lot of that. This is a tremendous opportunity for him, no doubt about it, and great value in the draft from Mike mccagne getting him in the sixth round a year ago.

How would you describe elis running stuff? He's, uh, he's slippery, you know, he's he's definitely explosive. I like how he runs in between the tackles. You know, he has a low center of gravity. It's rare that you see a linebacker get a full shot on him because he twists his hips and he gets lateral, he gets down to the you know, he has a great he has a great pad level, and he has great vision and he's explosive.

So you know, he's a tough guy to tackle in an open field, one of those guys that has a safety. If you see him in this one on one, you know you're gonna be in trouble because he can make you miss when you're in the phone booth. Yeah, I'm very excited to see what he does over these final seven games. Why has the offensive line been inconsistent? We see them sometimes just tear people up on the ground, case and point the don ver Broncos done other games.

It doesn't they don't win the battles in the trenches, like against the Chicago Bears. Against Miami they struggled inside as well. What's what they're inconsistency up front? Well, you know a lot of it has to do with there's injuries. You know, Spencer Long has been hurt. You know everyone knows that. You know, his snapping finger was injured, and I saw a couple of arrant snaps last week. But just that continuity, you know, the the way the game

is going also changes that. If you're playing from behind, the defense knows that they can pin their ears back, get after the quarterback. If you start to play with the lead, start to run the football, you get that momentum. You wear down that offensive line, uh, you wear down the defensive line and start to make those big plays. It's something that that you can't just come out and say, you know what, we're gonna dominate this game, it's a work in progress. You wear those defenses out as the

game goes. Do you feel as a for a former or for a guy like Spenser Long who's trying to play through a finger element where it is impacting his snaps where you don't know where that ball is gone when the Jets are lined up in the shotgun for formation. Yeah, it's tough because you know Spencer knows. You know, he's one of the leaders on that offensive line. He's the guy that gets everyone lined up, he sets the blocking schemes, and you know he's done a great job of it,

you know, up to up to now. You know, I think that that injury is kind of holding him back. But at the same time, when you're hurt, you want to be out there helping your guys. You don't want to see your guys out there struggling out there going through battle, uh with with you on the sideline. So I think that he tried to fight it as long as he could, and at the end of the game,

you know it's time to make that switch. Jets Rewards members, don't forget to enter the code scoreboard in your Jets Rewards portal during the show to earn a hundred points. That is scoreboard. A guy who's gonna be able to help the Jets put some points on the scoreboard ahead here it's Quincy and noon Law. Every time he touches the ball, he makes something happen. He's a beast. He's a beast, and it was great to see him back

out are on the field. You know that there he had a couple of Quincy and None Wall type runs. You know where he caught the you know the short passes, carried about five guys down the field and got up with that intensity and his attitude is just infectious. You know, you can't help but want to play hard and bust your butt when you see a guy like that on the field, especially when he's you know he's hurting, you

know that ankle injury. Yes he's out there performing well, but you know he's in some pain and he's fighting through it. And that that's what that's the character that this team needs to take. How much of an asset can he be in this team's screen game Because a lot of people are focusing at home about Donald's development, Well, how can you help him out? I think the Jets have shown to be a very good screen team. Yeah, the screen is a is a great way to build

the quarterback's confidence. Is a short pass, fairly simple pass. You just have to set everything up, get the blockers out in front, and it could be a two yard pass, but it ends up being an eight yard run. So I think those are the plays, those short blaze you know, similar to a checkdown. If you can get a checkdown, make someone miss spring go through for a long run,

that really help the quarterback's confidence and it gets them going. Uh. You know, it's tough when when you when you do a lot of checkdowns and all of a sudden you gotta make some deep passes. It's like shooting jump shots. It's easier when you, you know, you start with the layups and then work your way out and start hitting threes. You don't just come out shooting threes at the you know,

at the end of the game. So I think that those the screen game is an integral part of this offense, and Quincy being back is gonna help out a lot. From a guy who used to play in the back end, what could you tell uh as far as what the Dolphins were doing to try to give the rookie different looks well, you know they were. They were mixing up

coverages at the one. Once the ball was snapped, you know, they would give a two shell and then once the play started you would see someone creep underneath and rob you know the underneath paths. You gotta break this down for everybody at home listening to all it's so too deep shell. That's when you're usually playing cover to Both safeties are probably fifteen yards deep. They're lined up inside the numbers, and you know it's to cover two defense.

