Texans Reveal How Rookie Will Anderson is Becoming '100-Percent Leader'
Early in the second quarter, Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson fielded a high snap, and before he could look for an open receiver, he was going down.
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. rushed off the left side of the defensive line, and with Miami's blocking scheme, he only had to beat Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed. It's safe to say he did that, bowling over Ahmed, sacking Thompson and forcing a fumble — a glimpse of his sheer force and game-wrecking abilities.
"First I was like, 'Wow,' then I was like, 'Get the ball, get the ball, get the ball,'" head coach DeMeco Ryans said on the Texans radio Tuesday. "It was fun seeing him make that play. He's just coming off doing his job, but he's doing it at 100 percent effort and it causes a forced fumble there. Hopefully, we can get more guys around it next time to scoop-and-score."
Though that play had minimal impact on the 28-3 outcome, it further validates why general manager Nick Caserio traded up to No. 3 in the NFL Draft to grab Anderson.
In three years with the Crimson Tide, Anderson racked up 204 tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks as one of the most dominant pass rushers in the country each of his final two years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in which he was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year both seasons.
Anderson continually flashes those same qualities from his college days in training camp and is currently the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
"Will has been you know everything I could've asked for and more," Ryans said.
Even though he's in his first preseason, Ryans said Anderson's become a leader by example. Houston's head coach said Anderson hasn't been flaunting his play-making abilities, rather setting the tone for how everyone on the Texans should go about their business.
"Watch how he shows up to practice every day. That's how everyone should look," Ryans said. "Watch how he plays on game day: full speed every time, all-out effort, physicality. That's what it should look like, and that's where Will is. That's what a leader does."
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