Leonard Williams never got to lay a hand on Sam Darnold in practice during their two years together with the Jets.
Traded to the Giants two weeks ago, Williams laughed when asked if he’s hoping to get to the quarterback in green — no longer wearing a red non-contact jersey — when the two local teams meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“That’s funny, because I actually like randomly thought in my head what if I beat somebody and go to tackle Sam and I let up, because I’m, like ‘Oh, I can’t hit him,’ ” the defensive tackle said Thursday after Giants practice. “But no, that won’t happen, though. I’ll finally get to tackle him and that’s gonna be fun.”
Of course, the disappointing former first-round draft pick (sixth overall, 2015) hasn’t registered a sack over seven games with the Jets and one with the Giants this season.
Still, he has been sharing intel about Gang Green’s offensive and defensive schemes this week with his new teammates, suggesting that “how they are on and off the field can sometimes tell you a story on how guys are when they play.”
The offensive line particularly has struggled throughout the Jets’ 1-7 start under first-year coach Adam Gase. The unit is ranked 27th in the NFL in pass blocking and 26th in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I think it’s possibly just because of chemistry,” Williams said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell some of the D-line guys here, is that they have some new pieces. They had some pieces go down and some pieces replaced. If your guys don’t have enough chemistry, it’s going to be hard to work together. That’s the one position group that has to work together the most.”
Williams, 25, recorded three tackles and one quarterback hit last Sunday in his Giants debut against the Cowboys, but defensive coordinator James Bettcher said he’d like to create more one-on-one opportunities this week for the oft double-teamed interior lineman.
“It definitely excites me,” Williams said. “It shows me that they’re excited about me and they value what I bring to the table and they want to set me up with as many good opportunities and matchups for me. That speaks volumes on the staff and me, as well, and I have to prove to them why they should keep doing that.
“I obviously don’t want to make excuses, everyone gets double-teamed, especially good players in the league. I have to be able to beat double-teams as well. That’s just the nature of the game. I think it’s just keep working hard and keep staying at it and staying persistent to make it past that hump.”
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