J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed found common ground before they ever became Houston Texans, long before they started working and scheming together on the same side of Wade Phillips' defensive front, eons before they turned in a dominant tandem playoff performance. At least it seems like eons to these two second-year players who believe in doing everything fast.

"(Brooks) and I worked out together in Phoenix before the NFL Draft," J.J. Watt tells CultureMap. "He stood out."

"I remember that," Reed says when asked about their pre-draft meeting. Reed sounds almost wistful about it. Like he's the same age as Clint Eastwood rather than Blake Lively.

This is what happens when you're helping transform an entire franchise. When you're determined to dominate now.

Reed and Watt had no inkling they'd both end up Texans during those Phoenix workouts. These two are linked much more than even most Texans fans realize though. While Watt — a freakish physical specimen (6-foot-6 with a 36-inch vertical leap and long arms just made for knocking down passes) — draws many more headlines, Reed — the grounded guy with the crazy long hair — plays a big part in the duo's success.

And make no mistake, Watt and Reed are very much a defensive duo.

They play off of each other on the strong side of the Texans' defense, often setting up offensive lineman with combination moves that they've spent hours and hours working on together. Which is what makes Reed's hip injury and his questionable status for Sunday's season opener against the Miami Dolphins all the more alarming.

The brace Watt must wear to protect his dislocated elbow doesn't figure to be nearly as limiting as the absence of Reed could be.

"We run a lot of games together," Watt says. "We mess with blockers and try to find ways to free each other up."

Phillips gave Watt and Reed more and more license to play off their instincts — and combined film work — as last season went on. And the results were spectacular. Try a combined seven sacks (three and a half each) and 27 tackles in two playoff games. No defense played better in the postseason than the Texans unit.

The Bulls On Parade were a good story in November. By January, they were frightening teams — and looking Super Bowl worthy. Reed and Watt had a lot to do with the transformation.

"It just clicked," Reed says. "We found something going into the playoffs, things we could use. And Coach Phillips allowed it to happen. There aren't many coaches who'd give two rookies as much freedom as he gave us.

"That's why we love playing for him."

The Texans may have never found the power of a Watt and Reed tandem if Mario Williams had stayed healthy last season. Now, their defense could very well depend on Reed getting healthy to keep the good times rolling.

No one is more aware of this than Watt. He's pumped that Reed is receiving more attention around the league. When Sports Illustrated NFL guru Peter King picked Reed as his surprise Defensive Player of the Year, writing that America will know his name "when he flirts with 20 sacks," Watt became more excited than Reed himself.

"It's well deserved," Watt says. "He's a great football player."

Some teams have a bounty system. The Texans have a buddy system.

Reed and Watt's isn't necessarily built by spending a ton of time together away from Reliant Stadium. It centers around their shared obsession with getting better, getting more dominant. As quickly as possible.

"I'm actually going to watch film with him right now," Watt says with an open locker room media session coming to a close.

Just another workday afternoon for the strong side.

Reed Still Questioned

While Watt's already being compared to all-time defensive end greats like Howie Long and getting sized up for the Hall of Fame, Reed still has to shed some doubters at linebacker. King may love him, but the Las Vegas oddsmakers paid to know these things put his over-under sack number decidedly south of 20.

Try six and a half.

"Isn't that what I got last year?" Reed asks when told the number. (He actually finished with six sacks in the 2011 regular season before tacking on those three and a half in the playoffs). "I think I'm going to do better than last year."

Reed pauses, the guy who swears he hasn't even actually seen the Sports Illustrated in which he's declared a future star clearly is a little worked up about this opposite view.

"What, do they think I'm going to get hurt or something?" he asks.

This exchange happens on Wednesday. By Thursday, Reed is leaving practice holding his hip.

It's an unfortunate turn for a player who's also had Texans general manager Rick Smith raving in training camp. If anyone's built to work his way back, it's probably Reed though.

"You could see how hard he works from day one," Watt says.

That day happened back in the desert. Before either Reed or Watt realized just how much their success would impact the other.