How Texans edge Will Anderson Jr. plans to use muscle, mindset and karate-like hand movements to sack quarterbacks

HOUSTON – The line of scrimmage is a heavyweight battleground, a violent space where grappling with some of the biggest and strongest blockers in the NFL challenges even the most powerful and heavy-handed pass rushers.

While most defenders build an edge and a pathway to the quarterback through superior speed, twitchiness, a repertoire of moves and strategy, there’s always a physical element to football.

And that’s why Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. planned ahead for this season by adding 15 pounds of muscle through a regiment of increased healthy calories and weightlifting to bulk up to 263 pounds. The former Alabama consensus All-American played at roughly 248 pounds after being selected third overall last season. By the end of the year, he was crowned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to the Pro Bowl.

Unsatisfied, though, an uncomplacent Anderson wasn’t pleased with how things unfolded in a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round. In that loss, he was held to one tackle for a loss and one hit on quarterback Lamar Jackson after recording a sack on Joe Flacco the previous week in an AFC wild-card game victory.

“By the time we got to the Ravens game, I was just like, I just can’t last,” Anderson said. “I feel like I was getting tossed around, so I kind of bulked up a little this offseason. I did keep my speed. I feel good. Some people still say I don’t even look big.”

Big is relative in the NFL, but Anderson definitely plays big. He was dominant at times as a rookie. The former Bronko Nagurski, Bednarik and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year award winner played 63 percent of the defensive snaps as an instant starter and team captain. He finished the season with 45 tackles, seven sacks, 10 tackles for losses and 22 quarterback hits.

The speed. The moves. The relentless style. None of that has changed a bit for Anderson. There’s just more of the Georgia native now.

“I think Will is very hard on himself,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. " We never want guys to get too big to where they can’t be good at where they are at. If Will is 400 pounds, that doesn’t help him. As long as he can still be explosive and move the way we ask him to move, then the heavier you are that obviously creates more power, more impact. I think he has done a really good job of just staying lean. He has always been such a powerful lower half guy.

“I think he is seeing some development in his upper body that is maybe going to help put that strength on for him a little bit. So, he has had a good start to camp, it is showing. Again, he is still moving the way we want him to move and being able to carry that extra weight. Sometimes guys put on weight, and they stop being as fast or as explosive. So, for him to be able to carry that extra weight and still be powerful and explosive that is hopefully going to pay dividends in the season.”

Anderson’s determination to improve includes honing his pass rushing moves to the finest detail and nuances.

He has spent a lot of time this offseason working on becoming a more efficient finisher.

It’s all about setting up the next move and remaining under control to tackle running backs and sack quarterbacks.

“I feel like that’s the area I’m still working on right now,” Anderson said. “Me and coach Burke was actually just talking. I think that’s one thing that I’m continuing to keep getting better at. It’s just working on my finish and working on my extension at the top of my rush and turning that corner. That’s something this whole offseason I’ve been working on. And I’m excited to just keep seeing the progress and just keep building that one percent each day.”

Deeply religious and steeped in his faith, Anderson applies his dedication to football in other areas. He’s a deeply mature 22-year-old who’s extremely close to his family and spends a lot of time devoted to his spiritual side.

“I feel like my focus is less on what everybody has to say and more on God,” Anderson said. “I think my biggest thing is that my approval comes from Him. Ultimately, everything that I achieve in this lifetime, I’m putting Him first for because He’s the reason why I’m here. I think that’s the difference.”

Anderson doesn’t leave stones unturned. He wants to be as good as possible. That means making the necessary sacrifices to be a great football player. Entitlement isn’t a part of Anderson’s vocabulary or thinking.

“I always feel like there’s somebody trying to take my position, and there’s somebody always behind me that’s trying to come get what I want,” Anderson said. “I always want to stay on edge, always want to stay in front, always want to stay up to date with whatever I’ve got going on.

“That was my whole mindset, and that’s my mindset now. How can I continue to get better? What can I do to set myself apart from the rest of the competition? That’s just been my mindset the whole time.”

Anderson has been gaining a lot of knowledge from four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter, discussing the hand movements involved he compared to martial arts.

“It’s like karate, a little bit,” Anderson said. “Like Cobra Kai.”

Anderson firmly established himself as a disruptive pass rusher and run-stopper last season.

On the other side, the Texans’ defense is now headlined by Hunter. The Morton Ranch graduate, one of the most athletic players in the NFL regardless of position, was signed to a two-year, $51 million contract during one of the most impactful free agency moves around the league.

“I’m very excited,” Anderson said. “I was jumping up and down, man. because now teams got to choose who they double-team. He’s a great guy. He loves football.”

His 67 pressures paced all rookies in the NFL. After suffering a high-ankle sprain against the New York Jets, he had a pair of sacks in a win over the Tennessee Titans.

“Oh, man, that kid right there, he’s exciting,” said Hunter, who shares the same representation as Anderson with Klutch Sports. “Has a lot of tools. I was with him earlier, and he just can’t stop jumping, how eager he is to go out there and rush the passer together.

‘Very good kid. I’m excited just to be able to go out there and teach him a lot of things that I know and become a better player. And, same, I can learn from him, also.”

SEE ALSO: Will Anderson Jr. dominates with relentless style

And Anderson, signed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $35.212 million contract that includes a fifth-year club option and a $22.609 million signing bonus, gave the Texans zero regrets about their hefty investment. He was as advertised and was named to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Maxx Crosby. He won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by a large margin with 148 overall votes.

The defensive line has undergone major changes.

Maliek Collins was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a seventh-round draft pick.

Jonathan Greenard signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Vikings.

And Sheldon Rankins signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

As those starters left the AFC South champions, general manager Nick Caserio signed Hunter, Denico Autry, Tim Settle Jr., Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr.

“I was very excited about it because I think the pieces they got were perfect pieces to the puzzle,” Anderson said. “Guys that are hungry, guys that love football, guys that don’t care about being a celebrity. They just want to go out and bal for the city and for the team.”

Anderson broke the Texans’ franchise rookie record for sacks. He surpassed Whitney Mercilus and Brooks Reed’s six-sack totals from 2012 and 2011 with one game remaining in the regular season.

The mentality remains the same.

“Nothing changes,” Anderson said earlier this offseason at a community event in the port of Galveston. “It’s no time to be comfortable, no time to be relaxed. Always on edge. There’s so much more we have to do as a team to accomplish.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.