Tag: Will Anderson Jr

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. nominated for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. continues to rack up accolades in 2024.

Will Anderson Jr. continues to rack up the accolades for Houston Texans in a breakout second season at NRG Stadium.

Anderson was nominated as Texans’ representative for the 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Friday.

The nominees for all 32 teams were announced earlier this week by the NFL:

The award represents “an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition,” according to the league’s website.

The award will be ” determined by a vote of current NFL players,” and the winner will “receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.”

Anderson remains one of the league’s top pass rushers as his second season comes to a close. While sharing the spotlight with four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, the former No. 3 overall pick ranks in the top 10 among all defenders in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (12.5) and QB hits (31).

The winner is announced during the end of season “NFL Honors” Award show before the Super Bowl.

The Texans travel to EverBank Stadium to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at noon CT.

Jaguars vs. Texans: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Texans: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off their bye week, ideally refreshed and refocused for their final stretch of the 2024 season as they host Houston this weekend.

This will be a crucial six-game marathon for the Jaguars as the future around the coaching staff and front office hangs in the balance following a lowly 2-9. On a positive note, franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence appears closer to returning to play this week after missing two games with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.

While Jacksonville almost certainly won’t make the postseason, it could begin to cause some panic among Houston fans with an upset.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at some of the key matchups for this weekend.

Jacksonville WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Houston CB Derek Stingley Jr.

This one-on-one battle represents two gifted athletes who will be among the best players at their respective positions for years to come. Stingley has been playing at a high level this season and is one of Houston’s best defenders while Thomas has emerged as one of the better young wide receivers in the league and one of the faces of Jacksonville’s future.

It can’t be emphasized enough how crucial of a matchup this is. Thomas has played well the last several weeks and emerged as the Jaguars’ top playmaker this year. With Lawrence potentially back under center, the team’s first-round selection this year could see his target share increase.

Stingley is one of the best man-cover corners in the game. He uses his size, technique, and pure athleticism to shut down any receiver who lines up against him. Thomas offers the skill set to beat man defenders at will with the incredible fluidity, short-area quickness and ultra-explosiveness that has made him a three-level threat.

If Thomas wins this battle, Jacksonville will be one step closer to pulling off an upset.

Jaguars’ offensive line vs. Texans’ defensive line

For as bad as things have been for the Jaguars this season, their offensive line remains steady, especially in the interior. The team has allowed the sixth-lowest pressure rate in the NFL (28.7%) and will take on a Texans’ defense that ranks third in pressure rate (40.3%).

Winning in the trenches has been an up-and-down battle for Jacksonville all season and Sunday features a chance to win there on both sides of the ball. According to Next Gen Stats, Jaguars guards Exra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff and center Mitch Morse have all allowed pressure on under five percent of their pass-blocking snaps. 

The edges are where it gets tricky as tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison will be going up against Texans defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league. Jacksonville will need its young tackles to have quality starts to slow down Houston’s pass rushers.

This is not a favorable matchup for the Jaguars. It could be if Harrison and Little can stay consistent in their pass-blocking sets and generate momentum in the run game on the edges, which will be key in taking on the No. 5 defense in yards allowed. 

Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Jacksonville run defense

One of the stories of the Jaguars this season has been their putrid defensive play in almost all facets, especially against the run where they have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards in the NFL (135.5).

However, interestingly enough, they have defended the run well on outside-designed runs. Jacksonville has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards over expected (-65) and the seventh-lowest success rate (34.0%) on those specific play calls, according to Next Gen Stats.

Defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker have been big reasons for Jacksonville’s success against outside runs. Walker is third on the team in run stops (35) and Hines-Allen has 23 on the season. Their power at the point of attack and discipline against the run has been very notable this year. 

This week, they’ll take on Mixon, who has run nine of his touchdowns to the outside and has the fifth-most RYOE (+116) in that area in the NFL. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik tends to use the outside zone to work away from the tackle box and stress defenders on the edges.

Setting the edge will be key for the Jaguars, especially against Mixon. Walker and Hines-Allen must do their job to squeeze their respective gaps and become force defenders to bottle Mixon inside.

If the Jaguars can limit Mixon’s ability to stretch the edge, Jacksonville will have a chance to pull off a nice victory on Thanksgiving weekend. 

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. joins elite class in win over Patriots

Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is well on his way to winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2024.

Will Anderson Jr. was always expected to be the foundational piece of DeMeco Ryans’ defense when the Houston Texans traded up nine spots in the 2023 NFL Draft to select him third overall.

