With defensive end J.J. Watt, the heart and soul of the Houston Texans defense, seemingly out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, the unit seemed like a sitting duck.
However, after the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year sustained his injury on Oct. 27, the defense held forth and contributed to the Texans going 5-2 in the absence of Watt.
“It’s a team game. J.J., as good a player as he is, he’s not 11 guys,” defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel told reporters on Dec. 26. “So, when you lose J.J., the rest of the guys have to step up and they understand that it’s a team game and that one guy can’t do it all.”
Without Watt in the lineup, the strength of the Texans’ defense shifted from its pass rush to its coverage. Whereas the Texans have the eighth-fewest sacks in the league with 31, they are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the sixth-most pass breakups with 73.
“So, if it’s those other guys do what they’re supposed to do and then the unit works well together, then they can be pretty good,” Crennel said. “But if the unit doesn’t work well together, even with J.J., you give up plays. I think our team mentality on the defensive side helps us to be able to win without him.”
Watt has been back at practice, though he has not been placed on the active roster. Crennel is tempering his optimism about the All-Pro defensive end returning, even though Watt is highly confident he will return for the Texans’ wild-card playoff game.
“Well, I hope he comes back,” said Crennel. “He’s out there running around right now. He’s excited about it. If you listen to him, he’s back, but we have to see how he finishes the week, how he does and then the medical people, they’ll make a determination and we’ll go from there.”
If somehow Watt isn’t back, it will be up to the rest of the defense to do their jobs to fill the void same as they have been without Watt in the lineup.