"Game-Changing": Steelers Seriously Cautioned About Shopping Top Performer Amid Criticism

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very interesting situation brewing. Edge rusher Nick Herbig is due an extension, but it doesn't make sense to give out a ton of money to three guys that play the same position. Expectations are that either TJ Watt or Alex Highsmith will be traded away to free up some money and allow Herbig a chance to continue to grow while collecting a better paycheck. Many fans have spoken about wanting Watt gone, since he is the oldest and most expensive player in that position group. 

In his weekly Q&A chat, Brian Batko put a different perspective on Watt's recent play. While he has not done amazing in recent years, he has still made his presence known in key situations.

"In fairness to Watt, he also made some humongous plays," Batko said. "The interception against Baltimore, strip sacks against the Bears and Colts, the other INT against the Vikings in Dublin. Those were game-changing moments he delivered."

Watt played a part in seven plays that resulted in a turnover, which is around average for him, despite only having seven total sacks. He had a strip sack against the Chicago Bears that Herbig recovered for a touchdown. He had two other strip sacks that aided the Steelers to get one-possession wins against AFC opponents. If one of those two don't happen, it's very likely Pittsburgh loses that particular game and misses the playoffs at 8-9. 

One of the big reasons for Watt's decline was that his predictability made it easy for opposing offensive coordinators to take him out of the game. Quick passes and run plays to the left made it hard for the former Defensive Player of the Year to get any sort of production for long stretches of time. Getting stabbed in the lung during a dry needling procedure didn't help matters either, as he missed three games because of that. 

At the end of the day, Watt's mere presence on the field makes opposing offensive coordinators change what they want to do. There are not many players that can affect the game like that. Until teams actually start winning one-on-one reps against him and run in his direction with ease, he is still considered a gamechanger and a massive part of the defense. In fact, he could catch his second wind soon.

Steelers' Coaching Change Should Help Watt

In previous seasons, Watt has repeatedly reiterated that he prefers the left side of the line, over the right. That meant for the most part, he would be doing the same thing on each pass rush rep: line up as far on the defensive left as he could and run in. That made it easy to set up a gauntlet of chips to slow him down and make him a non-factor in a game. 

New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has been praised for one big thing, and it's his ability to adapt and work to his player's strengths. With that being the case, Watt should move around the defensive front more often to confuse the opposing quarterback and set up more one-on-one reps. If that happens, he could go right back into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation.

The few times that former head coach Mike Tomlin did have Watt move around, it seemingly worked. Against the New England Patriots, Watt had two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two tackles for loss, and five total tackles. He mostly got those stats from his normal side, but the fact that him moving to the other side a lot changed the Patriots' gameplan, and it set up more favorable reps when he went back to his normal spot.

What do you think about the idea that Watt is still a game-wrecking star? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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