The Houston Texans have made a serious commitment to Will Anderson since Day 1.
General manager Nick Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans pulled the trigger on a draft day trade that saw Houston forfeit multiple draft picks, including a future 2024 first round pick, to move up for the defensive end. It was a compensation that was lauded nationally as an overpay for a non-quarterback. For the Texans, it was simply a sign of belief in a player that checked all the boxes for what they wanted to build moving forward.
Almost two months since the conclusion of the draft, Anderson has done nothing but reward the coaching staff for their faith thus far into the offseason.
“Will has been great throughout camp,” Ryans told reporters Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. “One thing about Will, he’s been the same guy who we thought we were getting when we drafted him, right? He’s been on it every single day. When it comes to just the effort, the tenacity that he plays with, the energy, everything about him, he’s been that and more.”
The rookie coach pointed out that Anderson has fine-tuned his technique with defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire.
“He takes coaching really well,” said Ryans. “Doc has done a really good job of working with him, honing in on just those small fine details of his game. Will has done a great job of absorbing coaching and being able to take it to the field and apply it. It’s been cool to watch.”
DeMeco Ryans answers a question about rookie DL Will Anderson, Jr., who he says is doing a “great job” absorbing coaching. pic.twitter.com/yM6hOKn6Q9
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 13, 2023
Anderson comes from Alabama as one of the most statistically dominant edge rushers in recent college football history. He joins a Houston pass rush that desperately needed a boost after often failing to attack the quarterback in 2022 and a new scheme from Ryans that requires strong defensive line play.
Anderson’s coachability and potential success this upcoming season could help others on the defensive line such as Jerry Hughes and Jonathan Greenard face easier matchups from down to down. If Anderson can make quarterback uncomfortable there’s a good chance that talented members of the defensive secondary such as Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre take a major step forward.
Nobody will know just how good Anderson is until the team starts playing full contact later this summer. However, the early returns and the early approval from Ryans and even franchise legend J.J. Watt have to sound phenomenal to Houston fans.
