The Jets opened a three-day minicamp Tuesday with some light drills and jogging through plays. The offense and defense practiced on separate fields at separate times. There were no pads, no hitting, nothing intense.
Well, there was one thing — or person — that was intense.
New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams did not dial it down for this light practice. His dial was on 11, as Spinal Tap might say. Williams was barking at players in drills, demanding they do better, his voice traveling all over the field. He then jokingly told a few players they wasted their money on personal trainers in recent months.
All of it brought a smile to Jets coach Adam Gase’s face.
“It’s exactly what I envisioned or however you want to say it,” Gase said. “We’ve competed against each other so many times. I’ve seen him stand on the numbers on the field after they get a sack or a pick-six or something. He’s said some nice things to me. I enjoy it. I love his energy. I love what he brings to our building. I love what he brings to our players. It’s what we want.”
Williams has given the Jets defense a bolt of energy that many around the organization felt was needed. One of the biggest criticisms of former coach Todd Bowles was the energy level in practice was not always high. The combination of Gase and Williams has promised to change that.
Players are already anticipating when the offense and defense can square off in practice and Gase and Williams can really dial up the trash talk.
“I feel like he’s an offensive Gregg Williams,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said of Gase. “They’re both really intense coaches. I’m looking forward to practice. I feel like they’re going to get the best out of everybody on this team. I feel like practice is going to be really competitive. That’s going to be great.”
Williams, 60, arrives to the Jets with a reputation as being one of the best defensive coordinators in football, but also one of the most abrasive. The scouting report is teams love him early, but tire of him quickly. The Jets and Williams are still in the honeymoon period.
“I love guys like that,” Leonard Williams said. “That was a big reason why I went to USC back in the day for Coach [Ed] Orgeron. I love those high-intensity, get-after-it type of coaches that really know how to push you and get the best out of you. That’s what I see in Gregg Williams. I just love his energy. I look forward to playing for him.”
Third-year safety Jamal Adams was asked to describe the energy Gregg Williams brings.
“Through the roof,” Adams said. “He grabbed the attention of the room, and I think that’s something that we needed.”
Williams has a big task ahead of him. The Jets finished 25th in total defense last year and have not had a dominant defense in recent seasons.
Gase was hired to transform the Jets into winners, and he brought Williams in to help him do that. On Day 1, the reviews were strong.
“It feels like a new culture right now,” Leonard Williams said. “In practice, guys are flying around, moving fast, speaking loud, communicating with each other, picking each other up, coaching each other. It seems like everyone wants the best for each other. I love that.”