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Here is everything Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said following Day 1 of training camp, including a look at the newcomers on defense, the expecations for the roster going into 2026 and his relationship with Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Question: How does he tries to improve each season
Will Anderson Jr.: "I think OTAs are a very important part of the process. We talk about coming back in after a season. I think Coach Rod [Wright] and I think DeMeco [Ryans], his process is of helping his players get better. It's taking them through a pro-growth. Sitting down with Coach Rod, going through my pro-growth, finishing at the top of the rush, bending, taking the ball. That's something that during this offseason I really worked on. Bending more, bringing that trail arm, not letting it get stuck, and finishing on the quarterback. As far as continuing to grow my game, those are the areas where I've been practicing and helping it show up.”
Q: On whether he has a preference of grass or turf fields
Anderson: “Yes, most definitely. I would most definitely say grass. Grass 100%. I think it's just the natural feel of grass, your feet not getting stuck in the ground like in turf. I had two high ankle sprains up in MetLife because of the turf. I think grass is just a better option, honestly.”
Q: On whether he talks to anyone in the organization about implementing grass fields
Anderson: “Not really. At the end of the day, it's up to them to figure it out. You just control what you can control. Go out there and play and do your job.”
Q: On how important preparing off the field is to improving
Anderson: “It's very important. I've been talking about the process a lot. People only think the process is on the field. In order to get to the destination that you want to get to on the field, it's off-the-field stuff. It's watching film and taking care of your body. Those are the things, those are the small details that will make the process go. You can't get to the destination unless you're taking time and watching film or you're taking care of your body, getting in the weight room, getting bigger, getting stronger, getting faster, improving in other areas. For instance, upper body was something that I really wanted to try to continue to grow in my game. This offseason, that's something I really focused on is my upper body. Those are the little things that are very important to the process of getting you out here on the field and being at your best.”
Q: On if they begin Training Camp with Super Bowl expectations and how camp lays the foundation for the season
Anderson: “Most definitely. Coach talked about putting a ring on the bull. That's something that we're striving for, something that's never been done in the city. It brings something special back to the city and I think everybody's aware of that. I was just talking about telling the guys yesterday the seriousness of what we're trying to accomplish here, a part of it. You're here for a reason. I think the expectation is that nobody outside of this building is going to have a higher expectation than what we have in this building. I think we did a really great job of laying the foundation of who we want to be as a team and what we want to accomplish as a team. ‘S.W.A.R.M.’ [Special Work Ethic and Relentless Mindset] is our foundation. I say all the time, it's like when everything goes wrong or we're not doing this, that, we have a foundation to lean back on. I think that's why we've been able to be so successful in my four years of being here because DeMeco has done a really good job of laying the foundation down.”
Q: On what year four will look like for him
Anderson: “Year four, to continue to just wreck havoc in all phases of the game. I think one thing that I really want to step up on and it's something I wrote down on my goal sheet, is just becoming a better leader. A better chance of just connecting with the guys and really being more vocal and being hands-on with the guys. Taking the young guys under my wing and Kayden [McDonald] has been a great addition to our room because it's given me that time to really have a rookie. I've had a rookie, but he's kind of different. He's a high draft pick and they expect him to come in and play. It's my due diligence to help him out and help him reach every goal that he wants and show him the way. But he has Sheldon [Rankins]. He has ‘D-Hunt’. He has a whole bunch of guys that help him. I think that's just one area that I want to evolve in is just being a really great leader.”
Q: On how his role of being a leader has changed
Anderson: “I think that's the thing, it's not just worrying about the defensive line, but the whole team in that aspect. It’s me not just speaking up when it's time to speak up in the defensive line, but speaking up in team meetings, speaking up when we're out here on the field, speaking up when we're doing team periods. It’s like, ‘Hey, let's take a pause.’ So things like that.”
Q: On whether being a leader can help him improve as a player
Anderson: “Of course. I think that's the thing about leadership. With leadership, you're always learning something every day. You're always growing every day because with leadership, you're learning so much about yourself because of the people that you have to deal with. They help you learn about yourself because everybody's different. Everybody requires a different type of leadership.“
Q: On how much Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke will be able to utilize his skillset
Anderson: “I've been on him a little bit. I was like, ‘Coach, what do we have? Every day, every time I say, ‘What do we got? What do we got?’ I think that's the great thing about this defense, because we have so many great players. We can do so many great things with this defense and change the looks up so much. It allows everybody to have a different player, a different thing. I think that's where we really thrive in. It's like, ‘Hey, we got Will [Anderson Jr.]. We have Danielle [Hunter]. We have Sheldon [Rankins]. We have Kamari [Lassiter]. We have [Derek Stingley Jr.] ‘Sting’. We have Azeez [Al-Shaair]. All these guys can do different things. So different packages, all that type of stuff comes into place when helping all of us succeed.”
