For the first time in several seasons, the New York Jets are going to have a new on-field leader commanding their defense.
After years of stellar linebacker play, C.J. Mosley was released by the team as a post-June 1 cut. As the 32-year-old waits to see if another team will be interested in his services, he has remained nearby the team’s facility in Florham Park.
One particular player on the team is using him for guidance during OTAs.
It appears a metaphorical passing of the torch for New York’s defense has officially been completed.
Jets Turn To Old Friend For Guidance
Jets linebacker Quincy Williams is one of the most dominant players on the team. He’s a former first-team All-Pro with a penchant for speed and athleticism.
With Mosley gone, though, Williams is expected to take on the mantel of another part to his game.
Leadership.
Williams has always been a strong leader in the Jets’ locker room. His development was one of the few success stories of the previous coaching and scouting regime. With Mosley gone, though, the Jets are going to rely on Williams’ leadership more this year than ever before.
It’s why the 28-year-old is looking to Mosley for help.
“C.J. came to my camp this weekend, so we had a conversation,” Williams said at Jets OTAs on Tuesday. “Also, he’s still in New Jersey, so we’ve grabbed lunch a couple of times. Right now it’s the mindset of picking his brain on how to be more of a leader. When he came to the Jets, to a new team, he actually sat out a year.
“So it was like what are the things that you worked on to come to a team that you really didn’t know? How did you become a leader to those guys?”
It’s smart for Williams to want to go to Mosley for guidance. Despite the struggles New York went through while Mosley was on the team, he was a consummate professional through it all.
It also highlights the clear leadership absence New York has with one of the younger rosters in the sport.
Aging veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Mosley were easy to pinpoint as leaders over the last two seasons, but with both players gone, the Jets need new leaders to step up in their absence.
It appears Williams is ready to take on that responsibility as soon as possible.
