Get to know J.J. Watt

TheFinisher

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J.J. Watt - DE - 6’6 292 lbs. – Wisconsin Badgers

[youtube]8QT2-mRCgX0[/youtube]
2009 Stats:
44 Tackles
15.5 TFLs
4.5 Sacks
2 Fumbles Recovered
5 Passes Defended
2010 Stats:
62 Tackles
21 TFLs
7 Sacks
3 Forced Fumbles
2 Fumbles Recovered
1 INT
9 Passes Defended
Awards and Honors:
Lott IMPACT Trophy
AP 2nd Team All American
1st Team All Big Ten
Team MVP
Finalist for Hendricks and Bednarik Award
Academic All Big Ten



If you're anything like me, the final minutes of the first Eagles game made you sick to your stomach. When Philly was gauging us for huge chunks of yards on that drive it became pretty obvious that our defensive line had become soft. In a draft that is deep with 3-4 Ends, there is one man who rises above all... and that man is J.J. Watt. Watt put up an impressive stat line over the last 2 seasons (106 Tackles, 36.5 TFLs, 11.5 Sacks), and at times dominated games this year. When you see Watt play the first thing that jumps out at you is his frame, Watt is every bit of 6'6 and has the ability to put on another 15 pounds if needed. The other thing about Watt that I love is his relentless motor, he's a former Walk-On who plays with the same kind of wreckless abandon that you see from guys like Jared Allen and Clay Matthews, always trying to make plays. Watt is known by his teammates as an emotional leader on and off the field, he is the type of guy who wants to come in everyday and become a better football player.

His stock has risen to the point where I'd be surprised if he doesn't get taken in the top 20. There are still some questions about his speed and athleticism but if he preforms well at the combine (which is what I'm expecting) it won't be crazy to think he could crack the top 10. He may not run a great 40, I'd suspect 4.85-4.9 range, but he is quick in tight spaces and has a nice repertoire of pass rush moves both as an edge rusher or an inside rusher. It is evident that our pass rush has suffered significantly since we let Chris Canty walk 3 years ago, our current Ends provide no pass rush or playmaking ability. Our Front 7 has the ability to become dominant, let's add another high energy guy to the mix who can creat havoc.




JJ Watt Wins 2010 Lott IMPACT Trophy
Posted by Rory on Dec 12, 2010 under J.J. Watt
NEWPORT BEACH, Ca. – J.J. Watt of Wisconsin was named the 2010 winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy at the annual awards banquet here Sunday night.
The 6-6, 292-pound Watt, a defensive end on the 11-1 Rose-Bowl bound Badgers, was presented with the trophy by Ronnie Lott. He is the first Wisconsin player to win the award. During the 2010 season, Watt led the Badgers with 21 tackles for losses, 10 quarterback hurries and seven sacks. He also forced three fumbles, recovered two, had an interception and blocked three kicks.
The other finalists for the award were Sam Acho of Texas, Casey Matthews of Oregon and Patrick Peterson of LSU.
The Lott Trophy is the only college football award where character counts. The student-athlete must be making an IMPACT on the field as well as off the field in such areas as academics, community and leadership. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Wisconsin will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund in recognition of Watt’s achievement. Each of the runnersups schools received $5,000.
In addition to his prodigious skills on the field, Watt is an honor student at Wisconsin, twice being named an Academic All-Big Ten performer, and has formed his own charity, the Justin J. Watt Foundation to benefit local elementary and middle schools that lack funding (His foundation is modeled after the one started by former Lott Trophy finalist Myron Rolle).
Three times this season, Watt was selected the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week. Watt follows in the footsteps of former Wisconsin All-American Jim Leonhard, a 2004 Lott finalist, who, like Watt, was a walk-on. Watt began his career at Central Michigan, worked at a Pizza Hut for six months while trying to earn a scholarship at Wisconsin and eventually won a starting spot on the defensive line.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its seventh year, the Lott is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Past winners of The Lott IMPACT Trophy:
2004 – David Pollack, Georgia
2005 – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
2006 – Dante Hughes, California
2007 – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2008 – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2009 – Jerry Hughes, TCU
2010 – J.J. Watt, Wisconsin



(Scouting Report from http://proprospects.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/jj-watt-scouting-report/)
Pass Rush Skills: Provides a headache for offensive tackles off the edge when it comes to power. Possesses four excellent pass rush moves (rip, swim, hook, bull rush) and has the ability to counter against tackles when they decide to take away a certain move. Has decent speed, but not elite. A move to defensive end in the 3-4 is all but certain to happen once he reaches the NFL. Shows an initial burst once the ball is snapped. If pushed behind the quarterback, he continues in pursuit until the play is over. Gains good leverage on his bull rush. Shows the ability to change directions quickly when faking a outside move. Not real flexible in the hips. Wont consistently bend the corner and flatten out. Gets his hands on a lot of balls when he does not reach the quarterback.
Versus the run: Lower body strength makes him very stout against the run. Has long arms and uses them often. Instead of allowing lineman to get into his body, he extends his arms, and reads the play. Not pushed off the point of attack very often. His strength allows him to engage blockers and shed them immediately. Does get fooled occasionally on misdirection and option read plays. Plays with violent hands and uses them frequently. Does a good job of sealing the edge. Has the motor to chase down plays from behind.
Versatility: Slightly versatile. Can play the power defensive end in the 4-3, 3 technique defensive tackle on passing downs, and defensive end in the 3-4. Has almost no experience dropping in to coverage.
Instincts/Motor: Watt’s number one attribute is his motor. He is relentless and goes until the whistle is blown. Gets a couple sacks off of hustle alone. By the forth quarterback, lineman are worn out from his nonstop efforts. Instincts are good and still improving. Is able to recognize screens and quarterback rollouts. Still has some work to do on reading misdirection plays.
Intangibles: Blue collar worker. Leads by example on the field, in the gym, and off the field. Well respected by coaches and teammates. Won the 2010 Lott Impact trophy.
 
