‘I don’t want to hear excuses’ – Former NFL GM says it’s time for Steelers’ T.J. Watt to start living up to his contract
He’s had enough of it.
Week 15 of last season. December 15th, 2024. Why does that date matter? That’s the last time T.J. Watt recorded a sack for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a vacuum, that seems like a problem. In reality, Watt is demanding double teams, winning his one’s and receiving little to no help from the Steelers’ defensive coaching staff.
But football is a results-driven business. And right now, the results have been back-to-back games with over 30 points allowed, a run defense that is like water through a sieve, and communication issues galore. That has former Steelers executive and Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley calling out the star of the unit.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” said Whaley of Watt. “To be $41 million, the second-highest non-quarterback, you can be out there alone, and you still need to be disruptive. He may not have the sacks production because they are double-triple-teaming him, but he’s gotta be disruptive and then you add to the fact that it opens it up for your other teammates.”
Doug Whaley Challenges T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward
“Cam Heyward, go out and earn your incentives because if they’re double-teaming and triple-teaming T.J., then you have to be single-blocked, ” added Whaley. “And if you’re getting double-teamed, if you’re double-teaming T.J. and Cam, then the rest of the defense needs to step up. So be it scheme, whatever, production, it doesn’t matter when you’re the highest-paid defense for the second, maybe third year in a row. I don’t wanna hear excuses. I want production.”
Part of me fully agrees with Whaley. I don’t want to hear any more excuses about a side of the ball that is the highest-paid unit in the league. That has two potential Hall of Famers up front, Pro Bowlers in the middle, and All-Pros in the secondary.
But as far as T.J. Watt goes, I don’t blame him; I blame the Steelers.
After saying he would be willing to move around, after a camp and preseason that saw Watt line up in different spots, he’s played 99 out of 103 snaps over the right tackle, the same place he always has. That is on the Steelers and that is unacceptable.
He’s going to get double-teamed, maybe even triple-teamed. Teams are averaging 6 yards a carry when running away from Watt, yet just 2.5 yards per carry when running towards him. That’s an alignment and disguise issue.
One that’s on DC Teryl Austin, HC Mike Tomlin, and DL coach Karl Dunbar to figure out.
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