It has been reported that Watt has been reluctant to move to increase his impact. He himself made a statement at the end of the year that he needs to be more open to it, therefore there must be some validity to what was reported. Maybe that impacted scheme a little?
Watt skipping mandatory mini camp per Schefter
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They were talking on the fan Pittsburgh this morning that he is willing to move around. Even if it were true and he doesn't want to move, we can still help him. If they are dedicating 2/3 guys to him, then send some blitzes, force them to pull a guy from Watt and pick up the blitzer. Teams are so drawn to him, blitz from Highsmiths side, something, anything. Use 3 DL, instead of always using 2, get some push up front.
Hey, look, I agree. The scheme leaves a lot to be desired. I'm just pointing that component out. I think everyone in that building needs a little bit of humility...we aren't getting it done lets look at other ways.
Heck, mix it up by also having 3 DL in the game and put Watt and Highsmith on the same side. They start on opposite sides but motion over to one side just as the O does so often. Get it done, Tomlin! You're supposed to be this great D coach. Show us something new and not from 15 years ago.
Our OLB’s have all pretty much rushed from their primary position, Greene, Gildon, Woodley all from the LOLB, Lloyd, Porter, Harrison all primarily from the ROLB position, but they all played on very unpredictable defenses, if you doubled one on them you took a big chance because their could be a blitz coming from anywhere, now it’s not close to that.
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It can't be understated enough that Julian Edelman mocked the Steeler's defensive scheme by stating that they're running the same "tired" bullshit defense they have been for over a decade. For an organization who prides themselves on defense, the fact that short **** laughed at them publicly should have lit a southern sized bonfire in their collective gut. But no, rest assured it was personnel, it was assignments, it was anything else outside of defensive scheme.
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I’ve been advocating for that for quite some time now. A lot of the time, the opposing team bring opposite gaurd along the line to block or chip WATT out of the play. Pittsburgh wouldn’t counter that with a blitz to that side. Imagine how just that one adjustment could make a big difference in over all front line play.
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Phoenix1172
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Really good teams know when it's time to let beloved vets go instead of breaking the bank to keep them around. I'm wondering if Watt is in this area now?
Watt has been amazing and it would be great to see him end his career with the the Steelers. That said, I wonder if the risk vs reward warrants paying him what he probably feels he deserves?
I'm not sure if he was injured the end of last year, or the coaches simply could not come up with any scheme to free him up from his double and triple teams. It's probably some of both. Regardless, he was not very effective often down the stretch. Will he be back to vintage Watt over the course of a new multiple year contract, or was last year a sign of him slowing down?
Holding out isn't going to bode well for the team either since that never seems to end well when vets hold out though the summer. They always seem to end up on IR soon after they start playing thanks to a hamstring or something.
If another team is willing to offer a crazy good deal for Watt, I would be giving it some serious consideration if the money he's looking for is going to hurt the team for the next 4 years if he's injured or not playing at his past level.
If they do sign him, pay most of the guaranteed money over the first two years with nothing guaranteed after that.
Watt has been amazing and it would be great to see him end his career with the the Steelers. That said, I wonder if the risk vs reward warrants paying him what he probably feels he deserves?
I'm not sure if he was injured the end of last year, or the coaches simply could not come up with any scheme to free him up from his double and triple teams. It's probably some of both. Regardless, he was not very effective often down the stretch. Will he be back to vintage Watt over the course of a new multiple year contract, or was last year a sign of him slowing down?
Holding out isn't going to bode well for the team either since that never seems to end well when vets hold out though the summer. They always seem to end up on IR soon after they start playing thanks to a hamstring or something.
If another team is willing to offer a crazy good deal for Watt, I would be giving it some serious consideration if the money he's looking for is going to hurt the team for the next 4 years if he's injured or not playing at his past level.
If they do sign him, pay most of the guaranteed money over the first two years with nothing guaranteed after that.
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A lot here to break down.
1). TJ is NOT in that “area” of getting rid of him. At the end of his new contract, then probably yes or friendlier cost.
2). TJ is the face of the franchise. He is our best player the entire current contract worth and then some.
3) he did have an injury, but also more importantly, the scheme / coaching did absolutely ZERO to help him. They used 2/3 players to negate him yet we never made them pay for doing so. Our 2DL set gives us 4 rushers against their 5/6 blockers, you can see the odds on that. Virtually no blitz packages mixed in, always lined up in same position (plus or minus a stance or two wider/narrower). Moving him around won’t help much un less there is some blitzing to mix it up and confuse the opposing blockers.
4) the pay, TJ has earned this coming contract. Yes, I do hope it is back-side structured to our benefit, but TJ will be here to full term. He most definitely will retire a as one of the greatest STEELERS of all time. Remember we are NOT paying a high
$$$$ QB contract for at least 4 more years, TJ’s contract will coincide with that time frame.
5). As for trade, I don’t think you get the overwhelming offers partly due to his high $$$ contract to negotiate as well. I think you would get a 2nd and a 4th. Those that think we’d get 2-1st round picks have been listening to the Cooooooch to much.
6). It takes both parties to agree on how and duration of said contract. I have to trust Kahn as he has “super human” strength in that area of expertise. I hear what you are saying on the two year, but I don’t know if that will come to fuitition or not. The
Kahn-artist will come through.
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That would require the coaches changing, sometimes on the fly. That's not allowed. Whatever they install before the season starts, stays.
I've never seen a group so reluctant to change anything until it's too late.
If you rush your best guy 30 times and he gets blocked every single time, why the hell would you keep doing it the same way over and over and over again every game.
They don’t change because the main honcho is X and O deficient which leads to a fear set that he lives in. His whole philosophy on both sides of the ball is safety based with the fear of turning the ball over or being beat deep.
I was thinking the same thing.
Think Khalil Mack. I don't like it but the more I think about it...trading TJ may help more than hinder...
That's so Mediocre Mike can blame the execution.
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It's ***** ball.
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Oh I know. They don't take accountability for ****.
WindyCitySteel
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This. This should be backloaded with fewer guaranteed years, which I’m guessing is the sticking point. Eventually he’ll hit a wall and you don’t want to be on the hook for several average years at $40M per.
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They’re prepared better than most, too, with Highsmith, Herbig, and now Sawyer. Tomlin, however, I think believes that D is more about rush than cover, and wants a consistent four man rush, so you need a rotation.
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Initially I wanted to smack that cheating smug *******, but then I realized he was right and it wouldn’t change the fact Tomlin’s scheme is so far out-everything.
Dislike the cheaters immensely, but even cheaters can tell the truth occasionally.
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