How Giants' Defense Has Changed Following the Leonard Williams Trade

Coach Gene Clemons looks at the subtle and not-so-subtle changes to the Giants' defense since Leonard Williams was traded.

Author:
Gene Clemons
Publish date:
Nov 22, 2023 9:37 AM EST

In this story:

New York Giants

Over the last few years, former New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams has been the subject of countless opinions regarding his value to this team. Usually, the criticism centered around his contract numbers, as many fans and media members believe that a guy making elite-level money should have statistics that support the dollars.

For defensive linemen, that statistic is normally sacks. But sacks have never been the calling card for Williams. He never had overwhelming sack numbers at USC, so when the Jets took him in the first round, expecting him to turn into a consistent double-digit sack artist only set him up to be perceived as a failure.

That could not be further from the truth, which is why Giants fans never truly appreciated Williams.

Williams' Value

Williams' true value is his ability to work within a unit in multiple positions. He has played well as a defensive end and as a defensive tackle. He has performed at a high level in odd- and even-man fronts.

That ability to adapt in multiple fronts and styles gives the other defensive linemen and even the linebackers the ability to move freely. He had a season where he recorded 11.5 sacks and followed it up with an 81-tackle season.

Offensive linemen know they cannot afford to leave Williams unaccounted for because he will be a play disruptor if they do. When the Giants decided to trade him to Seattle, many celebrated general manager Joe Schoen’s ability to get such value for him, but the only reason he was able to get that value in draft compensation was because others around the league know just how good Williams truly is and what he brings to the table.

The Impact on the Giants' Defense

Since his departure, Williams has been missed by everyone on the defense. Concerning the additions the Giants made along the line in the offseason, none carry the cache that Williams possesses, and thus far, they have not proven capable of filling his shoes at his level.

Williams’s presence kept Dexter Lawrence, a guy who credits Williams as a friend, from absorbing as many double teams as possible. Without him, Lawrence has to deal with double teams because most offensive lines believe that they can handle the other interior linemen one-on-one.

Lawrence has only had one sack since Williams' departure. That sack and his only tackle for loss came in their second matchup against the Commanders. The Williams trade came as Lawrence was beginning to heat up statistically. In the two games before Williams left, Lawrence had three sacks, five solo tackles, and two tackles for loss.

After struggling the first part of the season, the run defense seemed to be improving. All of the new pieces are settling into their roles and understanding how they fit in this defense.

The two weeks before Williams leaving was their best showing as a rush defense. They surrendered 138 yards total over those two games, and in the last three games, they have returned to their early season form, surrendering 125, 168, and 174 yards over that period.

When an offense does not need to commit multiple blockers to more than one defensive lineman, blocking linebackers is easier, and the Giants have linebackers who are easier to cover up. The results have been more rushing lanes for ball carriers. The team cannot rely on the opposing quarterback to turn the ball over multiple times to have success.

Final Thoughts

Williams might not have been a long-term piece on the Giants, but that does not mean he is not missed. He has always been a pro's pro and a mentor to the young talent across the defensive line and beyond.

During his five-year tenure with the Giants, he showed up to work regularly and performed to the best of his ability. He set an example for others to follow in the organization.

From his impact as a pass rusher to his effect in the run game, Williams was much more than he was ever credited with locally, and you can be sure that some second-round pick will find it difficult to fill those shoes.