Leonard Williams says New York Giants are still finding their identity

The New York Giants are 1-2 through the first three weeks of the regular season and will pass the quarter mark on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

After an impressive summer, the wheels have come off for Big Blue. They were blown out in Week 1 and dominated in Week 3, and needed a historic comeback in Week 2 to secure their only win of the year thus far.

While they’re not quite a team going through an identity crisis, veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams says they’re still trying to figure out exactly who they are.

“I mean, honestly, we are still finding (our identity),” he told reporters on Thursday. “That’s why I try to say every year is a new year, regardless of if you have a lot of the same players on the team, regardless of if you have a lot of the same coaches that are coming back. Each year is a new year and you’ve got to treat it that way. Right now, I think we are on the right track, like I said, but there are still some things that I think we have to bring together and close on who we are.”

A year ago, the Giants were a scrappy, never-say-die team that fought hard in every game until the bitter end. This season, that fight seems to be missing at times.

Ultimately, Williams says, it’s on the veteran players to sort things out and set the right example. That will ultimately help establish this group’s identity.

“I mean it’s definitely on the leaders, for sure. Even outside of the coaches, the coaches are obviously leaders, but I think at the end of the day this a players game and we are the ones out there on the field, we are the ones setting the tempo in practice and all type of things like that,” Williams said.

“I think it’s on us to shape the identity of the team and shape the way we go about things around here. A lot of times rookies coming in, they’re not knowing what to expect, they are just following the guys in front of them and that’s when it’s on the leaders to show the whole team how it’s done.”

If the Giants can come out strong against the Seahawks and buck their recent downward spiral in prime-time games, it will go a long way in setting the tone for the rest of the season.

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