Rookie Will Anderson Jr. Giving DeMeco Ryans Credit For His Fast Start

Through two weeks of the regular season, Texans rookie Will Anderson Jr. has proven himself capable of making a strong impact on the field, which he says is because of his coaching.

When the Houston Texans traded up in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the third overall pick, they knew they were getting an explosive playmaker right from the jump. 

His size, athleticism and impressive display of first steps put him near the top of almost every team's draft board, and before officially making the move to add him to their roster, the Texans weren't expecting to get both him and rookie C.J. Stroud. 

Luckily for them, it happened. And while there has been a sharp learning curve so far — Houston currently sits 0-2 and at the bottom of the AFC South — there have been positives, especially regarding Anderson Jr.'s on-field impact. 

Through two games, the rookie has recorded nine tackles and a sack, which would lead most to believe that it reflects more on Anderson Jr. himself than anything else. 

But if you ask Anderson Jr. himself, he'll tell you that he just fits the Texans' system. 

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“Let me start by saying this," Anderson said. "I’m a rookie, so I don’t really get any input. I don’t get a ton of input on what goes on with the game plan. They may ask me what I like and what calls I like but I have to give the coaches credit for the game plan that they come up with." 

This season, the Texans' defense has been a bright spot. The unit as a whole has a plethora of young talent, ranging from Anderson Jr. up front to Jalen Pitre in the secondary. 

The learning curve, as mentioned earlier, plays a role on that front as well, though. It's part of the reason that Houston hasn't been able to pull off a victory, but even still, Anderson Jr. knows his role and has played it well to this point. 

Regardless of how the Texans' schedule pans out, Anderson Jr.'s instructions from Houston's first-year coach DeMeco Ryans are clear. And he's going to abide by them. 

“Just keep rushing," the rookie said. "That’s one of the biggest things that Coach Ryans harps on all the time. No matter what happens just keep rushing, don’t rush timid, just everybody rush from the same page."