It's hard to imagine J.J. Watt upping his own stats in 2013 — he's coming off one of the greatest defensive seasons in NFL history after all. Watt insists it will happen anyway. That's why he's J.J. Watt.
Still there are (presumably) human limits. Yet even if Watt doesn't end up racking up even better numbers himself next season, there are plenty of ways he can make the Houston Texans' defense better.
When Watt had his exit interview with Texans coach Gary Kubiak after that second round playoff loss in Foxborough, Kubiak urged No. 99 to take even more ownership of the team, to emerge as a difference-making leader. One week into Organized Team Activities (the NFL's unofficial version of spring practice), it's clear that Watt is embracing another challenge.
"I told every single one of them: ‘You need to be willing to come in here and work your tail off and prove to us that you belong here.’ "
Even in shorts and no pads, Watt stands out as a man on a mission. He calls himself "bigger, faster, stronger." He also seems at least a little louder.
"This is my third year now," Watt says. "They need me to step up and that what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to become a leader of this team . . . more so lead by example.
"I’m vocal when I need to be vocal, but I’m really trying to lead by example with my effort and my play."
Imagine an entire team that played with J.J. Watt's intensity, an entire team that trained with J.J. Watt's fervor in the offseason. That may be unrealistic. But it's easy to see why any coach would push to get as close to it as possible.
Watt's Burden
It's no stretch to call Watt the face of the Texans now. Watt is clearly already a Craig Biggio/Jeff Bagwell level figure in Houston (like CultureMap told you'd become back in May 2012). On a day when Bob McNair donated $100,000 to tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma, the Texans owner marveled at Watt's own, often one-on-one charitable interactions with fans.
"He's been unbelievable," McNair says of Watt. "And we're not pushing it. We're not saying, 'You've got to go out and do this.' He's doing it on his own. That's just the kind of guy he is."
Being The Face and the super talent comes with great responsibility though. It's not about Watt's own stats as much as how far he can push the Texans now. It's about how much he raises the intensity of everyone around him.
It might seem weird to treat a defensive end almost like a quarterback and bring wins and losses into the equation. It's likely never been done before. Then again, there's never been a J.J. Watt before either.
You get the idea that Watt welcomes any kind of measuring stick. The more difficult the better.
"There is no reason to try and repeat last year," he says. "I’m trying to be better than last year. Every single day I come to work out, every day I come to practice, I’m trying to be better than I was last year.”
Now, Watt must make sure his teammates match that drive. Even if it means calling them out when they don't.
He started by talking to the Texans defensive rookies before OTAs even began.
"They know I’m an open book," Watt says of sharing his knowledge. "I’m here to tell them whatever they want to hear about. They also know that they aren’t going to get much advice if they’re not going to work hard.
Imagine an entire team that played with J.J. Watt's intensity, an entire team that trained with J.J. Watt's fervor in the offseason.
"I told every single one of them: ‘You need to be willing to come in here and work your tail off and prove to us that you belong here.’ "
Watt, the leader? It's catching on.
"Who wouldn't listen to that guy?" D.J. Swearinger, the rookie safety from South Carolina who isn't shy of swagger himself, says.
On this Thursday, Watt's little brother Derek watched practice from the sidelines, tweeting a picture of it with the hashtag #Motivation. Derek Watt is a redshirt sophomore fullback on the University of Wisconsin's football team.
But on this day, he's just another guy following the leader.
J.J. Watt is reaching even higher for the 2013 season.