Some would argue the former Alabama edge rusher was destined to be this era’s J.J. Watt down off NRG Drvie, though even that’s a high compliment for someone just transitioning to the next level.

On Sunday, Anderson might have taken a step toward being the official heir of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a favorite to win the award himself this fall.

Anderson picked up three sacks against  New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye in the Texans’ 41-21 victory at Gillette Stadium, a first for the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“Proud of Will, massive game for him to be able to get off the quarterback the way he did,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Three sacks, also forced an interception there by [Eric] Murray. Just a really, really productive day by him and he stayed out there. Loved his energy, right? From start to finish. He came out.”

On top of three sacks, Anderson also added a tackle for loss against running back Antonio Gibson in the second quarter. Murray’s interception was caused by a batted pass at the line scrimmage after Anderson won his one-on-one battle against New England’s offensive line.

With his performance, Anderson joined Watt as the only player in franchise history to record three sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass deflection in a game. Watt hit the marker twice during his 10-year career with the Texans after being drafted out of Wisconsin in 2011.

While he doesn’t rank among the top three, Anderson’s 5.5 sacks are tied for fifth-most entering Week 7, alongside Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. His nine tackles for loss currently lead the NFL, as does his 28 QB hits.

Watt, who finished with a franchise-leading 101 career sacks, won Defensive Player of the Year in his second season after totaling 20.5 QB takedowns. Anderson needs 15 more to surpass the total and performances like Sunday could help him reach the goal.

‘The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

Watch: Texans DE Danielle Hunter records first sack in Houston

Houston Texans marquee signing Danielle Hunter tallied his first sack in a Texans uniform by meeting Will Anderson Jr. in the backfield.

Welcome to NRG Stadium, Danielle Hunter.

Hunter, the Houston Texans’ top defensive addition of the offseason, took down Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams for his first sack in Houston.

Hunter and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. met in the backfield to bring down the No. 1 overall pick on third-and-9 for a 10-yard loss.

Hunter, 29, signed a two-year, $49 million deal with Houston in the offseason to chase a Lombardi trophy in his hometown. The former Minnesota Viking grew up in Katy and played high school football at Morton Ranch.

In Houston’s Week 1’s 29-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts ,Hunter tallied two pressures

Last season was a career year for the four-time Pro Bowler, totaling 16.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss, both career highs.

Hunter’s sack limited Chicago to a field goal on its opening drive.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. named to 2024 Pro Bowl

Texans rookie Will Anderson will replace Maxx Crosby in the 2024 Pro Bowl.

One day after being named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America, Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was named to the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl. He will replace Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Anderson, who the Texans selected with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Alabama, will join teammate left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who was voted a starter earlier this month. He had a phenomenal rookie season, finishing with 45 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, 67 pressures, one pass defensed, and one blocked field goal in 13 starts.

With 7.0 sacks this season, Anderson set a new rookie franchise record for most sacks in a single season, and his quarterback pressure totals paced all rookies in the NFL this year. He is also the first Texans defensive player to make the Pro Bowl since J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Benardrick McKinney were selected in 2018. Additionally, Anderson is the third rookie in franchise history to appear in the Pro Bowl, joining Jerome Mathis (2005) and Brian Cushing (2009).

“His mentality – not only does it match up with his talent, but it probably [exceeds] his talent,” said rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud about Anderson. “The tenacious will to win – the grit that he brings to the locker room, and just his personality. His talent is great, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time, if you can match that with what he has, it’s a force to be reckoned with.”

The Pro Bowl will take place in Orlando, Fla., and will span over two days with multiple activities in front of fans. The skills challenges will be broadcast live on Thursday, Feb. 1, on ESPN starting at 7 p.m. ET on the Pro Bowl Skills Show and continue Sunday, Feb. 4, culminating in flag football.

Jaguars ST coordinator Heath Farwell explains blocked field goal error

Heath Farwell explained why there was a crease exploited by Will Anderson Jr. on a blocked field goal.

After a sluggish start for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, momentum swung even harder in the Houston Texans’ direction when a 51-yard field goal attempt for Brandon McManus was blocked. Instead of cutting the Texans’ lead to 7-3, the visiting team quickly ballooned its lead to 14 points.

To block the kick, the Texans didn’t have a speedy player dive to make the play after bending around the edge. They didn’t have a player jump over the lines. And there wasn’t a Jaguars lineman pancaked on his back by a Houston player bulldozing his way to the kicker.

