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What I was trying to say but you worded much, much better!JJ's game aint speed people. He's all about his heavy hands and strength. Jim Tressel said he thought JJ had the strongest hands he'd ever seen on tape.
The Texans need Watt to hold the point of attack on the strong side of the defense. He's playing LDE (5-tech) and will have Brooks Reed/Connor Barwin rushing free a lot of the time right off of him. It'll be JJ's job to hold the right tackle in check to free up our SAM OLB. This is totally NOT what he did at Wisconsin. JJ was a projection pick - the Texans are projecting/assuming JJ can handle a more appropriate role for his skill set, which is the 5 tech.
We need a guy like JJ vs. the Jags/Titans/Ravens/Steelers/Pats of the world who grind it out running the ball all game off right tackle. JJ's motor (which the Texans didn't have any "motor" players on defense before the 2012 draft, this is obvious) will be a huge asset late in games when teams want to slug the Texans in the mouth.
Watch JJ at the end of games. He's still going full-boar and he doesn't lose strength even though you know he's tired as a dog.
Also, an earlier poster was correct in saying his speed will show up the farther inside he goes. He and Antonio will be inside on 3rd down.
So you're curious to see how JJ plays vs. a center/guard? Watch the last drive of the Ohio State game, specifically the last 2 plays. He swims past the center Mike Brewster before the center can even get out of his stance and burns past him untouched, hits the QB. The next snap? JJ bursts past him even faster and more untouched, hits the QB, Wisconsin wins. By the way, Mike Brewster is the best center in college football will be a 1st round pick in 2012.
I just hope he turns into a Haoli Ngata. Maybe not his rookie year, but by year 4.
Here are some of my observations of the Rose Bowl:
1. It was said that the field condition is not very good.
That ought to be more difficult fr big men.
2. TCU only ran 49 offensive plays.
3. Watts played as either a 4-3 DE or a stand up OLB (on a 4-man front).
These won't be his main positions. He's not fast and quick like Freeney or Mario to be very effective in the NFL on the edge; that's whythey pegged him as a 3-4 DE.
4. TCU went mostly with the short and quick passing game.
5 times Watt got in the backfield, but the pass was already gone.
One one long pass play, they double-teamed him. On another long pass attempt, he beat the LT, but was held (no holding call, however).
5. He caused 2 false starts; he forced a hold by an O-lineman.
He deflected a pass. He made 2 tackles and one assist in the run game, all near the LOS.
TCU basically tried to avoid him or double-team in the run game, or forced him to make a decision on the zone read or option run.
(He's not going to have to worry about that as a 3-4 DE.)
6. The quickness you want to see can be found on the one option run by TCU, where Watts held off Dalton long enough, forcing him to make the pitch, and was still able to make the tackle on the RB. That's pretty quick for me.
.......
Obviously, he still needs to work on his game; but there were enough in his plays at the collegiate level (at 3-4 DE and occasionally at NT) to think that he can be at least a decent NFL player in a couple of years.
JJ's game aint speed people. He's all about his heavy hands and strength. Jim Tressel said he thought JJ had the strongest hands he'd ever seen on tape.
The Texans need Watt to hold the point of attack on the strong side of the defense. He's playing LDE (5-tech) and will have Brooks Reed/Connor Barwin rushing free a lot of the time right off of him. It'll be JJ's job to hold the right tackle in check to free up our SAM OLB. This is totally NOT what he did at Wisconsin. JJ was a projection pick - the Texans are projecting/assuming JJ can handle a more appropriate role for his skill set, which is the 5 tech.
We need a guy like JJ vs. the Jags/Titans/Ravens/Steelers/Pats of the world who grind it out running the ball all game off right tackle. JJ's motor (which the Texans didn't have any "motor" players on defense before the 2012 draft, this is obvious) will be a huge asset late in games when teams want to slug the Texans in the mouth.
Can't wait for season to start and see this new defense. Just hoping for the best.
All good points.
Watt had tons of holding calls go uncalled against him all last year too. In the Iowa game alone I think I counted 7 or 8. This gives me reason to believe he'll be an even better NFL player where holding is called much more strictly.
Also I think it's worth noting that the Wisconsin defensive line is pretty bad outside of Watt. I've watched a lot of Wisconsin since the Watt pick and he's the only dude in the backfield ever on their line. Even more reason to believe he'll be better in the NFL where he'll get more one on one matchups.
The problem with the Texans' run defense was not the 5 tech not being able to hold the point of attack. Mario did as fine a job as anyone in the league. The problem was usually the other sided... that guy that everybody loves... he's the one they ran past. The guy is very good at disrupting the backfield on passing downs, but on run downs he is a liability on the backside.
I would concede your points, if we were going to play JJ Watt & Mario at DE in the 3-4. We'd probably have the best run defense in the league, they will not get outside.
But all this talk about Antonio as the other end...... puh lease.
Granted, Mario will have backside contain so maybe it's the same thing. We'll see.