You know that there's there's four, there's too deep, have nine guys underneath. You know everyone else is underneath seven seven underneath and coverage um and and defenses are trying to take away that down the field pass. Yeah, and there's certain plays that beat that cover two. So maybe Jeremy Bates calls a play to beat that cover two, but on the snap they rotate the safety down. Now

was cover one. It makes things different. Now Sam has to think about the changes while he's dropping back, which bringing when the heat's coming on him. So it makes you think twice about you know, where is this throw Because before the snap you saw a cover two. I know that this guy is gonna be open over here and cover two. But now that the ball is snapped is cover one? Oh? You know, now you have to think and that's when he holds onto the ball, you get sacks. And that's what you like to do as

a defensive guy in the secondary. Manipulate those young quarterbacks, make them see one thing and let them make the decision why they're dropping back. And that is the biggest difference between playing on Saturdays and playing on Sundays, is what those defenses try to do. Those offenses each and every week here in the National Football League. Off to

a good start here on Inside the Jets. We're gonna come right back with defensive lineman Leonard Williams to go Donald and a shotgun on fourth and fifteen takes the staff drops back, looks over the middle, steps up, fire, swan into traffic and it's intercepted. Picking it off as t J. McDonald and he will simply lay down, give himself up at the fifty yard line with two fifteen remaining. Third interception of today for Sam Donald. Welcome to Inside

the Jets. Welcome back to Inside Jets were broadcasting live from Vanderbilt Sports and Spirits. Inside the Windham, Hamilton's Park Hotel, Eric Allen alongside Eric Coleman. We're also closed here tonight at Vanderbilt's because a number of military families are here with us. So we thank you so much, not only for your service, but for coming out tonight well deserved, for the sacrifices you and your families continue to make each and every day. Uh, we are lucky. That goes

without saying. But our player guest segment is presided by M ANDT Bank, the official community bank of your New York Jets. So without further ado, let's bring in the big cat Leonard Williams. Leonard, we were talking about it. Uh, E and I were talking about it, and me and you talked about it yesterday in South Florida. How tough was that for you? Guys? Is a defense knowing that predominantly you did your job for sixty minutes, but you still weren't able to come away with a victory. I

mean there was a big moment for the defense. We obviously stepped up. We challenged each other all week and uh, you know, we replied, we responded to that challenge, and uh, you know, it showed in the game that everybody prepared great during the week, and you know, we we came out and executed during the on Sunday, and at the

same time, we were obviously disappointed with the loss. But at the same time, we're not the type of team who's gonna point fingers and a point other fingers on other guys on the on the team, and so with that, so you know, even though we did good, like there were still guys like, man, we left this play out there, like we we could have scored on this play, and like, you know, we're just like, even though we had a great game on defense, we were still looking at what

we could have done better. That's what I just was gonna ask you, because Mondays around the National Football League, you guys come in and usually have a walkthrough and go through your mistakes. I didn't see too many mistakes in the field Sunday. Yeah, See, that was what was huge about our the way we played this Sunday is that, um, you know, a lot of times we'll we'll play great, but then sometimes a guy will have a mental era

here and it just creates a big gap. And then sometimes a guy will just misread this and they will create a big play. And I think that's what we executed well as a defense, is that everybody just knew their assignment. We had a super simple game plan going into the game, and uh, you know, we executed at a high level and we're able to play superfess now, you know, I know there's times as a defense when the offense may pick up for you. The defense yesterday

picked up for the offense. Is it hard to keep the guys together when you play, when you play have such a dominant performance defensively and still come up short, Yeah, it's hard. You you start to see guys um, you know not all the time. Like like I was saying about our team, we're the type that, you know, even if we lost the game and we played great, we're still gonna see like players that we could have made.

