The Houston Texans' Will Anderson Jr. is one of the most fearsome defenders in recent league history. Hailing from the University of Alabama, he struck fear into the hearts of offensive linemen and blocking backs alike in the Southeastern Conference for years before taking his talents to the next level and winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award last season in the National Football League.
Now, Anderson Jr. is on a collision course with even more responsibility and challenges in his second season with the AFC South playoff contenders. Anderson Jr. got brutally honest on his Defensive Rookie of the Year journey and feelings after it was accomplished and now his thoughts are making the rounds.
The Anderson Jr. files were revealed during a time when CJ Stroud shared a hot take on a vintage quarterback debate. The Texans' riskiest offseason move was also revealed.
Anderson Jr. speaks out on fantastic rookie season
Anderson Jr. had 29 solo tackles and seven sacks in his rookie season, enough to net him the famed Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and enough to lead the Texans to an improbable winning season behind Coach DeMeco Ryans, quarterback CJ Stroud, wide receiver Nico Collins and the rest of a spirited young Houston squad.
When the smoke settled, Anderson Jr. had become the player everyone envisioned he could be after departing from the college game.
Anderson said he ‘cringes' when watching tape of himself from his rookie season. He knows he can improve tremendously from last season and has the tools and the team in place to become a much better player.
“Yes, going back, I'm like, ‘Bro, what are you doing?! Why were you doing that, like, what were you thinking?”
“I'm like, bro, I can't watch this anymore,” he said.
“But really just working on my pass rush, man, keeping half-a-man (drills), working the edge, working on getting extension at the top of my rush and just finishing on the quarterback with precision,” Anderson Jr. recounted, saying that those are the improvements he is thinking about making.
Texans' offseason recap
The Texans brought in Danielle Hunter from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, a move that will make life even more difficult on opposing offensive linemen. Hunter had 16 sacks last season in the NFC North Division and could make Houston's pass rush one of the league's best.
Perhaps the most noteworthy re-signing of a player by the Texans is Dalton Schultz, the tight end who has built up a great connection with CJ Stroud for Coach DeMeco Ryans' team.
Several standout defenders are featured on the list of Texans additions, including Desmond King, the veteran cornerback from Iowa who is talented but has struggled with injuries in recent years.
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