Sean McVay Praises T.J. Watt, Calls Him a Freak

It's rare in the NFL when they talk about the won/loss record of a team when their OLB is playing or injured. Usually it is the QB.

I don't recall what the record is when he is in but a bit odd that one OLB seems to mean more then the QB in regards to Wins/loses.

Not that I'm complaining. No way of knowing this but TJ obviously is a special athletic and I think his body is built for a few more good years.

 

Should have three DPOY awards but for some reason he is overlooked when it comes to this vote.

 

Even Aaron Donald said this past offseason something about Watt should have more than one DPOY.

 

I can understand for 2020 (Donald) but the one in 2019 and 2023 was bad, especially last year

 

This is a big reason why I'm not impressed with our defensive scheme...Yes Watt is a major game changer, but being 1-11 without him is embarrassing.I know our offense was horrible for most of the time during this period but the defensive stats (on everything) are also very different with and without Watt

 

We had basically the same problem when Troy P was here. The win loss record was crazy with Him, and without him....although some of that started to change after he got old, and wasn't the same game changer

 

Just wanted to say thanks for typing the quote out.

 

Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Haasan Reddick, Derek Barnett, Jonathan Allen, Jarrad Davis, Charles Harris, Takk McKinley, and Taco Charlton were all the DE/LBs taken in round 1 before TJ Watt. AND Reuben Foster went the next pick after TJ.

Nobody knew what he was to become.

 

True, they lose without TJ. If he gets injured this season, the Steelers are done

 

Being the best defensive player in the league plus hands down the best player on the Steelers.

It amazes me the loss record without Watt. They have 10 other players plus the linebacker that replaces him. Its like the defense just takes the day off if he is not in the line up. No adjustments. Folds.

Hopefully if he gets nicked up Herbig can come in and play solid.

 

TJ is exceptional, and a game changer, as we all know. Hopefully he can finish his career with the Steelers and stay healthy. One of the most impactful Steelers on defense in the last 20 years other than Polamalu and Harrison. His talent, motor, and instincts are unmatched, as is his dependability in big game situations.

 

Sounds a lot like Lawrence Taylor

 

We were a little over .500 without Polamalu. With that being said there’s a significant difference in the supporting cast between the two players. Our defensive line was better across the board back then. Our inside linebackers were also better. In addition to that the secondary was better. Maybe moving forward our inside linebackers and secondary will be better, but the defensive line still has a ways to go. Cam is getting up there, ogunjobi is average. Average isn’t bad, but Smith and Keisel were far better than average. Then toss in Big Snack. Hopefully Benton takes a significant leap in year two.

 

Smith IMO was the most underrated DL player that I can remember.

 

Watt cant seem to play a full season and we haven't had adequate backup support

 

Unlockable without help!

 

Isn't that the knock on TJ according to PFF? He's not double-teamed as often as other pass rushers because the chip doesn't count as a double-team?

 

Except for the 0 playoff win thing yea.

 

Maybe it’s because those two guys are generational talents?

 

TJ is frequently the best player on the field no matter what team The Steelers are playing. A 1 and 11 win-loss rating without TJ is pretty crazy though. The last few years, it's not the offense that's been winning our games, it's the defense.

The offense has been putting up anemic numbers. If our offense had been even consistently mediocre, we'd be winning our division every year. The defense has kept us in so many games either with solid defensive play that limits the opponent points, or with outright takeaways and scores that give us more points on the board.

If the defense has an occasional bad game, I'm not happy about it. But I do give them a pass because they have built up plenty of credit from outstanding performances.

 

When he was healthy he would single handily take an entire side of an OL out. Teams would be lucky to run for 25 yards in a game man I miss those days.

 

Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Cam Heyward are the 3-4 1st team all-time Steelers defensive lineman. When Aaron Smith was out during his prime, it was significantly different and it was instantly easier for the opposition to run on the Steelers when he wasn’t in there.

 

If you are defending a critical drive and need someone to make a play there is nobody in the league you would want on your team ahead of TJ. Despite his DPOY award he is still underrated by many IMO