Q: On what advice he gives to QB C.J. Stroud with compartmentalizing contract negotiations and on the field progress
Anderson: “I think C.J. does a really good job. We have a very similar mindset. C.J. is a big guy and I really don't even have to tell him this, but we do talk about it, I say just ‘Control what you can control.’ I think he's been doing a great job of that. He controls going out there on the field, playing his best ball, helping his team win a lot of games and that's what he's been doing. That's what he's going to continue to do. Everything else is up to God. He's faith-based, I'm faith-based and we know we put our trust in God, let him handle the rest and we'll get the results that we want. It's not about man. It's not about anybody else, but how we're going about our everyday process. I think he's been doing a hell of a job this offseason about going through his everyday process, leading the offense, leading the guys in the locker room and getting everybody on board with what we've got going on here.”
Q: On how it feels being a role model for high school and college players
Anderson: “It's kind of crazy. I was just talking to ‘Rank’ on the sideline. I was like, ‘Dang bro, I'm really going into year four, I'm old.’ He was like, bro, you're not old. It's special just because I was walking out on the field and I was like, look at all the hard work that you put in. I never thought I would be here. I’m enjoying the process, enjoying the ride and knowing that deep down inside, my purpose is to be an inspiration and to be a positive influence on my community and on the younger community to show that this is how you're supposed to do it. I had guys that showed me how I'm supposed to do it, so it makes me feel good because I want to walk in my purpose and I'm really big in my faith.”
Q: On NBA Forward Lebron James signing to the Philadelphia 76ers
Anderson: “I got a chance to catch up with him and it's exciting. I'm excited for him. Hopefully, he'll do big things there. I know they've got a great squad and I can't wait to watch him do his thing there.”
Q: On whether wearing a guardian cap is new
Anderson: “I've had a Guardian Cap before. They just put it on my helmet.”
Q: On what his personal goals are for the season
Anderson: “To enjoy the process. That's my goal. I'm not even trying to be smart, but I think when you start to look at the outside factors, it’s too early right now in Training Camp, I'm not really looking at any of those things. I'm worried about, how am I showing up in the run game? How am I showing up in the pass game? How am I showing up being a leader? Then once those things come into place after Training Camp, then I start building my goals. I try to focus in on everything during Training Camp, make sure I'm getting my body right and then that's when I set my goals.”
Q: On what is needed from the offense to take a step this season
Anderson: “What we need from, not just them, but what we need from the whole team is for everybody to buy in. For everybody to be detailed in their assignments and their jobs and their responsibilities. It's not just one side of the ball. It's just not offense. It's us as a team. We go as we all go. When we get to these big games, everybody needs to execute better. Everybody has to be detailed and everybody has to lock into a certain level of focus to help us win these games.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. said following Day 1 of training camp
Continue reading...
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Question: How does he tries to improve each season
Will Anderson Jr.: "I think OTAs are a very important part of the process. We talk about coming back in after a season. I think Coach Rod [Wright] and I think DeMeco [Ryans], his process is of helping his players get better. It's taking them through a pro-growth. Sitting down with Coach Rod, going through my pro-growth, finishing at the top of the rush, bending, taking the ball. That's something that during this offseason I really worked on. Bending more, bringing that trail arm, not letting it get stuck, and finishing on the quarterback. As far as continuing to grow my game, those are the areas where I've been practicing and helping it show up.”
Q: On whether he has a preference of grass or turf fields
Anderson: “Yes, most definitely. I would most definitely say grass. Grass 100%. I think it's just the natural feel of grass, your feet not getting stuck in the ground like in turf. I had two high ankle sprains up in MetLife because of the turf. I think grass is just a better option, honestly.”
You must be registered for see images
Q: On whether he talks to anyone in the organization about implementing grass fields
Anderson: “Not really. At the end of the day, it's up to them to figure it out. You just control what you can control. Go out there and play and do your job.”
Q: On how important preparing off the field is to improving
Anderson: “It's very important. I've been talking about the process a lot. People only think the process is on the field. In order to get to the destination that you want to get to on the field, it's off-the-field stuff. It's watching film and taking care of your body. Those are the things, those are the small details that will make the process go. You can't get to the destination unless you're taking time and watching film or you're taking care of your body, getting in the weight room, getting bigger, getting stronger, getting faster, improving in other areas. For instance, upper body was something that I really wanted to try to continue to grow in my game. This offseason, that's something I really focused on is my upper body. Those are the little things that are very important to the process of getting you out here on the field and being at your best.”
You must be registered for see images
Q: On if they begin Training Camp with Super Bowl expectations and how camp lays the foundation for the season
Anderson: “Most definitely. Coach talked about putting a ring on the bull. That's something that we're striving for, something that's never been done in the city. It brings something special back to the city and I think everybody's aware of that. I was just talking about telling the guys yesterday the seriousness of what we're trying to accomplish here, a part of it. You're here for a reason. I think the expectation is that nobody outside of this building is going to have a higher expectation than what we have in this building. I think we did a really great job of laying the foundation of who we want to be as a team and what we want to accomplish as a team. ‘S.W.A.R.M.’ [Special Work Ethic and Relentless Mindset] is our foundation. I say all the time, it's like when everything goes wrong or we're not doing this, that, we have a foundation to lean back on. I think that's why we've been able to be so successful in my four years of being here because DeMeco has done a really good job of laying the foundation down.”