So why was Texans rookie linebacker Will Anderson Jr. able to squeeze through a gap and make the play?

“The way field goal protection works, everybody has to be in unison,” Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell explained Thursday. “It’s all interlocked in. When you have one guy that’s off or two guys that are off, you get a little crease.

“Our left tackle who has done a really good job for us so far this season, just got a little leaning forward and didn’t get his outside arm up. His job is to be interlocked in with that tackle, and make sure he has a heavy weight foot as his inside foot, so he doesn’t get pried out. Also, get a good arm hook. When you get a little crease like that, a good rusher like [Anderson], he’s able to get in there.”

While Farwell didn’t name anyone specifically, the issue came when tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison didn’t work in unison on the left side of the line.

“Just not great execution and that’s on me,” Farwell said. “That’s something we have got to be much cleaner, that’s something we will work on a ton and it’s been addressed. We’re moving forward with it.”

It was one of two massive errors for the Jaguars special teams unit Sunday, as the team also allowed Texans fullback Andrew Beck to break free for an 85-yard kickoff return.

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5 Texans players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 3

Here are five Texans players to watch as the Jaguars look to bounce back in Week 3:

The Jacksonville Jaguars now sit at 1-1 after suffering a loss in their Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While they failed to win their home opener, the Jaguars have a prime opportunity to get back in the win column. On Sunday, Jacksonville hosts the Houston Texans, who lost their first two games of the season.

While the Texans have failed to produce a win so far, they’ve shown flashes of talent.

Here are five Texans players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 3:

Report: Saints, Texans to hold joint practices ahead of preseason game

FOX 26 KRIV’s Mark Berman reports that the Saints and Texans plan to hold joint practices ahead of their 2023 preseason game:

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Now this is interesting. FOX 26 KRIV Houston’s Mark Berman first reports that the New Orleans Saints will host the Houston Texans for joint practices ahead of their 2023 preseason game at the Caesars Superdome, giving the Saints an extended look at a team surrounded by intrigue and two high-profile rookie draft picks in quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

The third preseason game is traditionally seen as the “dress rehearsal” with the most minutes played by the starters, so the Saints should come out of this experience with a very strong idea of what Stroud, Anderson, and their teammates bring to the table. Joint workouts like these are valuable learning experiences for all involved, giving players and coaches an opportunity to evaluate their team against new opponents after a rigorous training camp full of the same matchups day in and day out.

These joint practices typically run two days before the preseason game, and the Saints are also planning on meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers out west when they visit for another exhibition game on Aug. 20. Fans are often welcome to attend but no announcement has been made by the team just yet, so stay tuned.

So that’s two of their three preseason opponents agreeing to share the practice field; New Orleans opens the exhibition series against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 13, but no joint workouts are scheduled yet.

Kickoff with the Texans is currently scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Aug. 27 at the Caesars Superdome, but here’s another added wrinkle: the Saints will fly out to play against the Texans about a month later for a game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Oct. 15. Guarding rookie quarterbacks like Stroud can be a challenge given the scarcity of game tape against NFL defenses, but the Saints could enjoy the benefits of multiple practices and a preseason game before with Stroud before that matchup in Week 6.

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Texans draft C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr with back-to-back picks

While the Jaguars are sitting and waiting, the Texans made a big splash at the top of the draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are sitting near the bottom of the order at the 2023 NFL draft and have to spend the early portion of the evening watching their division rivals add players.

That started with the Houston Texans swinging for the fences at the top of the draft class.

After picking Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall selection, the Texans pulled off a major trade with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire the third overall selection. They used their second top three pick to take Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr.

It wasn’t a cheap move for the Texans, who gave up a haul that included a 2024 first-rounder:

There were rumors that the Tennessee Titans were discussing a trade with the Cardinals, but that didn’t come to fruition.

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Detroit Lions to host Will Anderson Jr. ahead of 2023 NFL draft

Will Anderson Jr. will visit the Detroit Lions just weeks before the 2023 NFL draft is scheduled to begin.

The Detroit Lions will reportedly be hosting former Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. for a visit just a few weeks before the 2023 NFL draft.

Anderson has only taken one other visit this offseason, which was to the Houston Texans. Only having two visits is a bit of a surprise considering he is projected to be selected within the first 10 picks of the draft.

The Lions currently hold pick No. 6 and are one of only a few teams in the top 10 that are not in need of a quarterback.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Anderson and other former Alabama players as the 2023 NFL draft process winds down.

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