Here's everything Houston Texans All-Pro defensive endWill Anderson Jr. said ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans, including his thoughts on the new defensive play-calling change, the play of Cam Ward and how to respond at 0-4.
Question: On Head Coach DeMeco Ryans calling defensive plays
Will Anderson Jr.: "I think the intensity that he brings. First of all, say start by saying this. I thought Coach [Matt] Burke did a really good job. I think we trust both coaches. I think DeMeco, he brings his style of play, the way he played, the way he coaches, the intensity, the energy that he has. There's going to be good. But like I said, I think both coaches do a really good job. I think Coach Burke did a really good job. As for everybody
else, we still have to go out there and do our jobs, no matter what's being called and who's calling the plays."
Q: On if a play caller switch can give the team a boost
Anderson: "We're trying to find a way to get these wins, trying to find a way to just to come together. Ultimately, it's the decision upstairs. Like I said for us, the play's going to get called. We just have to go out and execute and we have to make sure that as players we're doing our jobs to be able to get these wins."
Q: On miscommunications on the defense
Anderson: "A couple of things I would say is teams attack us differently than how we got attacked last year. Some of the game plans that we put in, sometimes, what we may have played last year, may not be playing this year. Sometimes that's how the communication can get messed up a little bit. Ultimately, it's just being a man and saying, 'I missed that call, bro. One of us didn't relay the call to somebody else, so they're thinking they're playing something else.' For us, it's just holding each other accountable, making sure that we're all getting the call and making sure that we're all on the same page."
Q: On if they are struggling adjusting as a defense
Anderson: "No, I don't think so. You look at some of these games, go back to last game, I want to say it was 23 to 13 in the red zone. We were holding them. They were just kicking field goals. I think with the type of defense, the style that we play, we really have no margin for error with this defense. I think we just have to get back to that. Everybody has to be detailed and everybody has to be on their job. Every single player is almost called to perfection. I know every game is not going to be perfect, but the style of play that we play, it almost has to be perfect."
Q: On Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward
Anderson: "Man, athlete. He's grown a lot from his first year to now. We have a ton of respect for him. He can throw the ball down the field, can escape the pocket, make plays with his legs. I think he's taking that step in his game and getting better. I know they're relying on the run game with [Tony] Pollard. He's a really great running back, really good at jump cuts, can get downhill really fast. We've played a lot of games against him and we have a lot of respect for him. It's going to be a great challenge for us, but we have to stay disciplined, own your box, stay in your gaps, knock back, set edges, close when you need to close and fit everything the right way."
Q: On the intensity and aggressiveness for the upcoming game
Anderson: "Yeah, this is going to be a battle. There are two teams facing each other that haven't won a game yet this year. For us, we're going to have to go in this game with the intensity that we have to get a win. They're going to try to fight as hard as they can to find their first win and we're trying to fight as hard as we can to find our first win. I think it just goes back to what I was saying earlier, we have to make sure that there's no room for error when we play this game. Everybody has to come ready to play. Everybody has to come ready to do their job and to be where they're supposed to be at."
Q: On holding new guys accountable as the team heads further into the season
Anderson: "I think we go back to talking about holding each other accountable and he's [S Reed Blankenship] a guy that even though if we may have to say something or anybody say something to him, he's holding himself accountable. He knows his job. He knows what he has to do and they said we're going to get it fixed. When we look at the grand scheme of things, we don't put it on one player. It's a collective group. It's all of us and I think it's all of us holding each other accountable no matter where it's at on the field. I think we've been doing that. We had some really great talks, just individually or together. I know everybody has different conversations, but I think the piece of holding each other accountable and stop making excuses and just go out and do your job. I think those conversations and stepping on people's toes have been done."
Q: On his emotions when WR Tank Dell gets on the field
Anderson: "Man, it'll be special. Coming in with Tank, getting drafted with Tank, being in the same class, seeing how we turned this program around, all of us together. It's going to be really special. I see him every day work so hard to get back on the field with his brothers. All ups and downs in the career, everything like that. To see this moment for him is really special. Just talking to him, seeing where his headspace is, he's really excited. He's worked his butt off. He's done everything the right way. He stayed down, trusted the process, continue to be a great teammate, continue to show up and support everybody no matter how he was feeling that day. I know the best is yet to come for him."
Q: On Head Coach DeMeco Ryans' play calling style
Anderson: "I think what DeMeco brings, DeMeco brings that style of coaching where, you know, he's going to call you out. He's going to make sure that you know exactly that what you're going to do, what you need to do and what you didn't do. I think we go back to talking about the grace part, I think he gives grace, but he's also going to hold people accountable. He's going to come in the meeting because he played this game and he knows like, 'Hey man, you aren't repping our style right here.' I think it comes a little differently when it comes from DeMeco. We talked about like when DeMeco up there, like you sit up a little bit more, like you more on your P's and Q's. Nothing gets Burke, like Burke has done a good job. When the head coach is up there, it's kind of different. We have a ton of respect for him. He's going to get a lot of guys going with the energy that he brings. I'm excited for that."
Q: On if he has ever lost four games in a row throughout his football years
Anderson: "In my whole career playing ball, I've never done this, like been a part of anything like this that happened like 0-4. It's new. I think it's what it's always talked about. Every year is a new year and football is going to bring a different type of adversity. With adversity shows you who the real dogs are. It's easy for people to lay down and feel bad for themselves. When adversity really hits, that's what type of, it shows what type of person you really are. It shows everything that you've been training for, everything that you've been working for and it's easy to give up. When you've built yourself a type of way, when you around people who are built just like you, you overcome that adversity because you're around the same people who have the same mindset as you."
Q: On Tennessee Titans T JC Latham
Anderson: "I have a ton of respect for JC. Can't wait to go against him. It's always been fun. We've been very competitive with each other since college. I win some, he wins some, but that's what the game is about. I can't wait to go against him."
Q: On DT Kayden McDonald
Anderson: "It's been great to see him. I think you talk about his growth from when he first got here to now. It's been excellent because he's actually got a chance to see perspective. Sometimes when you sit down, you get to see things from a different lens. I think he's gotten to see the seriousness of this business and what it takes to be a great in this league. I also think it showed him how to take care of his body, how to get his mind right and all those different type of things. I'm really proud of him. I'm glad he's back on the field with us. I know his mind is right and we need him. We need him. We need him to step up big time and I know he's got it in him to help us get these wins."
Q: On Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward's development heading into year two
Anderson: "He's so athletic. A lot of guys who don't rush together, they don't can't get home, He also does a lot of great things of backing out the pocket and stepping up into the pocket and getting out and stuff like that. I've seen the growth within
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. said ahead of Week 5 game vs Titans
