High Wattage

Answer: This player has keyed a defensive resurgence for the up-start Houston Texans.

By Jeremy Philipson

If this were Jeopardy, any response other than “Who is JJ Watt” would have lost you points. With his uncanny ability to swat down balls at the line of scrimmage, second-year defensive end JJ Watt has been the catalyst of the Texans’ defense.

(AP Photo)

Watt first attended Central Michigan as a tight end, but after only 8 receptions for 77 yards his freshman year, he left school and took a job delivering pizzas. He eventually regained focus, enrolling at Wisconsin in 2008. Watt was redshirted his first year, but had 44 tackles and 4 sacks in 2009, his first year playing defensive end since high school. During his senior season in 2010, Watt improved in every aspect, and ended the season with 62 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and even had an interception.

In 2010, the Texans defense was downright awful. The unit ranked No. 13 in rushing defense, No. 30 in total yards per game, and dead last in passing defense. Seeing that something needed to be done, management made changes. Instead of firing head coach Gary Kubiak, they axed the defensive coordinator Frank Bush and hired then Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips. In the 2011 draft, they selected JJ Watt from Wisconsin with the No. 11 overall pick.

The returns were immediate. In 2011, the defense improved to No. 2 in total yards per game, No. 3 in rushing yards per game, and No. 4 in passing yards per game. Watt played a major role in this turnaround, posting 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 4 passes deflected, and a blocked field goal in his rookie season. Now a terror on the line, “JJ Swatt” has already recorded 32 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 8 passes deflected, and 2 fumble recoveries in just 6 games.

This year, the Texans defense has been as good, if not better. They rank 2^nd in total yards per game, 4^th in passing, and 6^th in rushing. Watt has been “the man” for Wade Phillips’ unit, and will have to continue to do so with linebacker Brian Cushing out for the year with a torn ACL. Watt has even received national attention, with some sportswriters and analysts calling for him to win NFL MVP. This is really a sign of respect, as no defensive player has won the MVP award since Lawrence Taylor in 1986, and only one defensive lineman, Alan Page in 1971, has ever won the award.

For a prime example of how JJ Watt impacts the game, look no further than this past weekend. In Sunday’s game against Baltimore, Watt had two tackles and two passes deflected in the Texans’ 43-13 rout of the Ravens. One play in the second quarter started with Watt deflecting a pass, and ended with cornerback Johnathan Joseph intercepting the ball and returning it for a touchdown.

If the Houston Texans are serious about their Super Bowl aspirations, they are going to need a strong running game and solid defense. With Arian Foster leading the ground attack, second-year pro JJ Watt will need to become the anchor on defense.