“The biggest thing is the special teams unit, we know every time we touch the field we can impact the game in a positive way,” Williams said on Sunday. “So, we knew going into this game they were probably going to try to stay away from Kene Nwangwu [who has the longest KO return, 99 yards, in the league this season] and then for some reason, they just start kicking the ball out the back of the end zone. So we’re like we’re not going to get any opportunities. So, [we] come out of the huddle and I see the coaches talking to their guys for a while. I’m like, ‘Hey Kene, we’re probably going to get one right here.’ Then they kicked it to me, then from there we know we can make plays every time we touch the field and the guys blocked it up perfectly. All I had to do was just run straight, I didn’t really have to do much. I owe them one. I should’ve scored on that, but yeah, I owe them one.”
Ahead of Sunday’s return match against Miami, Williams is No. 4 in the league in KO return average (29.2 yards per) among qualifying returns (min. 20 KOR) and No. 7 in punt return (min. 20) average (12.9). Overall, the Jets’ special teams, under first-year coordinator Chris Banjo, are No. 3 in expected points added because of the combined work of Williams, Nwangwu, Folk and punter Austin McNamara … and of course the of the special teams crew.
“We were together in Detroit, and, man, there are a number of good things that you saw from him then,” Glenn said on Monday. “And I remember us hoping that he wouldn’t get picked up when we did release him in Detroit, and we’ll get him right back, and Cincinnati picked him up. And he was on their squad for a while.
“I know the background of this player. I know how hard he works. Listen, I know he made mistakes early on, but I truly believe in this player. … I know that player very well, and I know what he was going to bring to the table, so I’m excited, not just for now what he’s doing, but having to go for it, how he’s going to help our team. And it’s just not just on special teams that you can see, he’s a huge part of what we do on offense, too.”
As a WR, Williams has 5 catches from 10 targets for 37 yards (7.4 per) and has rushed 2 times for 27 yards, with 1 of the carries going for 25.
Williams said he’s received invaluable advice from Glenn, who was a pretty decent kick returner in his days as a player
“I ended up finding out he was an All-Pro punt returner,” Williams said. “I learned a lot, and then I just started asking him questions and he then he started giving me pointers, like do this, do that, and he was like, ‘What I want you to do today — I want you to push yourself. Those short kicks that maybe sometimes you don’t get to, today I want you to try to go get those’ and just having that room just to grow. Feeling like I’m about to push myself today and my coach is pushing me to push myself, I feel like you don’t get that too often.”