Alex Highsmith....................... invisible & INVINCIBLE

[Drink IRON City]

Hard to believe many here feel he is a product of TJ WATT.

4th in the nfl in sacks
2nd in the nfl in FF
Able to solidly seal his edge in the run game
Produced quite well in TJ absense.

I see Alex as a rising start and very good at his job. He has become disruptive on a FASTER pace than Bud Durpee (intentional spelling for the O'l board members who can remeber).



Salute the nation

 

[BLITZ]

We going to be able to keep him long term?

 

[TDX27]

The problem is most of his stats came in the 2 games Watt played. He did very little in the games in between. He is definitely better than last year and hopefully can be resigned to a reasonable contract but nothing crazy or he will end up playing somewhere else.

 

[steel dino]

We going to be able to keep him long term?

I believe they will...

Also believe if he stays healthy all year he will be one of the few Steelers to gain a Pro Bowl invite after this season..

 

[Litos]

He had 3,5 sacks in 7 games without TJ Watt, also 22 tackles and 1 forced fumble.

With Watt he has 14 tackles, 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in just two games.

His stats clearly multiply with an all pro in the other side but even then he has to win against his assignment and he is thriving. Hopefully those 7 games help to fully evaluate his value and find a middle of the road contract between a starter and an all pro

 

[madinsomniac]

Highsmith would have been a guy under the old system who would have been signed to a bridge contract in the off-season… stupid new system will mean we likely have to lose him instead… can’t pay everyone… maybe he takes a lesser contract because he realizes that this system is a great fit, but even then we probably don’t have the space to give him a moderately underpaid market value deal… especially if wj3’s contract isn’t reworked

 

[Litos]

Highsmith would have been a guy under the old system who would have been signed to a bridge contract in the off-season… stupid new system will mean we likely have to lose him instead… can’t pay everyone… maybe he takes a lesser contract because he realizes that this system is a great fit, but even then we probably don’t have the space to give him a moderately underpaid market value deal… especially if wj3’s contract isn’t reworked

Wj3 shouldnt be in any conversation, I rather sign Highsmith a 100 times before even thinking in a 31 years old cb coming from back injury that hasn't played in 2 years asking for 9M a year

 

[madinsomniac]

Wj3 shouldnt be in any conversation, I rather sign Highsmith a 100 times before even thinking in a 31 years old cb coming from back injury that hasn't played in 2 years asking for 9M a year

12 million… there is a 3.25 roster bonus iirc

 

[stillwright]

In two of the games with out Watt I think he had a total of one tackles as a stat line. Yep .....pay the man.

 

[madinsomniac]

Based on trends, a #2 starter at edge is going to bank around 10 million in this market… maybe 8 with a hometown discount but probably higher than ten on the open market in two years … he might be a twelve million dollar guy..

 

[Drink IRON City]

Based on trends, a #2 starter at edge is going to bank around 10 million in this market… maybe 8 with a hometown discount but probably higher than ten on the open market in two years … he might be a twelve million dollar guy..

I don't evben know if there is such a thing as a "Hometown Disount" anymore unless you are t*mmyb*y and the team is subsidizing you under the table.

Did TJ WATT give a discount? Sure he settled to get the ontract signed but it was still the riches contract in defensive history.

How about Bud Dupree, paid him to heal and yet still left for the MONEY (can't blame him)

I'm just aying these guys ONLYhave a limited time for the contract money and I think the GREED of the NFL has swallowed the players as well.

If he is elgible for a 5th year, take it. If not then lock him up early.


Salute the nation

 

[slashsteel]

Which would you prefer in their prime?

Watt and Highsmith or Deebo and Woodley.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Watt and Deebo…dare to dream!

 

[Drink IRON City]

Which would you prefer in their prime?

Watt and Highsmith or Deebo and Woodley.

WhoAly **** that's a tough one. You've got the all time best (Deebo) and the Potential to upseat him (Watt).

I'd sure as hell like to take WATT and HARRISON but I hear yaz.

I'd have to take TJ and Highsmith.

Woodley's prime didn't last long and I'm gambling Highsmith re-signs here.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Which would you prefer in their prime?

Watt and Highsmith or Deebo and Woodley.

Deebo and Woodley.

Harrison was the baddest man in the NFL in his prime and Woodley was an excellent pass rusher as well. Plus, they showed up in the playoffs. Harrison had 11 sacks in 18 playoff games and Woodley had 11 sacks in 8 playoff games, absolutely insane!

 

[stillwright]

I don't evben know if there is such a thing as a "Hometown Disount" anymore unless you are t*mmyb*y and the team is subsidizing you under the table.

