Are you happy to have signed TJ Watt like they did?

Ask me if we have #7. Basically if you believe the possibility of winning a SB this year versus damage over the next 7-8 years because we don’t have a franchise QB. 104 Million guaranteed, 100% not worth it. Mortgage the future for one possible year = one hell of a risk. The problem is we moved all the chips to the center on the 2nd oldest team in the league, a 41 yr old QB and a Head Coach that can’t manage the clock, has no halftime adjustments and hasn’t shown any offense in 8 years. I’m a diehard Steeler fan but sounds like we just want see Tomlin ride off with a last hurrah. If this doesn’t work I hope their is accountability with Tomlin and Kahn.

 

Correction: hopefully on his way out....

 

There was no 'mortgaging the future' with Watt's deal. The deal will be over far before they will be paying a franchise QB (if they can ever find one). Watt's deal hasn't prevented them from signing anyone else they might have wanted. Fields was an early target but it's clear the team set an upper limit on what they thought he was worth in risk/reward.

This year the Steelers are spending $50M in cash over the cap limit. But next year (so far) they will be far under it. The Steelers are in good shape in building for the future. Watt's mentorship will be an important part of that.

 

A 3rd would be a travesty. The alternative could have been to let him play the last year of his contract, then franchise him, then let him try the market after 26/27 season. By then he'd be 32 with 10 years in the league. His brother JJ hung up the cleats at 33 after 11 seasons. I still don't see the value for the money spent.

 

The value is... it's somebody else's money.

 

We all pay for it.

 

If they don't make any halftime adjustments, then why are they good in one score games?

 

I don't

 

Even if you don't buy tickets, merch, etc. You're still spending time and brainpower keeping them relevant which benefits them from a marketing and advertising standpoint.

 

When I receive that bill in the mail, I'll come back to this discussion.

 

Sometimes people just say things. Anyone that know what to look for sees adjustments, good, or bad all throughout the game.

 

J.J.s body though broke down hard and bad at the end. T.J. has had his knicks and bruises but sans his 2022 Campaign, there hasn't been anything serious to warrant such a concern quite yet. I am still of the mindset that proficient load management of T.J. Watt will add more years to his career.


What do I mean?! Take a look at Cameron Heyward's last three seasons of Snap Totals by percentage; 2022 with 75%, 2023 with 64% though this is the season that Cameron Heyward missed some serious time and last season being 71%. As you know, even with a good managed snap count, injuries are likely to occur and the risks only will increase as a player ages. However, my counterpoint to that would be that adding more snaps to said player is going to accelerate not just the chance of injury but potentially increase the likelihood of a greater injury occurring overall.


Remember that T.J. had that freak injury in 2022?! That aspect of it may be true but here are the snap totals from 2017 all the way until 2021 (the DPOY Season); 82%, 86% in both 18 and 19, 88% in 20 and funnily enough, 73% in 2021. Why is that 2021 Season funnily enough?! Here are the last four EDGE Rushers to win that Award; along with their own Snap Totals via percentage as well.


Myles Garrett in 2023: 81%

Nick Bosa in 2022: 74%

T.J. Watt in 2021: 73%

Khalil Mack in 2016: 91%



All values courtesy of Pro Football Reference.



Two are below 75%. The other two are above that. Coincidence?! I don't think so. Oddly enough, what is more interesting about Mack is that his snap percentage totals nosedived after that 2016 season. Myles himself wasn't too different though we only have one season to show for it. Compare that to Nick whos only spike in that department was last season at 78%.



Long story short?! Giving T.J. Watt a breather will yield dividends later on down the road. Jack Sawyer could be that but by how much remains to be seen. Time will tell for certain but if there is something that Sawyer can help with right away, it is his ability to set the edge during the run.