How the Texans are using Watt and Clowney to get to the QB

Romeo Crennel has a problem.  How best to create pressure using JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney?

We know that JJ Watt can create havoc on his own as every Texans fan knows since he entered the league in 2011. 

Clowney was supposed to increase that havoc when Houston selected him 1st overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.  However he was slowed by injuries and transitioning to a brand new position that all but erased his rookie season.  That is not the case this year and he seems poised to become that impact player. Enter Romeo Crennel to develop a plan to do just that.

The Texans run a 3-4 defense when they are in their “base” formation, that means 3 down lineman and 4 linebackers.  Watt plays one of the down lineman positions usually on the offenses right side while Clowney lines up at outside linebacker on the opposite side from Watt.

However the Texans often go to a 4 man front in passing situations and can create match up issues for the opponent trying to block these two.

Prior to week 3, Crennel consistently rushed the passer with 4 down lineman, Clowney, Jared Crick, Vince Wilfork and JJ Watt from the offenses left to right.  It is important to note that he blitzed the opponent over 50% of the time in the first two games.

However things changed vs Tampa Bay.  Crennel decided to blitz less and try and generate pressure with just 4 and play more coverage.  This is smart considering he was matched up against a rookie QB in Jameis Winston, someone known for throwing into coverage at Florida State.

Crennel also changed where the alignment of his talented rushers lined up.

14:00 - 3Q - Tampa has the ball at their own 41 yard line and it is 3rd and 7.  The Bucs are in shotgun 11 personnel (1 TE, 1 RB).  I highlighted Watt in red and Clowney in yellow.  Texans also subbed Wilfork for Crick and Akeem Dent is the 4th rusher next to Clowney.

Clowney is lined up at the 3-technique, on the outside shoulder of the guard, and this position allows for 1 on 1 match up against a guard who are not known for pass protection.

The Bucs can keep their RB in to assist the guard with Clowney since the center won’t be able to slide out fast enough if the guard is beat off the snap to the outside.  They won’t forget about Watt who is isolated on their left tackle and therefore need to consider keeping the TE to double team Watt.

The offense would need to initially keep 7 players in to protect vs 4 rushers.  The Texans have the advantage with 7 defenders against just 3 receivers.

Lets see it in action.

This play resulted in an INT for Quintin Demps.

Romo Crennel dream scenario would to create 1 on 1 match ups for both Watt and Clowney.  This would create pressure without needing to blitz and put the secondary at risk to the big play.

The offense knows this and will slide protection to ensure they have adequate protection knowing the impact they can make.

Then how did this happen?

7:28 - 3Q - Tampa has the ball driving at the Texan 23 but it is 3rd down and 6.  A passing situation for Winston.  Clowney is at the 3-technique and this time, JJ Watt is next to him.

Crennel decides to brings 5 but notice that the RB pays no attention to Watt or Clowney on the left side.  The line slides left and keeps both the TE and RB for max protection, 7 vs 5 rushers.

This pass was targeted for Vincent Jackson for initially a TD but was later reversed and called incomplete.  The point is that Crennel was able to get 1 on 1 match ups for both his top pass rushers with the opponent in max protection bringing only one blitzer.

9:06 - 4Q - Houston has a 7 point lead after Alfred Blue’s 20 yard TD run.  Tampa has the ball to start the drive at their own 21, 1st and 10.  The Bucs are in shotgun but no RB is in the pocket leaving only the TE as an additional pass protector.  Crennel again has his rushers next to each other but this time Clowney on the outside.

The pass fell incomplete after yet another Jonathan Joseph pass breakup downfield and neither failed to generate pressure as they both took the same path to the QB.

The point is this match up favors the defense and is a red flag for offensive coordinators they will be studying going forward to stop.