Q: On what year four will look like for him
Anderson: “Year four, to continue to just wreck havoc in all phases of the game. I think one thing that I really want to step up on and it's something I wrote down on my goal sheet, is just becoming a better leader. A better chance of just connecting with the guys and really being more vocal and being hands-on with the guys. Taking the young guys under my wing and Kayden [McDonald] has been a great addition to our room because it's given me that time to really have a rookie. I've had a rookie, but he's kind of different. He's a high draft pick and they expect him to come in and play. It's my due diligence to help him out and help him reach every goal that he wants and show him the way. But he has Sheldon [Rankins]. He has ‘D-Hunt’. He has a whole bunch of guys that help him. I think that's just one area that I want to evolve in is just being a really great leader.”
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Q: On how his role of being a leader has changed
Anderson: “I think that's the thing, it's not just worrying about the defensive line, but the whole team in that aspect. It’s me not just speaking up when it's time to speak up in the defensive line, but speaking up in team meetings, speaking up when we're out here on the field, speaking up when we're doing team periods. It’s like, ‘Hey, let's take a pause.’ So things like that.”
Q: On whether being a leader can help him improve as a player
Anderson: “Of course. I think that's the thing about leadership. With leadership, you're always learning something every day. You're always growing every day because with leadership, you're learning so much about yourself because of the people that you have to deal with. They help you learn about yourself because everybody's different. Everybody requires a different type of leadership.“
You must be registered for see images
Q: On how much Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke will be able to utilize his skillset
Anderson: “I've been on him a little bit. I was like, ‘Coach, what do we have? Every day, every time I say, ‘What do we got? What do we got?’ I think that's the great thing about this defense, because we have so many great players. We can do so many great things with this defense and change the looks up so much. It allows everybody to have a different player, a different thing. I think that's where we really thrive in. It's like, ‘Hey, we got Will [Anderson Jr.]. We have Danielle [Hunter]. We have Sheldon [Rankins]. We have Kamari [Lassiter]. We have [Derek Stingley Jr.] ‘Sting’. We have Azeez [Al-Shaair]. All these guys can do different things. So different packages, all that type of stuff comes into place when helping all of us succeed.”
Q: On what advice he gives to QB C.J. Stroud with compartmentalizing contract negotiations and on the field progress
Anderson: “I think C.J. does a really good job. We have a very similar mindset. C.J. is a big guy and I really don't even have to tell him this, but we do talk about it, I say just ‘Control what you can control.’ I think he's been doing a great job of that. He controls going out there on the field, playing his best ball, helping his team win a lot of games and that's what he's been doing. That's what he's going to continue to do. Everything else is up to God. He's faith-based, I'm faith-based and we know we put our trust in God, let him handle the rest and we'll get the results that we want. It's not about man. It's not about anybody else, but how we're going about our everyday process. I think he's been doing a hell of a job this offseason about going through his everyday process, leading the offense, leading the guys in the locker room and getting everybody on board with what we've got going on here.”
You must be registered for see images
Q: On how it feels being a role model for high school and college players
Anderson: “It's kind of crazy. I was just talking to ‘Rank’ on the sideline. I was like, ‘Dang bro, I'm really going into year four, I'm old.’ He was like, bro, you're not old. It's special just because I was walking out on the field and I was like, look at all the hard work that you put in. I never thought I would be here. I’m enjoying the process, enjoying the ride and knowing that deep down inside, my purpose is to be an inspiration and to be a positive influence on my community and on the younger community to show that this is how you're supposed to do it. I had guys that showed me how I'm supposed to do it, so it makes me feel good because I want to walk in my purpose and I'm really big in my faith.”
Q: On NBA Forward Lebron James signing to the Philadelphia 76ers
Anderson: “I got a chance to catch up with him and it's exciting. I'm excited for him. Hopefully, he'll do big things there. I know they've got a great squad and I can't wait to watch him do his thing there.”
Q: On whether wearing a guardian cap is new
Anderson: “I've had a Guardian Cap before. They just put it on my helmet.”
You must be registered for see images
Q: On what his personal goals are for the season
Anderson: “To enjoy the process. That's my goal. I'm not even trying to be smart, but I think when you start to look at the outside factors, it’s too early right now in Training Camp, I'm not really looking at any of those things. I'm worried about, how am I showing up in the run game? How am I showing up in the pass game? How am I showing up being a leader? Then once those things come into place after Training Camp, then I start building my goals. I try to focus in on everything during Training Camp, make sure I'm getting my body right and then that's when I set my goals.”
Q: On what is needed from the offense to take a step this season
Anderson: “What we need from, not just them, but what we need from the whole team is for everybody to buy in. For everybody to be detailed in their assignments and their jobs and their responsibilities. It's not just one side of the ball. It's just not offense. It's us as a team. We go as we all go. When we get to these big games, everybody needs to execute better. Everybody has to be detailed and everybody has to lock into a certain level of focus to help us win these games.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. said following Day 1 of training camp
Continue reading...
