I'm going to take a minute and cover some of the things Watt does well. I linked this video again, not because I like highlights, I really, really don't, but it gives a variety of plays quickly and I can talk about the good things I see without a glut of other plays where the pass is out quickly or the run goes away, etc.
So, I'll go play by play.
First snap, the OG pulls out to pick up Watt. Watt gives up the shoulder, inside shoulder and that is big. A lot of times, guys don't see that guard coming, Watt does, gets good position, outside arm free, so if it is a reverse, he can push off with the inside hand and keep containment. But, when he sees no one is coming, he slips and closes. Great body position and slip at the point. Nice finish. He will develop that ball rake.
Second play, coming hard off the snap, downhill, kind of squeezes inside and then makes a big stride to the edge. The RB was coming down and now he has to slide back outside. Watt gets his hands on the shoulders and whether the RB knows it or not, by then he is beaten. Hands stop the movement, rip to the outside, beats him easy, nasty finish. I thought he broke him. On the slow motion replay, watch his free hand and how he is getting it up to stop the arm movement of the QB. Really good stuff.
Third play is the INT against Purdue. What I really like is how he recognizes the roll out and bumps the RB. He hugs the RB for about 3-4 yards and that allows time for the ILB to get out. Was watching an interview with him about a similar type play where he rubs and releases and the guy said, wasn't that your guy you released and Watt said: "Yes". He said, "Why did you release him?" Answer: "Because I knew (forget his name) would be there. We watch enough film, I KNEW he would be there to cover that play. So, Watt not only understands how to approach a guy and slow him, he also understands his teammates tendencies and where they will be on plays to help, so he holds his ground when he needs to hold it and will release and freelance when he knows his team has him covered. That type of preparation and instincts cannot really be taught. It is a feel/trust thing. Have to know the offense, defense, and the guys around you. Oh, helps when you are almost 6'5" with a 37" vertical and can jump, bat the ball, secure it and score.
Steps up the field quickly off the snap, pulling guard coming but he gives that little dip he has and the guard has no shot. If you don't get him before he is a yard up the field, you are beaten. Nice stuff of the RB. And, in other film, when he is on backside runs, he comes down and crushes guys like Harrison.
This next play, he gets his hands up and bats the ball. Not a big deal as far as highlights, but Watt, in a lot of instances, when he cannot get there, will take a step back from the OL (so they cannot push him), watch the QB, and time his leap to bat the ball down. Surprisingly good at it.
This next play shows his feel again. The FB is coming, gives the inside shoulder, keeps the outside hand free, bumps, sheds, makes the play. Very good technique on taking on that block and keeping the outside hand clean.
This next play is one of my favorites and Watt does this type of stuff a lot. You see him engage the OT with both hands, gets those long arms to the shoulder pads. He has control within a heartbeat. Extends, rips him back to his body, I've always called it a push-pull, but he snatches the OL off balance and actually throws him to the ground. Easy win. That is a big time move.
Watt is dropping in coverage which he does well. Looking at the outside WR, likely to see where he is going. Underneath throw, click and close (see the COD), RB dodges but he slows him, rips at the ball.
This play is tough to locate Watt. He is at LDE. Presses up the field off the snap. You can see he has the OT on tilt when they engage, kind of off balance heading backwards. If you press deep, might sit him down, but he might recover and take you around the arc. Watt uses his inside hand to continue to push as he transitions back inside. OL is done, swimming. Watt bounces back outside to finish. Nice blend of speed, power, back to speed.
On this play, coming from the MLB spot. Engaged by the RB, little slip and it is off to the races. No way that QB beats him around the edge. Forget about it.
Another play that Watt is often asked to do, coming from the ILB spot, working inside out. His job is to come across the face of the guard and engage the inside shoulder of the OT. If the guard follows, it opens the lane for the outside guy looping. If the guard opens, you slip the inside gap. He is so far ahead of other guys doing this, just a great feel for when to press and when to release. That OT is dead to rights on this one, and so is the QB. As soon as the OG opened the door, he was gone.
Same concept against MSU. Watt is down. Works the same game with the OLB. Guard follows initially, then comes off. When he does, Watt is in that gap. QB works back up but Watt has inside position, just peels and finishes. The OLB should have gotten it done, but Watt continued to work.
Against Purdue, you see him press deep, that little push pull, gets his arms extended and just pulls himself past the OT. This OT doesn't really play it poorly, still gets beaten. His QB did not help him though. Ran right into a sack.
Against Iowa, another one of my favorite plays. He is so quick to the corner that you are expecting him to burn the edge. So, what does he do? Takes a quick step or two and turns in on you, uses those long arms to get into the pads and goes speed to power and just walks that OT back to the QB. Iowa always seems to have some stout/powerful OTs too. That isn't some soft baby he is driving back. That OT is working his *** off to reset and stop the bull rush, he just cannot.
Another play where he steps back off the line, gets up and bats it down.
This is one of those plays where he is unblocked and the run goes away. He actually does this a lot and doesn't often get burned on reverses because he sees things so well.
He just does so many little things so well, so technically sound with his hands and movements. Saw video of him at EXOS Performance Specialist where he was benching 315 for reps. So, working on that power. One trainer at EXOS said he works like he isnt't going to get drafted, just puts his nose on the ground and goes, like he hasn't accomplished anything. The other guy at EXOS said he is a really really good student of the game, picks up things well, instinctive, some team will have themselves a great player.
Colbert and Tomlin said he works like an NFL veteran, not like most college guys. Mature in his approach.
