How Texans Outpace Will Anderson Jr. Plans to Use Muscle, Mindset and Karate-Like Hand Moves to Tackle Quarterbacks

HOUSTON – The line of scrimmage is a battleground of heavyweights, a violent space where battling some of the NFL’s biggest and strongest blockers challenges even the most powerful and heavy pass rushers.

While most defenders build an advantage and a path to the quarterback through superior speed, nervousness, repertoire of moves and strategy, there is always a physical element to football.

That’s why Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. planned ahead this season by adding 15 pounds of muscle through a diet of healthy calories and weightlifting to reach 265 pounds. The former Alabama All-American played at about 250 pounds after being selected third overall last season. By the end of the year, he was crowned the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to the Pro Bowl.

Anderson, however, was not pleased with how things went in the AFC Divisional Round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. In that loss, he was limited to one tackle for a loss and a hit on quarterback Lamar Jackson after recording a sack on Joe Flacco the previous week in an AFC wild-card victory.

“By the time we got to the Ravens game, I was like, ‘I can’t hold up,’” Anderson said. “I felt like I was getting tossed around, so I bulked up a little bit in the offseason. I kept my speed up. I feel good. Some people still say I don’t even look big.”

In the NFL, size is relative, but Anderson really does play big. He was dominant at times as a rookie. The former Bronko Nagurski, Bednarik and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award winner played 63 percent of the defensive snaps as a starter and team captain. He finished the season with 45 tackles, seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits.

The speed. The moves. The relentless style. None of that has changed for Anderson. There’s just more of the Georgia native now.

“I think Will is very hard on himself,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “We never want guys to get so big that they can’t be good where they are. If Will is 400 pounds, that’s not helping him. As long as he can still be explosive and move the way we ask him to move, the heavier you are, obviously the more power you create, the more impact you make. I think he’s done a really good job of staying lean. He’s always been a very powerful guy in the lower half.”

“I think he’s seeing some development in his upper body, which will maybe help him gain a little bit of strength. So he’s had a good start to camp, you can see that. Again, he’s still moving the way we want him to and he’s able to carry that extra weight. Sometimes guys gain weight and they’re not as fast or as explosive. So him being able to carry that extra weight and still be powerful and explosive is hopefully going to pay off this season.”

Anderson’s determination to improve includes perfecting his pass rush moves.

He spent a lot of time this offseason working on becoming a more efficient finisher.

It’s about preparing for the next move and staying in control to attack the running backs and sack the quarterbacks.

“I think that’s the area I’m still working on right now,” Anderson said. “Coach Burke and I just talked. I think that’s something I continue to improve on. It’s just working on my finishing and my extension at the top of my stroke and turning into that corner. That’s something I’ve been working on all offseason. And I’m excited to continue to see the progress and continue to build that 1 percent every day.”

Deeply religious and steeped in his faith, Anderson applies his dedication to football in other areas. He is a very mature 22-year-old, extremely close to his family and devotes a lot of time to his spiritual side.

“I feel like I’m focusing less on what other people have to say and more on God,” Anderson said. “I think what matters most to me is that my approval comes from Him. At the end of the day, everything I accomplish in this life, I put first because He’s the reason I’m here. I think that’s the difference.”

Anderson leaves nothing to chance. He wants to be as good as he can be. That means making the sacrifices necessary to become a great football player. Entitlement is not part of Anderson’s vocabulary or thinking.

“I always feel like there’s someone trying to take my place, and there’s always someone behind me trying to get what I want,” Anderson said. “I always want to be on the cutting edge, always ahead, always aware of everything that’s going on. That was my mindset (playing in high school and college), and that’s my mindset now. How can I continue to get better? What can I do to stand out from the rest of the competition? That’s been my mindset all along.”

Anderson gained a lot of insight from four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter, discussing the hand movements involved, which he compared to martial arts.

“It’s kind of like karate,” Anderson said. “Like Cobra Kai.”

Anderson firmly established himself as a disruptive passer and run stopper last season.

On the other side, the Texans’ defense is now led by Hunter. The Morton Ranch graduate, one of the NFL’s most athletic players at any position, signed a two-year, $51 million contract in one of the league’s most high-profile free agency moves.

“I’m so excited,” Anderson said. “I was jumping for joy, man. Because now teams can pick who they’re going to double-cross. He’s a great guy. He loves the game of football.”

His 67 pressures were a record for any NFL rookie. After suffering a high ankle sprain against the New York Jets, he had two sacks in a win over the Tennessee Titans.

“Oh, man, that kid over there, he’s exciting,” Hunter, who shares the same rep as Anderson with Klutch Sports, said. “He’s got a lot of tools. I was with him earlier, and he just can’t stop jumping, how eager he is to get out there and rush the passer.

“He’s a very good boy. I’m excited to be able to go out there and teach him a lot of things that I know and become a better player. And, in the same way, I can learn from him too.”

SEE ALSO: Will Anderson Jr. Dominates With Relentless Style

Anderson, who signed a four-year, fully guaranteed, $35.212 million contract that includes a fifth-year club option and a $22.609 million signing bonus, gave the Texans no regrets about their big investment. He performed as advertised and was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Maxx Crosby due to injury. He won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award by a wide margin with 148 total votes.

The defensive line has undergone major changes.

Maliek Collins was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a seventh-round draft pick.

Jonathan Greenard signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Vikings.

And Sheldon Rankins signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

With those starters leaving the AFC South champions, general manager Nick Caserio signed Hunter, Denico Autry, Tim Settle Jr., Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr.

“I was really excited about it because I think the pieces they got were perfect for the puzzle,” Anderson said. “Guys that are hungry, guys that love football, guys that don’t care about being a celebrity. They just want to go out and play for the city and for the team.”

Anderson broke the Texans’ rookie sack record, surpassing Whitney Mercilus and Brooks Reed’s six sacks from 2012 and 2011 with one game left in the regular season.

The mentality remains the same.

“Nothing changes,” Anderson said earlier this offseason at a community event at the Port of Galveston. “This is not the time to get comfortable, this is not the time to relax. We’re always on our toes. There’s so much more we can do as a team to accomplish.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texas and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.