Watt always on prowl to find a vulnerable spot to strike offense
The green light is always on for Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt, the owner of rare, sweet freedom to roam around the line of scrimmage and line up wherever he feels he can make the greatest impact.
From snap to snap, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year analytically searches for the most vulnerable weak point in a blocking scheme.
That means Watt might line up at his traditional left defensive end spot stacked against the offensive right tackle’s outside shoulder, shift to the other side at right end, or shoot through the center-guard gap against interior linemen overmatched by his power and athleticism.
Because of the faith Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has placed in Watt, the 6-5, 290-pound, three-time Pro
Bowl selection thoroughly enjoys how he’s deployed in an aggressive 3-4 defensive scheme.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Watt, who had similar license to use his instincts under former Texans defensive boss Wade Phillips. “It takes awhile to build that trust, and I’m very fortunate that Romeo’s put that trust in me. I have a lot of great teammates who also fit well into everything that we’re doing and understand everything that we’re doing, and it’s a blast.
“That’s why I love this game. You can go out there and make plays from all over against all different guys, and you never really know where I’m coming from.”
High praise indeed
Exploding out of a threepoint stance with his hand in the dirt or a two-point stance similar to that of Hall of Fame New York Giants outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor, Watt has 57 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and 37 passes defended in four NFL seasons.
Because of Watt’s blend of size, speed, relentlessness and an uncanny ability to diagnose offenses, Crennel feels comfortable giving him a lot of rope as a pass rusher and run-stopper. That’s because Watt rarely is caught out of position and registered 20½ sacks last season.
“It’s a total combination of the way he studies the game, because I think a lot of players can study the opponent and have an idea of what’s coming, but everybody doesn’t have equal ability,” Crennel said. “He’s got a great combination of ability, work habits, study habits, instincts.”
Watt hasn’t done this alone. Defensive end Jared Crick is his partner in crime, working in tandem with Watt to execute line stunts to confuse opponents.
“Crick is really good at what he does,” Watt said. “There’s times where it doesn’t have to be a look or a hand signal. Through the middle of a play, he can see me do something and knows that he needs to come around.
“It’s pretty awesome to have a guy like that who can really make you right, and he’s really good at his job. Our lockers are right next to each other. I think we just developed that chemistry over time.”
Heading into Sunday’s regular-season opener against Kansas City at NRG Stadium, Chiefs coach Andy Reid compared Watt favorably to Reggie White, one of the NFL’s all-time-great defensive ends for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers.
Reid was part of the Packers’ coaching staff under Mike Holmgren when White helped them win a Super Bowl.
“He’s one of those big guys that played about that far off the ground and could go full speed,” Reid said of White. “J.J.’s got that same type of thing. He’s not quite as big as Reggie was, but he’s big enough, and he’s a good football player.
“They move him all over. There’s not one place he’s going to be over and over. They’re going to move him up and down the line and inside and outside. He’s a good athlete and a smart player. He keeps leverage, and he’s relentless. He keeps bringing it.”
K.C. line a patchwork
So did White, whose famous bull rush allowed him to flatten offensive tackles. White died at 43 of heart problems and sleep apnea at his North Carolina home. He was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection who had 198 career sacks and 33 forced fumbles.
“I’m extremely honored and humbled to be in the same sentence as a guy like Reggie, especially coming from an NFL head coach,” Watt said. “He knows what he’s talking about, so that means a lot.
“After only four years in my career, to be even in the same sentence much less the same breath as a guy like Reggie, it’s a massive honor.”
Watt has emerged as the scourge of quarterbacks around the league, preying on weak offensive tackles and indecisive passers who make the mistake of holding on to the football too long.
Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is fairly mobile. However, he was sacked 45 times last season. And his offensive line has been overhauled. Disappointing former top overall pick Eric Fisher is shifting to right tackle from left tackle, with Donald Stephenson replacing him at left tackle. The Chiefs are starting a rookie at center in Mitch Morse, and Canadian import Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is making his first NFL start Sunday.
A caged animal
Given that the Chiefs are in transition with their blockers, Watt has watched old tape of the players at their respective positions.
“We’ll go back and look at some of the film of each guy in the position that they will be playing,” Watt said. “In some cases, there may not be that. You have to also go out there with the mentality of play your game, do what you do, and don’t really let all that affect you.”
Because Watt was held out of preseason games for precautionary reasons, he hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 28, a seasonending win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. That has left him eager to hit a quarterback.
“That would be the understatement of the century,” Watt said. “It’s like an animal in a cage. I think on Sunday they’re finally going to open up the cage for me, and I can’t wait. I’m pretty hungry.”