Even as a rookie, J.J. Watt's motor was nonstop in training camp.
Some things never change.
Now entering his fifth NFL season, Watt has solidified his role on the team and in the locker room. He no longer needs to take every practice rep, though he likes to anyway. Head coach Bill O'Brien discussed balancing Watt's practice time while preserving him for the duration of a long NFL season.
"We monitor his reps," O'Brien said Friday. "You know, during different periods he will get more reps than he will in certain other periods. I am not going to get into the exact way we do it, but we definitely monitor how many reps he is getting. He is in fantastic shape, and he can go all day, but I think it is a long season and we have got to do that and that is what we try to do. We have a plan for it is what I am saying."
As the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Watt can take some rest in practice because he knows the playbook and younger players can benefit from the extra practice time. It's not always easy for Watt who prides himself on his work ethic, but he sees the bigger picture.
"I do what coach says," Watt said. "I think it's going to be beneficial in the long run. Obviously, you know my style, you know how that conversation probably went, but I trust coach. I trust the plan that we do have and I think it's going to be very beneficial and just from the results we're already seeing so far, it's been great."
