Mike Tomlin: T.J. Watt And Alex Highsmith Swapping Sides In Apply Not A ‘Massive Deal’

The 2024 season was not T.J. Watt’s finest yr. Whereas he was nonetheless a terrific participant, he was much less impactful than in earlier years. Particularly, he was held with out a sack over the Pittsburgh Steelers’ last three common season video games. After the season, Watt acknowledged that he can be extra open to transferring across the protection in an effort to not get schemed out of video games as usually. By means of the primary few days of coaching camp, he’s moved round a bit of bit, however Mike Tomlin downplayed the importance of that.

“That’s simply a part of staff growth,” Tomlin stated Friday through the staff’s YouTube channel. “I don’t assume it’s a giant deal, to be fairly sincere with you. Make them work on either side, give them a chance to work towards different folks. It’s simply soccer this time of yr.”

It isn’t stunning that Tomlin pumped the brakes on pleasure surrounding Watt and Alex Highsmith transferring round. The Steelers have solely had two coaching camp practices to date, and a type of bought lower brief as a result of climate, too. There isn’t a big sufficient pattern measurement to actually choose it but.

Nonetheless, it does line up with Watt’s willingness to maneuver round after final season. For the time being, Tomlin won’t be placing an excessive amount of inventory into it, however maybe that would change. It a minimum of reveals that Watt might transfer round extra this yr.

Up to now, Watt has expressed that he feels discomfort when transferring round on protection. Nonetheless, together with his thoughts set on competing for a Tremendous Bowl, it could be time to strive new issues. Watt has been one of the dominant edge rushers within the league for years, however there’s no telling when his manufacturing might fall off. Including a brand new wrinkle to the way in which he’s used might assist him proceed to play at a excessive degree.

With a lot of coaching camp left, it is going to be attention-grabbing to observe how a lot Watt and Highsmith flip sides. If it’s extra sporadic, then Tomlin may very well be appropriate that there isn’t a lot to learn into. Nonetheless, if it continues occurring extra continuously, then it may very well be a much bigger deal.

There’s no telling how efficient transferring Watt and Highsmith round can be, however it could be a trick that the Steelers wish to have of their again pocket simply in case. It might frustrate opposing offenses if the Steelers’ edge rushers play properly on either side.