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| Author: | khm1997 [ Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:30 am ] |
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HOUSTON - J.J. Watt has long been feared for his sacks and swats.This year teams have to worry about his receiving skills, too.The 6-foot-5, 289-pound defensive end had another touchdown catch in Houstons win on Sunday to give him three this season. He has one more touchdown reception than star receiver Andre Johnson and more than all of the Texans tight ends combined.Defensive co-ordinator Romeo Crennel has enjoyed watching the big guy, who began his college career as a tight end, have some fun on offence.He goes after the ball like he goes after the quarterback and both of those are good, Crennel said.Watts work on offence hasnt slowed down his production on defence. He leads the team with 11 1/2 sacks and is first in the NFL with a franchise-record five fumble recoveries and 36 quarterback hits. He also has a fumble return for a touchdown and another score an interception return.Hes found someone to talk to about playing on the opposite side of the ball in assistant coach Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker who had scored a touchdown on each of his 12 career receptions.Watts following in his footsteps in that way with each of his grabs going for scores as well.He has definitely helped, Watt said. I think that he might have helped in getting the package in the first place. He has given me some tips.Watt wouldnt divulge any of the insider information hes received from Vrabel, but he did share one thing the three-time Super Bowl champion told him.Spike the ball when you score. Thats the one he is adamant about, so I try, he said. I was so excited this week I couldnt even hold on to the thing when I stood up.Vrabel declined an interview request for this story.But Houstons top receivers had plenty to say about Watts receiving skills. DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the Texans with 1,041 yards receiving and six touchdown receptions, laughed when asked if Watt was a good receiver.No. But he makes plays so thats all that matters, Hopkins said. The in between stuff really isnt a big deal if you go out and make plays. But as far as being receiver, nah.Watts first receiving touchdown was an easy one. He was wide open in the end zone and simply waited for the ball to get to him for the 1-yard score. The second two have been a little more difficult. Watt had to dive in the end zone to grab both of those.Hopkins said whats perhaps most impressive about Watts receiving is that teams know the balls going to him, but still cant stop it.Ninety-five per cent of the time you know that if J.J.s out there hes getting the ball, hes not going to waste his time, Hopkins said.Johnson knows some people are surprised with Watts work on offence, but the hes not one of them after watching him play defence for four seasons.He has great hand-eye co-ordination, Johnson said. You dont really see guys pick balls off at the defensive line position unless they have bounced around on somebody. He can just jump right up in the air and pick the ball off ... ever since he has been here he has always run around and caught balls with us. I always tell people its not surprising for us to see it because we get to see it every day.Watt joked that the offensive plays are so much more complex than those on defence that hes often confused when preparing for a play on offence.I have no idea what theyre saying in the huddle on offence, he said. I swear to God. I have no clue what the play calls are or anything. I know my little gambit of plays. I know what Im supposed to do on those.Watt said hell look at the quarterback after he calls the play and ask him to break it down for him.I just say: Hey which one is this? Hell be like: This is the one where you do ..., and I say: Oh OK, sure. Cool, Watt said.Houston coach Bill OBrien marvels at all the things Watt can do and said hes unique because along with defensive end he can play defensive tackle, nose tackle, linebacker and, of course, tight end.He is definitely one of the most versatile players Ive ever been around, OBrien said. The thing ... I think sets him apart is his work ethic, the way that he approaches every single day. Hes got tremendous talent, but he really does a great job of working extremely hard every day to get the most out of that talent.Hopkins said Watt hasnt asked him for any pointers on offence, but that he does talk a little trash about how hes going to score more touchdowns than the receiver this season. Those conversations leave Hopkins shaking his head.I never thought Id be having a conversation with a defensive end about scoring touchdowns, Hopkins said with a smile.Watts performance has some wondering if he could become the first defensive player to win MVP since Lawrence Taylor in 1986, but the odds are probably stacked against him.Its hard for a defensive player that doesnt touch the ball as much, its hard for him to be an MVP, Crennel said. But to this point, J.J. has touched the ball and scored touchdowns, so some of those people who like offensive guys might consider him.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL . Austin Watson, Scott Ford, Filip Forsberg and Mark Van Guilder had the other goals for the Admirals (30-21-12). Scott Darling made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season. . In the second game of their day/night doubleheader at Minneapolis, three Blue Jays pitchers, Steve Delabar, Sergio Santos and J. http://www.cheapheatjerseysauthentic.co ... -jersey.75 million contract for the 2014 season and avoided arbitration. The team announced the agreement on Tuesday. . The Toronto Maple Leafs forward and Nashville Predators goaltender highlighted Mondays waiver transactions, with Calgarys Chuck Kobasew and Edmontons Philip Larsen also being placed on waivers. . Ferrer will play Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday after he defeated Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-4 in an all-Russian semifinal. "Youzhny is a good player," Ferrer said.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - First-timer Chris Harris Jr. is among the Denver Broncos league-leading nine Pro Bowlers, including Peyton Manning, whose 14th selection is tied for the most ever among NFL players.Oh man, thats what happens when you win games, Harris said. And were able to win a lot of games and have a lot of impactful players. I mean, its just awesome. Its just a great honour to be in that nine.Harris, who recently signed a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension, is the sixth undrafted cornerback to make a Pro Bowl with his original team and the first since Dallas Everson Walls in 1981.Its been a remarkable rise for Harris, a third-year player out of Kansas who originally signed a $2,000 bonus in Denver and bounced back from a torn ACL in last years playoffs.This year has been a phenomenal year, I had my daughter, making the Pro Bowl and signing my contract, Harris said. The Super Bowl is the only thing Im missing. Thats the only thing Im worried about, the only goal and thats the only thing Im chasing right now.Harris, who didnt even finish in the top-10 cornerbacks in fan balloting, ranks second in the NFL with a 47.3 passer rating against him, according to Pro Football Focus.Its definitely a special feeling getting into the Pro Bowl. I put in so much work this off-season, Harris said. Im just glad Im getting the fruits of my labour.Manning extended his QB record with his 14th selection, tying centre Bruce Matthews and tight end Tony Gonzalez forr the most in NFL history.dddddddddddd The five-time NFL MVP has thrown for 4,454 yards with 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.Other Denver defenders honoured Tuesday are: linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Aqib Talib, safety T.J. Ward and defensive end DeMarcus Ware.Talib, Ward and Ware were free agent additions in the off-season. Like Harris, Miller returned from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the Super Bowl.Manning was joined by left tackle Ryan Clady, receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. Clady missed most of last season with a foot injury.The nine selections tie for the second-most in franchise history behind the 10 selected in 1998. Seven of the nine were either signed or drafted by GM John Elway.Receiver Emmanuel Sanders was selected a second alternate after posting career highs with 95 receptions for 1,331 yards and nine TDs with one game remaining. The last time a receiver with those kinds of stats failed to make the Pro Bowl was in 1995 when Robert Brooks, Isaac Bruce and Brett Perriman all were snubbed.Running back C.J. Anderson, who emerged as Denvers primary ball carrier at midseason, was a sixth alternate.Harris said he couldnt believe nose tackle Terrance Knighton wasnt named to the Pro Bowl. Hes the leader of a defence that ranks second in the league against the run.T-Knight definitely got snubbed, Harris said. Hes a Pro Bowl player in my eyes.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' ' |
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