But at the same time, it's hard to like tell guys like, man, even though we played great, we lost, and uh, you know a lot of guys didn't feel like we lost because we feel like we dominated the other team across the line from us, and then we still came away when we looked at the scoreboard with the with the w I mean, with the loss, and uh, you know, it was kind of hard you gotta bring the guys together and be like, you know, we can't let this diminish uh, you know, our team and diminish

our play, and we gotta keep coming and uh you know, grow from this and uh you know, continue to play this way as a defense and then uh, knowing that our offense is gonna come along with it. You know what I mean. Leo, you went to USC. Do you have any words of advice for young quarterback Sam Dartle after he experienced a bump in the road like he

did Sunday against the Dolphins with the four interceptions. Yeah, I mean, as if I'm talking to Sam, I would just say, you know, keep your head strong, keep fighting. You know, that's what we do at SCS, fight on. Uh you know he knows that, and uh, you know, he's the type of guy who he loves to get better. Uh, even when he's at the top, he's trying to see what he can grow from and how he can keep growing.

And I'm sure he's gonna take a lot away from this game and continue to grow as a great player and uh, you know, just stay at it. Do you do you feel as a defense, you know, as a leader of the defense that having a rookie quarterback who hasn't seen at all that you guys have to over you know, pretty much overdo what you would normally have to do. I go above and beyond force some turnovers get put points on the board. Do you feel like

that as a defense? I mean, I feel like we're always gonna look that as a defense no matter how many game changing players we have an offense, we can have the best offense in the in the world, and our defense is still gonna feel like, let's put the weight on our back. So you know, that's what I love about our defense. We're gonna come out and attack and feel like we're the best thing on the on the field at all times. And uh, you know, I

love playing for this team. And uh, you know, like you said, sometimes the offense is gonna pick up the slack for the defense. Sometimes the defense is gonna pick up the slack for the offense, and uh, you know, it's kind of what happened in this past game. Defense was trying to pick it up and just keep him rolling. And you know, sometimes we'll make a huge playoff defense that we'll get the offense going to create some some hype for them and they'll charge on the field, so

you know, it all works together. That's why it's a team. You know. Do you take pride in your durability and availability? I think that's yesterday against the Dolphins was fifty seventh consecutive start. I don't even know that, but I do take pride in that. Actually, and uh, you know a guy that I inspired me when I first was a rookie was the britishaw and uh, you know, he had some similar stats. We were actually a lot bigger stats.

Is that like he went a few consecutive years without he missed one snamp and his entire career and they talk about it, yeah, they talk about special teams or yeah. So whenever I heard that, I was like, man, that's impressive. And you know, I want to I want to be that type of guy who can be available and ready to go every game. You know, I don't want to miss a game, and uh, you know, even last year I played through some injury and stuff like that just

because I want to be available for my teammates. What kind of stuff do you do to take care of your body? I mean, do you do yoga? You know, massage, therapy? What do you do to keep your body safe. Yeah, I was actually introduced to yoga um a few years ago, and that's something I've been trying to keep up with as much as possible. Just keep my body limber and flexible and stuff like that. And before the game, I have a whole routine acupuncture. I mean not acupuncture, but

kyro I mean, sorry, the corractor, back stuff. There's a lot of stuff. But yeah, I see the chiropractor and I get stretched and all that type of stuff. And then on our off days tomorrow, um, you know that's when I see like acupuncturists and uh, I get a massage and you know, I get like hot tub, ice tub and all that all that stuff. You know, those are posing offensive linement are not gonna be happy that Leonard Williams is doing yoga because that elongates your muscles.

And you are one of the longest limb guys in the national football and up there. Yeah, I mean I definitely, you know, try to use my length as much as possible. Um. You know, having long arms, especially as a d lineman, is very helpful. Um, you know, get separation with the with the big guy, you know, being able to lock my arms out with a huge guys. Uh, pretty helpful in my game. All right. So you are a very good football player. And again, each and every week, this

Jets team and this defense can count on you. You are one of the core pieces here. Before we get back to the Jets, I want to talk about Leonard the person. Before the game Sunday at hard Rock Stadium, you had an emotional moment with one of your biggest fans. Who was that and can you tell us a little bit about your dad and where he's been and what that moment was like for you yesterday? Uh, yeah, that was a really big moment. Um. I haven't seen my dad since I was fourteen, and that's when I first

started playing football. Actually was when I got to high school at fourteen, so he got to see me play um for j V high school football and then after that went to prison, and uh, I haven't seen him since then. And uh it's been ten years now and I'm twenty four. I'm a full grown man now, so it's like fundy for him to see me because he's still treating me like a little kid and I'm like, hey, I'm a man now, dad, Like you know what I mean.

