Things got so bad for the Giants that last week, Leonard Williams was seen shooing fans out of MetLife Stadium during Big Blue’s 38-11 loss to the Rams, and then complaining about being booed after the game.
That led to a lot of questions about why a Giants defense that was very solid in 2020 was playing so poorly in 2021…but what a difference a week makes for Big Blue, who harassed two Panthers quarterbacks into six sacks and allowed a lone field goal in a 25-3 win.
“This is big time. As a unit, we kind of talked about putting the team on our back more and how our team is built around the defense,” Williams said after Sunday’s win. “We take pride in being a defensive team; so far this year we haven't really been stepping up to the plate, and I think this was a really big game for us. We didn't allow any touchdowns and we're putting our offense in some good field position and we closed the game out like we wanted to.”
The key difference, to Williams, was better play on early downs, which allowed them to be in good position to get off the field on third downs.
“That was probably the biggest difference to me, because it allowed us to get in some good third down situations where we were able to pass rush and then also actually be successful at the pass rush,” Williams said. “I don't remember how many times we got (Panthers quarterbacks) down but at least six times I think, and I think, like I said, it was the first and second downs that helped us get in those situations.”
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Tackling, on the whole, was also much better.
“I think it was more just pointing it out and more emphasis on it in practice,” Williams said. “Even when we're not in full pads and there's not much contact in practice, it's more like making sure your feet and your body are in good position to make the tackle and I think just overall like the focus on that was hyped up this week.”
They did indeed record six sacks, and while the Panthers converted two of three third downs on their opening field goal drive, four of their other five first half possessions lasted one set of downs – three three-and-outs and one safety on 3rd-and-9 – and only one of those third downs was less than seven yards.
Credit the run defense, which stuffed Chuba Hubbard twice on first down, and also recorded an early-down sack in the midst of those drives, making Panthers coach Matt Rhule eat his words about establishing an offense via the run earlier in the week.
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“It's kind of been the talk a little bit this week, but at the same time, you don't want to overcommit to something because they obviously have other parts of their offense, so we weren't focusing too much on it,” Williams said of that notion. “We knew that stopping the run was something that we as a unit had to focus on, so it wasn't really as much about them. It was more like what can we do to be better; we weren't trying to adjust on them, we were trying to fix ourselves.”
As much as it was a big day for the defense as a whole, it was also a redeeming day for Williams, who had two of the six sacks and also forced the pressure that led to the Giants’ safety.
“The safety was pretty big. I was excited about that. We were talking about getting points on defense and getting turnovers and stuff like that and that was points and a turnover, so I think that was a pretty big play,” Williams said. “But overall, I was just excited about the energy that the guys were playing with today and how when I make a play, I love just seeing how much it energizes the environment. The crowd gets crazy, the players get hyped, and I love feeding off my teammates and I love when they can feed off of me as well.”
Seems like Williams made his peace with the crowd – see also the jocularity he showed on that safety, blowing kisses to a fan in the end zone who had been heckling him pregame – and he’s also gelling well with some of the younger defensive players like Raymond Johnson III and Azeez Ojulari.
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“Those guys are definitely stepping up. Raymond Johnson was one of the guys that I said was going to be a sleeper this year,” Williams said. “He hasn't been getting as many snaps as Azeez obviously, but Azeez had a great day today on the field and Raymond also went in there when his name was called and stepped up. I think he got a half a sack and you know I'm happy for both of those young guys.”
And now, Williams hopes the entire defense can use Sunday as a springboard to better days.
“I think the biggest word is consistency. It's something that we can definitely build on, but we have to be consistent with it. We can't take any falloffs next week,” Williams said. “Obviously teams are going to make plays at times. I think the biggest thing that we have to do is to learn how to adjust when a big play happens and don't think that it's over and just stay poised.”
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