I've been a big fan of C Jordan at 9. But looking at Watt's productivity, size, etc., it seems that there may not be that much difference between the two players. In other words, might as well draft Watts with a trade down (into the mid-teens).

Does anyone have an opinion on this?
 
Woods;3850983 said:
I've been a big fan of C Jordan at 9. But looking at Watt's productivity, size, etc., it seems that there may not be that much difference between the two players. In other words, might as well draft Watts with a trade down (into the mid-teens).

Does anyone have an opinion on this?

I have been on that wagon for a while myself. If Peterson is not there, I would hope they can work out a deal with the Pats or Chargers to trade down and get this guy plus either Camarini and Wisniewski with the extra pick.
 
Woods;3850983 said:
I've been a big fan of C Jordan at 9. But looking at Watt's productivity, size, etc., it seems that there may not be that much difference between the two players. In other words, might as well draft Watts with a trade down (into the mid-teens).

Does anyone have an opinion on this?

I've always liked this guy a lot. Violates my rule which much prefers college DT's moving to 3-4 DE in the pros, but there are exceptions to every rule (Justin and Aaron Smith).

I like him better than Cam Jordan and I always have. Slightly bigger frame, similar athleticism, more productive.

Watt is always around the football even when he is nowhere close to it.

See his 9 PBU's this year or 14 the last 2 years combined.
 
The Realist;3850991 said:
I've always liked this guy a lot. Violates my rule which much prefers college DT's moving to 3-4 DE in the pros, but there are exceptions to every rule (Justin and Aaron Smith).

I like him better than Cam Jordan and I always have. Slightly bigger frame, similar athleticism, more productive.

Watt is always around the football even when he is nowhere close to it.

See his 9 PBU's this year or 14 the last 2 years combined.


I agree.

The big difference between Watt and Jordan when projecting them as 3-4 Ends is that Watt has displayed dominance as an interior presence, Jordan never has. JJ's game has always been centered around his brute strength, long arm/hand use, and ability to control the LOS, IMO that translates a heck of a lot better to a successfull 5-Tech than Jordan's finesse game.
 
[youtube]O7dBFb_GNxs[/youtube]

Here's another cool video on him. This kid has leader written all over him, he could be the Jason Witten of the defense.
 
I like Watt a lot, but I'm still hell bent against drafting a 3-4 DE in the top 10.
 
I know most teams feel this way, but I'd be shocked if there wasn't a good opportunity to trade down. AJ Green will be gone by the time we pick and Julio Jones will almost certainly be on th board and in high demand. Also, if Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert are still available, someone will want to trade up over the skins. No way all 3 guys are gone before 9, and atleast a 50% chance 2 out of 3 are available
 
TheFinisher;3850995 said:
I agree.

The big difference between Watt and Jordan when projecting them as 3-4 Ends is that Watt has displayed dominance as an interior presence, Jordan never has. JJ's game has always been centered around his brute strength, long arm/hand use, and ability to control the LOS, IMO that translates a heck of a lot better to a successfull 5-Tech than Jordan's finesse game.

I am not sure I agree. Relying on brute strength in the NFL isn't going to get you places. Just look at Igor.
While I like Watts, I think Jordan's game will translate better in the NFL. He is much quicker (at least on film) and show great use of his hands to disengage blockers. He WILL get stronger in the NFL but you can't teach natural pass rush instincts that he possess.
 
Watt will go in the Top 12 picks by the time April rolls around. It's already being reported that he's rising up draft boards as teams put review his game tape. He just caught everyone by surprise by declaring early.

I like Jordan and Watt a lot. One thing that could set Watt apart is the personality and attitude he brings. The man is a maniac. For a defensive unit who's personality typically tends toward the understated and reserved side, bringing in Watt's attitude, to go along with Ryan and the drafting of Sean Lee last year, could go a long way to changing the docile temperament of the unit long term.
 
TheFinisher;3850998 said:
Here's another cool video on him. This kid has leader written all over him, he could be the Jason Witten of the defense.

The kid's warming up to me and he does have leader written all over him. He's got a can't stop, won't stop mentality and that's something we need on this team but I don't know if he'd be a good fit for the 3-4.
 
btcutter;3851166 said:
I am not sure I agree. Relying on brute strength in the NFL isn't going to get you places. Just look at Igor.
While I like Watts, I think Jordan's game will translate better in the NFL. He is much quicker (at least on film) and show great use of his hands to disengage blockers. He WILL get stronger in the NFL but you can't teach natural pass rush instincts that he possess.

Watt isn't anything close to just brute strength.

Nothing in common with Igor.
 
The Realist;3850991 said:
I've always liked this guy a lot. Violates my rule which much prefers college DT's moving to 3-4 DE in the pros, but there are exceptions to every rule (Justin and Aaron Smith).

I like him better than Cam Jordan and I always have. Slightly bigger frame, similar athleticism, more productive.

Watt is always around the football even when he is nowhere close to it.

See his 9 PBU's this year or 14 the last 2 years combined.

Lol....
 
dare i say. A bigger Clay Mathews at DE (a former walk on who displays hard work and attitude)
 
The Realist;3851470 said:
Watt isn't anything close to just brute strength.

Nothing in common with Igor.

He better be better than Igor to get 1st round consideration BUT I like Jordan more because he displays better quickness and better pass rush moves. But who know who will be a better pro.
 

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