But It was pretty cool. Man. He seemed like he was pretty emotional and uh, you know, he seems like he's in a good place and you know, happy to be back out there and watching me play. He had my Pro Bowl jersey on and all that stuff, and I got him some field passes for him to come on the field and get the full experience. And you know,

it was pretty big moment. You had a chance to spend some time with them Saturday too, didn't Yeah, we got in around like five thirty on Saturday, and we had meetings around eight, so I had some time to go to dinner with uh, you know, with my dad and his sister and some of my siblings. Man, that was emotional. You know when even when you talk about it now kind of get you choked up. That's a

that's a beautiful thing. But you know, going through the circumstances of growing up without your father being in prison, it's two part question. How did you stay in the straight and narrow, do the right thing, make the right decisions? And also, I know you do a lot in the community. What do you tell kids going through your situation that you went through. Um, you know, I will start with the first part of the question is how how did I stay on track? As uh, you know, just from

my mom, she was a strong, strong woman. She Uh she was a nurse and worked you know, like nine to five, like all all day, every day, and uh, I was the middle out of five children. So like to see her be able to take care of five women on her own, Like, I mean, five children on her own, I was like, man like, if she can do all this, and you know, I can get up in the morning and go to workouts and uh go to school and stuff like that. So she was a

big motivation for me. And then, like as all players would probably say, a lot of mentors that have been in and out of my life. Um, you know, I had a great high school head coach who um you know, I got huge senior itis my senior year and like stopped coming to school and stuff after this after the season was over, and uh, he like really just got on me one time and started picking me up every morning and taking me like making sure he went out his way to make sure that I was at school.

So it's like guys like that that have always been in my life at the right time, at the right moments, that have a guided me and helped me get to where I wanted to be. It's never by myself. You know, you moved around a bunch. You weren't Sacramento, Michigan, Arizona all before you were even ten years old. I know the family eventually ultimately settled in Daytona Beach, but you went to homeless shelters at times, you had to stay in motels. I mean, was that Did you ever say

to yourself, man, what's going on? Or you didn't know? You just thought, Hey, this is the normal for me right now. Um, I definitely didn't know. I definitely knew that it wasn't normal. But at the same time, I was so young and like not even stuff that I didn't really have a chance to comprehend what was going on, you know what I mean. Like, um, I think it definitely helped me grow to like who I am today.

Like I'm super adaptable just because I've been able to move around so much and like meet new friends and meet new people and uh being a whole new environment and circumstances and adapt you know what I mean. So that's why it was easy for me to move from Florida when I was seventeen and go all over the Cali and like not be homesick because I'm like, you know what, I'm used to this, and uh, the same one. I came from Cali all the way to New York.

You know, it's kind of easy adjustment for me just because I've been able to adapt and I don't know, there's definitely been tough times growing up that I'm proud of, you know where I've gotten today because I've been through a lot. And uh, it's cool to see because a lot of the majority of the NFL players have come from like, you know, hard background, So it's cool to see like everybody's story. You know. Do you impart your wisdom? Do you impart your wisdom in the young folks who

you might see going down the wrong path? Do you tell them who you are more than just Hey, I'm ninety two lining up on Sundays? Yeah, for sure. You know. I trained in San Francisco for the whole off season one time with you know, like some m M A trainer and this m M A trainer I knew was like huge into like the youth in that community and stuff like that. He took me and a few other football players and the guys who knew to like um

like a prison, like a juvenile center. Yeah, we're like talking to all the kids about you know, how it's not over for you guys, Like we know you guys coming like through like tough backgrounds and like stuff like that, hard upbringings. But he was like using us as examples that you know there's ways out of it, and uh, you know, like your life isn't gonna end here, and you know there's ways to get out of where you started. And that's what's good about America's you know, you can

have a dream and you can pursue it. So that's awesome. Yeah, I think I think it's awesome that you know, you take your time, take time out of your busy schedule, go back and in in part your wisdom to the youth because you know, I know, just like you know, going through tough times growing up, it would have been need to have an NFL player come and tell you, you know what, if you stay right saying the right path, do your job, things will be okay and things will

work out for you. So so please keep up that good work. Yeah, I mean, I think it's really important for players or even successful people in general to get back just because, like I said, Um, you know, I have my mom as a big role model, but I also had a bunch of leaders and uh you know, coaches and mentors that have helped me get to where

