While we have been promised change in how the Steelers used T.J. Watt annually, Mike DeFabo believes this year it actually happens. It helps to have almost an entirely new coaching staff, from the head coach on down. While Pittsburgh will carry several principles over, many things are changing under DC Patrick Graham.
And that’s a fact T.J. Watt has seemingly not only come to accept, but also embrace. At least, that’s the way it might come off in his public comments. Over the spring, he copped to previously being too stubborn to allow the Steelers to move him around. Stationary from his left outside linebacker post, it limited the defense’s flexibility. That might not be the only change coming to his game under the new regime, however.
“It seems like every year around this time, we’re talking about T.J. Watt moving around more. But with new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in the fold, it appears it might actually happen”, DeFabo wrote for The Athletic. “In Graham’s scheme, a lot of the movement is built in, so Watt said he won’t have a choice. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Watt drop into coverage a bit more than in years past, as Graham often utilizes simulated pressures to keep offenses off balance”.
It’s true that the Steelers used to drop their outside linebackers into coverage considerably more than the manner in which the defense has evolved as former HC Mike Tomlin assumed more control over the unit. After all, pass rushers rush the passer. T.J. Watt was adept in coverage, too, but you want him getting after the quarterback.
Last season, Watt dropped slightly more than other outside linebackers, but still under 8 percent. Including perhaps even Jack Sawyer, all of the Steelers’ edge rushers have the requisite athleticism and football acumen to do it more than they have of late. Herbig still kicks himself for one interception he dropped. Amongst the group, they claimed five interception between them all. Including two by Watt, who is one away from double digits for his career.
DeFabo previously talked about Patrick Graham returning the Steelers to the root of the 3-4 defense, and a lot of that had to do with how he seems to intend to use T.J. Watt and the outside linebackers. Obviously, switching sides is less a staple of that than is the coverage duty. And really, it makes sense. If you’re not dropping your outside linebackers, you might as well have big defensive ends. The athleticism is an asset that ought to make offenses question what your edges will do.
Frankly, I don’t know that Watt moving sides will make a difference. In theory, it really shouldn’t, because the Steelers are supposed to have the best group of linebackers in the league. If teams are focusing on taking out Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig should be feasting. But trying it couldn’t hurt, and throwing more coverage into the mix can spice up the blitz packages.
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