To decelerate T.J. Watt’s impression this afternoon, Herm Edwards thinks the Los Angeles Chargers nonetheless run proper at Watt’s means. It’s a daring technique, Cotton. Let’s see the way it pays off for him.
Explaining the technique on SportsCenter Sunday morning, Herm Edwards thinks forcing Watt to defend the run will mute his move rush capacity.
“Anytime you’ve a premier move rusher, you begin the sport off by working at him,” Edwards stated. “Attempting to gradual him down. You’re gonna defend the run. You’re not gonna run round and hit the quarterback at the back of the pinnacle. You’re gonna need to play the run first.”
Edwards’ method isn’t distinctive. Defending top-tier move rushers like Watt is multi-pronged. You give your deal with assist with tight finish and working again chips. You slide safety his means. You get the ball out faster. You employ display screen and sure, controlling the bottom sport helps, too. Watt can’t sack Justin Herbert if J.Ok. Dobbins is ruling the day.
However Watt isn’t a one-note participant. He’s not a pure move rusher. What makes Watt so nice is his well-rounded capacity that lacks an apparent weak spot. Watt is a superb run defender and may spoil performs run to his facet. In Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons made a transparent effort to run away from him, and Watt nonetheless made performs from the bottom. The few instances Bijan Robinson ran at him, it didn’t finish properly.
The Chargers have run the ball at will the primary two weeks and loved enjoying from forward. They’ll attempt to hold that technique rolling in opposition to the Steelers to stop Watt, Alex Highsmith, and the remainder of that entrance seven from taking up. Los Angeles’ run sport technique may additionally work to their benefit. They’ve run to their left as a lot as any crew this season. That’s away from Watt, placing the strain on Cam Heyward and Highsmith to cease the run. And as our scouting report confirmed, they like working to the closed facet of the sphere early and sometimes.
Whereas Edwards’ technique is comprehensible at a primary degree, one of the simplest ways to counter Watt is to present him as few alternatives to make performs as attainable. Triple-team him in move safety if it’s a must to and run away from him as you possibly can. That’s the way you beat Watt.