Did TJ WATT give a discount? Sure he settled to get the ontract signed but it was still the riches contract in defensive history.

How about Bud Dupree, paid him to heal and yet still left for the MONEY (can't blame him)

I'm just aying these guys ONLYhave a limited time for the contract money and I think the GREED of the NFL has swallowed the players as well.

If he is elgible for a 5th year, take it. If not then lock him up early.


Salute the nation

Spot on.

 

[Confluence]

Which would you prefer in their prime?

Watt and Highsmith or Deebo and Woodley.

I remember an old T-shirt that said something like "guns don't kill people, Lamar Woodley kills people".
And I have a 56 jersey.....
And I know that Woodley kills people only when Deebo played and got doubled. This was easily demonstrated by Woodley's numbers when he took the FA money and left.

It seems similar with Watt and Highsmith. I really hope that 56 can develop into that bookend OLB to pair with Watt, but so far he is very similar to Woodley: the clear beneficiary of all the attention given to the game-wrecker on the other end.

 

[Litos]

I remember an old T-shirt that said something like "guns don't kill people, Lamar Woodley kills people".
And I have a 56 jersey.....
And I know that Woodley kills people only when Deebo played and got doubled. This was easily demonstrated by Woodley's numbers when he took the FA money and left.

It seems similar with Watt and Highsmith. I really hope that 56 can develop into that bookend OLB to pair with Watt, but so far he is very similar to Woodley: the clear beneficiary of all the attention given to the game-wrecker on the other end.

Woodley never was an overachiever, the guy ate himself out of the NFL after his big contract.

On the other hand Highsmith was a college walk on, the kid has always played with a chip on his shoulder and probably kept hearing that he didn't belong, in fact getting picked in the 3rd round was called a reach by some as he wasn't in the top tier of OLBs in the draft. Kudos to the FO and scouts for getting that hidden gem.

 

[slashsteel]

Woodley never was an overachiever, the guy ate himself out of the NFL after his big contract.

On the other hand Highsmith was a college walk on, the kid has always played with a chip on his shoulder and probably kept hearing that he didn't belong, in fact getting picked in the 3rd round was called a reach by some as he wasn't in the top tier of OLBs in the draft. Kudos to the FO and scouts for getting that hidden gem.

Perhaps not but he achieved well if not overly. Very similar pairs in a lot of ways. Wood had his size, Harrison his brute strength, Watt his heavy hands and work ethic, and Highsmith the typical blue collar type.

I love that LB Steeler tradition, two are carrying it on well and I would like to think we haven't seen the present pairs best.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

WhoAly **** that's a tough one. You've got the all time best (Deebo) and the Potential to upseat him (Watt).

I'd sure as hell like to take WATT and HARRISON but I hear yaz.

I'd have to take TJ and Highsmith.

Woodley's prime didn't last long and I'm gambling Highsmith re-signs here.


Salute the nation

If it’s a playoff game it’s hard to not give Woodley the nod, dude had a short prime but was clutch in big games

 

[Drink IRON City]

If it’s a playoff game it’s hard to not give Woodley the nod, dude had a short prime but was clutch in big games

I hear yaz but also realize that Highsmith has had little opportunity to even play in a play-off game yet alone two in one season. I hear yaz loud and clear and I was just basing my pick on Highsmith haveing a longer prime, sort of a gambler's choice.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

I hear yaz but also realize that Highsmith has had little opportunity to even play in a play-off game yet alone two in one season. I hear yaz loud and clear and I was just basing my pick on Highsmith haveing a longer prime, sort of a gambler's choice.


Salute the nation

I don’t think the question is about longevity, instead which pair do you take in their prime. All things being equal, Harrison/Woolley is better overall talent and production.

 

[slashsteel]

I don’t think the question is about longevity, instead which pair do you take in their prime. All things being equal, Harrison/Woolley is better overall talent and production.

Interesting where do you grade out Watt in the OLBer pecking order all time?

 

[mightyguru]

If it’s a playoff game it’s hard to not give Woodley the nod, dude had a short prime but was clutch in big games

I think Woodley set a record with 6 sacks in 3 playoff games in 2008. But, yeah, ate himself out of the league. I'd go with TJ and Alex.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Honestly I was very pleased with Alex during TJ's absence given the **** show around him. He still produced in most games albeit not to the same level as with TJ but that was going to be the case no matter who it was. Had the offense played better and given them leads he would be the league leader in sacks. Playing close games or from behind is not going to generate the same kinds of opportunities particularly without a threat on the other side. I think he will be a perennial pro bowl contender. If we can keep him.