I am. So you know, we may not think it's that huge when we just say something small to a kid, or like do a little football camp or you know, go to a juvenile to center and like be there for like three hours and that's it. But it's huge to these kids, Like they remember it, and uh, you know it helps them sometimes that they're going through a

hard time. They remember like, oh, this guy was successful and he went through the same thing I went through, So why can't I you know what I mean, you did not have to look far for somebody to look up to, because you told us before coming on the air tonight, Leo, that your mother couldn't even come to the game in Miami yesterday because she was working her job as a nurse. That just shows what kind of work ethic she has. Yeah, my whole family has been

like that, even though my dad went to prison. Um, he was an engineer growing up, and uh, he was a hard working guy, was always out of the house before the sun even got up and stuff like that. So you know, I've definitely seen a lot of hard work from my parents, and uh, you know, once I started playing football, I got addicted to the grind almost like it was kind of addicting, like working out that

like that much, you know what I mean. It was just like something to get away from everything that was going on in the house and stuff like that. And it was easy for me to focus on something good when there's a lot of bad happening that home, you know what I mean, no doubt about it. I think people, a lot of people, youngsters growing up and looking at their situations and saying, you know, I got trouble, so they can look up to somebody like you who is

in his fourth year in the National Football League. But not just the way you play on the field, but the way year approaches with people in your work ethic agree story, no doubt about that, a lio. But speaking of great stories, we only got about forty five seconds or so. But how how do you get to usc We're just talking about it because um, you're a Florida guy. I gotta imagine you were thinking the Gators. I went to graduate school in Florida, but you gotta way to

USC and a famous coach at a hand in that. Yeah, it was really surprising for me as well, even one of my best friends who ended up going to USC right after me. Um, we were like the two big time recruits coming out of my high school at the time, and we were like completely sold on for the Gators. Like we both had like for the Gator back flaps in high school and like I wore like Gator Chuck Chuck Taylor's and like clothes all the time in school.

So like when other recruiters will come to school, they'll see me wearing like Florida gear and they're like, oh, yeah, this guy's going to Florida for sure, you know. But I ended up going to like a bunch of camps um my junior year, and I went to USC as one of my camps. It was like a three day camp and Coach Oderon was the d line coach there, who is now the coach who's doing great at the l s U actually, and uh, he just struck me. Man.

I was just like, man, I never met a guy like this in my life, Like I never had a coach like this in my life, Like he was just super like hard nosed, like grind, grind, grind, and uh, he seemed like hed never tried to like bs me like, um, you know sometimes I went to a lot of places and they all were like trying to like blow smoke and like be like, oh, like it's beautiful here, like you love it and stuff like that, and like whereas like Coach I was like, man, if you come here,

you're gonna work hard, You're gonna play hard, like stuff like that. You know, he just kept it straight with me, and I could tell he was real and genuine, and uh, you know he still is that same type of guy. We still keep in touch and Coach Aldron is definitely the guy who got me to come all the way out to us. Well, real and genuine and a guy keeps on doing this thing that is Leonard Williams. Great spot here inside the Jets, Eric Coleman and I will

be back for a final second shotgun for Darnald. Three receivers left, Growl to his right, takes the snap high snap, pulls it down with one Ham looks right, Rose right sideline intercepted, under throws intended target down the left sideline, walking into the end zone. It's a touchdown for Jerome Baker, the rookie linebacker. Welcome back to Inside the Jets Sarah Gallant and Eric Coleman here at Vanderbilt Sports and Spirits

