Marcus Williams rebounds from bad game with two interceptions
Marcus Williams #20 of the New York Jets runs a first quarter interception against Allen Robinson #15 of the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Jim McIsaac
One Sunday, Marcus Williams is a symbol of the Jets' ineptitude with six missed tackles. The next Sunday, he's the hero who moved from safety to cornerback when Antonio Cromartie was injured and made two bookend interceptions at the start and finish of a 28-23 victory over Jacksonville.
Williams was in the right place in the first quarter for a tipped ball he returned to the Jacksonville 32 to set up the Jets' second touchdown. When the Jaguars got the ball with 54 seconds left, it was Williams who again picked off Blake Bortles to put the win in the bank. Oh, and he made three tackles, got a half-sack, defended three passes and was credited with one quarterback hurry on a blitz.
It was a case of big-time redemption after hearing a week of criticism. "I don't pay attention to last week," Williams said. "I'm just trying to get better every single day and focus on the plays I need to make. Coming in there and making those plays when Cro went down, it's next man up."
Although Dion Bailey started in place of injured Calvin Pryor at safety, Williams, who usually plays cornerback, replaced him in the first quarter. That's where he was playing on his first interception. Cromartie was beaten badly on Bortles' 30-yard TD pass to Allen Hurns just before halftime. Williams took over at cornerback when Cromartie left the game in the fourth quarter.
"Whatever position the coach feels I need to be at, I'm going to go out there and get it done," Williams said. "He trusted me. When my number is called, I can focus on any position that's needed."
It became a case of musical chairs in the secondary as the Jets' patchwork defense gave up 436 yards but forced three of four Jacksonville turnovers (there was another on special teams). When Williams moved to corner, Bailey returned to safety and led the Jets with six tackles and added a half-sack. Bailey was injured in the fourth quarter and replaced by Rontez Miles, making his NFL debut.
"A couple guys went down, but we do have a lot of depth," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "Marcus was banged up for a couple plays, but he caught the game-winning interceptions for us. It's a lot on his plate, [but] Marcus is not afraid to step in and make plays."
Revis said the Jets "were on our heels" in the fourth quarter, clinging to a 21-16 lead as Bortles drove the Jaguars down the field. But linebackers Demario Davis and Calvin Pace combined to force a fumble by Bortles that Pace recovered at the Jets' 34.
"That was big for us," Revis said. "Jacksonville hit us with their hardest punch, and we stood up."
When Williams made the clinching interception, his teammates celebrated his success for weathering a week-long storm.
"Might as well call him Mr. Playmaker," Davis said. "That's four interceptions on the season in limited time. You can't beat that."
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
