With training camp approaching, it’s time to breakdown players that could have a breakout season in 2016. After an impressive rookie season, Leonard Williams is looking to build on his 2015 in year two with Todd Bowles and the Jets.

Let’s take a look at how that can happen.

Williams, while playing a majority of his snaps along the interior defensive line, did not have gaudy numbers but was extremely effective. He posted 63 tackles, 3 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, and 30 quarterback hurries. This amounted to being disruptive on 10.4% of his pass rush attempts.



With Sheldon Richardson suspended week one of the regular season, Williams will once again hold expectations as an impact starter. His length and burst off the ball allow him to work off of blocks, quickly flushing the quarterback from the pocket.

If he can find consistency with this while working on a young and talented front (that recently locked up Muhammad Wilkerson long-term) his sack numbers should double in 2016.



What allowed Williams to get on the field so quickly for Todd Bowles, an old school coach who would prefer to ease rookies in, was his lack of drop off as a run defender. In 325 snaps where he defended the run, he made 35 solo stops while only missing six tackles.

2016 will be yet another big test for the former sixth overall pick. He’ll have the luxury of playing alongside talented defenders up front in Sheldon Richardson and the previously mentioned Wilkerson, but there will be no lack of expectations to make a big year two impact.

With depth and a proven coaching staff around him while being immensely talented, Leonard Williams is a safe bet to make huge strides in 2016.

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Connor Rogers is the NFL draft analyst for Jets Wire. He can be reached via Twitter @ConnorJRogers. All of the Jets Wire scouting reports for the NFL draft can be found here.