T.J. Watt Drained Of Steelers’ Groundhog Day: ‘Cannot Maintain Doing The Similar Factor And Anticipate Totally different Outcomes’

The Pittsburgh Steelers have by no means skilled a playoff victory with T.J. Watt. Arguably the best defensive participant of his era, he doesn’t know what profitable a playoff recreation is like. The Steelers reached the convention finals the 12 months earlier than they drafted him however can’t win with him.

Or slightly, the Steelers haven’t been capable of win with Watt up thus far. And that actually isn’t due to him—simply have a look at their file when he doesn’t play. However it’s an infinite supply of frustration, understandably, for a participant who has achieved every thing however group success.

“It’s robust. I’m sitting right here the identical time as final 12 months. I’m on this similar scrum being requested the identical questions and I’ve the identical solutions”, Watt stated through the Steelers’ cleanout day, by way of Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette. “We are able to’t maintain doing the identical factor and anticipate totally different outcomes”.

Watt reiterated that the Steelers must have some robust conversations, and that the options begin with himself. For his half, he stated that he must be extra open to shifting across the formation. He appears to be rising weary of groups scheming him out of video games, particularly as that coincides with shedding them.

T.J. Watt is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract. He’s due $21,050,000 in base wage for this upcoming season however can also be coming off one among his least efficient seasons for the Steelers.

Discounting his rookie and injury-abbreviated 2022 season, Watt posted profession or near-career lows all through the stat sheet. Although he led the league with six pressured fumbles, his 11.5 sacks have been his lowest in a full, non-rookie season. He additionally had his fewest tackles for loss in a full season, matching final 12 months, since 2018. And for less than the second time within the final six years, he didn’t intercept a go. In truth, this was his least-involved season in protection of his profession, barring one.

Whereas he is aware of that he has to step up his personal recreation, Watt is aware of the Steelers’ issues are many. He cited the failure to translate apply to recreation as a major frustration, a typical theme. For weeks, gamers have talked about having good practices and good plans that they didn’t execute in-game. How do the Steelers go about fixing that?

The collapse of the protection is one thing they should take very critically. Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt, even Minkah Fitzpatrick, aren’t getting any youthful. They’ve to guage who’s a part of the answer, and a few have speculated they might profit from buying and selling Fitzpatrick.

Following one other first-round exit, T.J. Watt is bored with the Steelers’ Groundhog Day. How do they alter issues up with a purpose to change up the end result? I don’t envy the duty the group has on its palms this offseason. However on the similar time, it’s a process the Steelers placed on their very own plate, and it’s time to begin consuming.