There is no doubting the talent J.J. Watt has. The Houston Texans defensive end has been a beast on the field ever since being drafted. The former Defensive Player of the Year has become known for his ball swatting abilities and sacks on the quarterback, but could his days on defense be coming to an end? Watt certainly hopes so.
Before becoming known as a star defensive end, Watt was originally a tight end when first playing at Central Michigan. He switched to defense when he transferred to Wisconsin. He earned the nickname JJ "Swat" for his ability to get after the ball and has talked with head coach Gary Kubiak about taking that talent to offense.
"Whatever I can do to help the team win, I will," said Watt via ESPN.com. "I've been lobbying since day one. It hasn't worked yet, so I don't think it's going to work any time soon, but it's his team."
Watt has brought up the position switch multiple times to Kubiak who seemed to believe Watt was joking. It is likely that the head coach is not too keen on moving one of the top defensive players in the league to offense just because he wants to be an all-around player. Watt said it is all about being an athlete and having fun. He believes working on catching balls and improving hand-eye coordination helps his defensive abilities. He even lined up as a wide receiver during the Pro Bowl, despite Kubiak not wanting him to.
"No, I didn't like that, personally," Kubiak said. "When I saw he was going to line up out there, that scared me a little bit. We'll let him keep getting after the quarterback, and maybe we'll find him a play or two of offense down the road."
The Texans have toyed around with a package of plays for the goal line that could possibly involve Watt. Kubiak told the media they have talked about a Wisconsin package involving Watt, tight end Garrett Graham and tight end Owen Daniels. He is not sure though what role Watt would play in that type of scheme.
Watt is planning a big year for himself. While the defensive end continues to play defense, he wants to be a part of the 20-20-20 club this season. He is targeting 20 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 20 batted balls over the course of the season. He came very close in 2012, recording 20.5 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and 16 batted balls. Despite getting the AP award, Watt certainly does not lack for motivation.
