Battle Of Defensive Lines
September 24th, 2015
Can Houston DT J.J. Watt be slowed down?
It’s hard to discuss Sunday’s game and not talk about Houston’s monster defensive tackle J.J. Watt. After all, he is Houston’s best player and perhaps the best all-around player in the NFL.
The dude is a true game-changer and a pure terror on quarterbacks. And Bucs coach Lovie Smith doesn’t try to dodge that Watt is foremost in his thoughts leading up to Sunday’s game.
“Great player, motor,” Lovie said. “Every down you get the same type effort, someone we have to deal with. We talk about our front being the engine of our defense. That’s definitely the case with the Texans. Of course [Jadeveon] Clowney is a great player. [Whitney] Mercilus [is] a good player. Vince Wilfork has been a great player in the league for a long period of time.
“As I see it each week, it’s their D-line versus our D-line and as we are talking to them, it’s two defensive lines playing and we’ll see which one can have the most production.”
Lovie is right. This week it is very much the Bucs defensive line vs. the Texans defensive line. And whoever gets the most production will likely win.
First, Houston brings the heat every bit as much as Tennessee, often from a 34 front. America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, hasn’t shown much ability to produce or avoid getting crushed against a 34 defensive front.
And truth be told, the Saints stink.
That brings Joe to the Bucs’ defensive line. They were nowhere to be found against Tennessee, but blew up big time in New Orleans. Was last week against the Saints a fluke or the beginning of a pattern?
If the Bucs can bring the heat against sloppy Ryan Mallett the way they did against Drew Brees, Joe doesn’t see how the Texans will be able to move the ball at all, especially if wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Arian Foster can’t play due to a concussion and torn groin, respectively.
A dominant Bucs defensive line would take all sorts of pressure off Jameis. The offense would only need to score a modicum of points and then watch the defense slam the door shut on the Texans.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
This is where the kicking game comes into play!! Total TEAM effort!!
September 24th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
I think Watt is truly the best in his generation.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Can he be slowed down? Kinda hard to stop those needle boys. He reminds of the San Diego Chargers former player Shanwn Merriman. Once they remove the syringe from his hand he was no longer the same player.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
Like I mention last night just couple season’s ago his moniker was jj swat cause he was just batting down pass attempt. Now he a defensive God? Boy stop.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
@Nole
I don’t understand your argument. JJ has been getting better and better each year. Voted #1 player by the players. Paid like an elite player at his position. Are you saying he’s overrated?
September 24th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
JJ Watt is to the DL as Rob Gronkowski is to the OL. They are both freaks and even though I wish we had them on the Bucs it’s great to have this challenge to go against Watt and measure and most importantly grow from the experience.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Buc fan I’m saying in my opinion the guy is juicing. That guys energy seems to be limitless.
September 24th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
You say better and better but again the nick name was jj swat which implied an inability to reach the QB. Now all of sudden he does it week end week out with ease. C’mon man. And I ain’t even gotta wait on it.
September 24th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
Is JJ a DT? I though he was a DE, but all these JBF articles keep calling him a DT. I know he moves around, but…
September 24th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Let me say this in my opinion Lawrence Taylor was best defensive player I’ve ever seen. But what would he have been were it not for powdering his nose before a game I don’t know. I’m just saying. The Sea Hawks are known as the”legion of boom”but Sherman,Thomas and Chancellor have come up hot for PEDs. Hell Ray Lewis said he didn’t play against this Marshawn Lynch. What you think he was implying?
September 24th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
The absolute best way to neutralize the Texans DL would be an effective running game. And I don’t mean simply handing it off to Martin up the middle over and over again. Don’t know that we can get the edge against players of this speed and talent, but if we at least keep them honest that could help.
And when I say running game I mean..running backs..which includes simple swing passes and screens and maybe even a shovel pass or two inside. If we run the ball that slows down the pass rush.
September 24th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
@ Nole
He earned the nickname JJ Swat in 2012 when he had 16 batted passes (an NFL record). He also had 20.5 sacks that year, so I don’t see how the nickname JJ Swat implied an inability to reach the QB.
September 24th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
If the kitties Mike Remmers (ex buccaneer) can handle J.J Watts last weekend, why can’t our “veteran” OLineman handle him.
Surely our crack OC Koetter has a plan. We just have to “execute”.
September 24th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Going to be a tough game in the trenches, for both teams.
September 24th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
I’ll go with last week against the Saints being the beginning of a pattern. Like Alfred E. Neuman says, Watt me worry?
September 24th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
@Nole, JJ Swat nickname came from the ridiculous amount of passes he batted down at the line (or swatted down if you will.) Dude has always brought the heat.
September 24th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
TBbucsfan you’re correct he did have 20.5 sacks in 2012. You conveniently left out the part of him only having 5.5 2011 bro. Bit of spike wouldn’t you say.
September 24th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
@Nole
I was referring to you implying that he got the nickname JJ Swat as in implication he couldn’t reach the QB. I’m simply stating the year he was given the nickname he clearly reached the QB, 20.5 times.
So I think it’s fair to say the nickname is a result of his record batted passes and not a knock on his pass rush ability.
Also, 2011 was his rookie year, something to consider. Either way, GO BUCS!
September 24th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
watt this swat that ..who cares..just block his a$$…GO BUCS!!!
September 24th, 2015 at 5:49 pm
That’s a big boy right there.
How much do you think he eats? About 227 pounds?
Jameis weighs 227.
Sorry I stole all that from Rocky 3 when he goes to fight Hogan.
I don’t think I’ve never seen a larger man in the NFL. Mandarich? Was he bigger? I don’t think so. I don’t think a grizzy bear could block this guy.
September 24th, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Deacon Jones,Derrik Thomas,L.T.,Reggie White,Bruce Smith,Mark Gastano,Charles Haley to mention a few. What do they all have in common? They never had two 20 sack seasons in their careers. But this guy.
September 24th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
He can’t just be the best? I loved Reggie white but jj watt is ridiculous…watch hard knocks..he towers over everyone in the huddle…does the juice make you taller as well?
September 25th, 2015 at 12:05 am
He’s a machine. He lives to eat quarterbacks. Plain and simple. He’s a savage, a beast, a one man wrecking crew, but he’s still human… Play action passes, screens, power runs right at him should have some success… Chip block n delay passes in the flats could possibly work
September 25th, 2015 at 2:43 am
Lovie is smart and is on his game for this one. He knows exactly where this game will be won at and I know hes smelling blood from the Texans too if he seen it that point blank. Ourdefensive line has tto dominate their offensive line a lil more than what there defense ispresumed to do to our ooffensive line. I think our qb will be the final x factor into what their defense does. I feel we should relax on special teams and not put emphasis on the return game but the kicking game####play4WINStonfight4LOViE