inside the Windham Hamilton's Park Hotel. Remember, Jets fans, you can stream Inside the Jets live through the Jets App presented by M and T Bank. Go to the app store or Google Play Now and search Official New York Jets. Uh. Great spot with Leonard Williams. Very interesting cat, the big cat, no no pun intended, um. Very productive player for this team and he plays a tough position. I know everybody's always talking about sacks. With Leonard, he brings a lot

to the table. Man. Yeah, I mean you can. You can feel his leadership, you know, and his passion for the game, and it's infectious and it's in and it's rubbed off on a lot of players on this team. And they're gonna need leaders like Leinner to continue to grow and to continue to have the success. You know, we talked about Jamal Adams going off after the game, not accepting losing. That's the kind of attitude you need in an organization if you want to continue to grow

and have success. Yeah, and I think when this team ultimately does turn the corner, he's gonna be a big reason why. And Leonard is more than just sacks, because I know people are are always gonna look at his sec totals. But just talk about the challenges of being a three four interior alignment and the attention you get there any responsibilities. Yeah, it's tough. You know, you don't get the notoriety that the four three defensive lineman get because, yeah,

you're never coming free. Yeah, it's a three or four defensive end. You're lined up inside the tackle, inside the tight end most of the time. As soon as the ball snapped, you have four hands on you. You know you're getting double teams. You have to hold your gap. It's hard to get penetration. So you know, for Leonard to to have success, to get sacks, to make those tackles for Laws, he has to be defeat two guys to three pounders right now. And that's why he's talking

about using his long arms to his advantage. He gets gets his arms on the guys, moves one player, it has the strength to get through and you know, it's it's just awesome to watch. I was encouraged by the Jets pass rush against the Dolphins. They got to us while theer four times and when there was blood in the water, they got after it because Juwan James starting right tackle for the Dolphins, one out and then Jordan Jenkins started eating. Yeah he did. And that's what you

have to do. You have to spot the weakness of the opponent. And I think this defensive line has taken it upon themselves to get pressure out of the quarterback, get tackles for loss, playing the opposing team's backfield, and I think they've done a great job all year and that really sets the tone for your defense and makes life a lot easier for those linebackers. What do you think about this ball game coming up? The Buffalo Bills two and seven. Their on offense, and people think the

Jets are struggling offensively. The Bills are another level right now, but they play good defensive football and you could be involved in a dog fight here on Sunday, Yeah, playing against Buffalo. You know, no matter what the year is, that team is always physical, They're always strong, they're always sound on defense, play one on special teams, and that that does make for a dog fight. You know, the Jets have to be prepared to come in here and and fight at the beginning of the game. At least.

Then you might make some big plays and start to separate later in the game. Before the first three quarters. It's gonna be a fight, you know. And they've done that the whole year. They've They've been in pretty much every game with you know, not last week, well every other game they I think the Bears didn't even have two yards of total offense against the Bills, but they continually turned the football over. Nathan Peterman has been an

interception machine throughout his NFL career. We have no idea who's gonna be quarterback for the Bills. It could be Peterman, it could be Derek Anderson, or it could be Josh Allen. I anticipate Allen not playing. He's dealing with an arm issue and the Bills have a buy next week. I don't think you want to rush a rookie order back right back in the line up. No, you definitely don't want to do that. And if you're the Jets defense,

you have to smell that blood in the water. But at the at the at the beginning of the game, you just have to start off doing your job. Just play your just pay, do your job. Don't try to force mistakes because quarterbacks, when you start getting after the quarterback, when Leonard starts hitting them, they're gonna make mistakes. They're gonna start getting nervous in the pocket. That's when you start throwing the balls up and you start taking advantage

of those players and getting those turnovers. Yeah, the Jets defense has an opportunity to dominate this ball game because the Bills aren't beginning any push up front. Their old line is mediocre at best. Their wide receivers with Calvin Benjamin Z jones Um and company, they have struggled throughout the two thousand eighteen season. But like I said, the Bills post some problems defensively, so we'll have to see

what happens. E this hour goes by so quickly. We want to thank Michelle back in the studio, justin of course on hand every week here and Frank the tank Bree Olivia was an attendance, and of course all the service members. We'll see you next week.