Will TJ Watt ever be worth this last contract?

I would say that TJ can play his current position BUT
- Highsmith, if he were playing at the level he was before the contract, would be forcing the offense to think about their decisions.
- I miss Casey Hampton jamming up the middle the way he did. That certainly gathers the QB's attention. Benton just isn't at that level.

We have a little issue in that when Cole Holcomb is in the game, we expect the run and when Wilson is in the game we expect pass.
I was in Washington when Holcomb was there, and he was a hard-working LB. The knock was coverage speed back then.
Wilson has the speed but isn't as physical as Holcomb.
Neither are known for sacks.
We need better effectiveness out of that position.
When they send 5 or 6, guys need to win those matchups quickly and make the QB move.

Noteworthy: Our defensive line ranks high - that was unexpected for me. It's our secondary that ranks low. I don't know what to make of that yet as I just looked.

 

I can believe that. The opposing quarterback stats support that. Of the seven teams we played so far, we gave five out of seven of those quarterbacks the best game they've had this season.

 

My biggest knock on TJ is he repeatedly gets suckered on a fake run up the middle and totally loses containment to the outside

That was the single biggest problem in our loss to Jacksonville when he was a rookie

JH would not have let that happen

TJ still hasn’t learned

 

Steelers let Bobby Spillane walk and meanwhile he's 8th in the NFL in tackles in Vrabel's defense. Queen? 43rd...along with 2nd most missed tackles by a LB.

The misuse/misevaluation of players just continues to haunt this team.

 

I hated to see Spillane go, I am probably in the minority. I figured he would be solid but not great. A guy you want on your team.

 

Agree, a VWill type LB.

 

Actually the Raiders let him walk

He was not exceptional when he was with the Steelers

 

Bags Watt

 

Watt made sure he got more money per year than Garrett, at least Garrett is still producing earning his money Watt isn't close to playing at that level.

 

It has been stated numerous times already but bears repeating that Queen flourished with Smith because he could just react instead of being the green dot guy who has to identify and get people lined up right. If they could find that sort of ILB to play with him he becomes a better player.

 

Watt and Heyward are saving their splash plays for the playoffs.

 

Coaching.

 

He is no Jack Lambert, but who is?

 

or lack thereof....

 

Pay the Man! Exactly. Turnovers and big plays are great when they happen. But as you said and I believe as well without the them they are a below average defense. Just lining up amd beating your man. Oh and the highest paid once again. And old! The lack of true development in the secondary when drafted is abysmal. As well as waiting to long to replenish the defensive line. Now they have two outside linebackers that are well compensated underperforming, a young buck who is excelling and now getting limited snaps! Inside linebackers are invisible.

Now facing the juggernaut Colts.

 

I like Spillane a lot. He did well with the Raiders as well. Another mistake letting him walk.

 

I think TJ would produce more if the 3 defensive linemen next to him were more disruptive....those guys get paid to play too.

 

We all are waiting for Watt to show us something.

 

The Steelers no longer make deep playoff runs because they keep everyone too long. 20 years ago they let players walk even if they had one to two years left. We drafted well so it was an easy decision. Cam Heyward is another idiotic decision

 

4 sacks in last 11 games
How are you coming up with 10 sacks by seasons end?

 

We have a secondary secondary

 

I didn't do the math I heard somebody on a podcast say he's on pace for like 10 sacks.

 

Top ten paid edge rushers.

Garrett leads the league with 10 sacks. Gary is 2nd. Crosby, Watt, and Hendrickson are way down the list with 4 sacks, Bosa is on IR, Highsmith is MIA with 1.5 sacks.

Other than Garrett, these guys are not worth the money they are being paid.

1
Maxx Crosby
LV, ED
$38,163,330
2
Rashan Gary
GB, ED
$25,771,138
3
Trey Hendrickson
CIN, ED
$25,166,668
4
Montez Sweat
CHI, ED
$25,085,494
5
T.J. Watt
PIT, ED
$23,368,694
6
Myles Garrett
CLE, ED
$22,922,120
7
Jonathan Greenard
MIN, ED
$22,303,780
8
Nick Bosa
SF, ED
$20,438,430
9
Danielle Hunter
HOU, ED
$20,200,000
10
Alex Highsmith
PIT, ED

 

T.J. Watt has aligned on the left edge (offensive right) on 94.1% of his snaps this season. Opposing offenses have frequently run away from Watt, instead running to the left on 63.8% of their designed runs, the 2nd-highest rate in the NFL. The Steelers have allowed just 3.9 yards per carry (7th-fewest) and -27 rushing yards over expected (5th-fewest) on runs to the right but 4.7 yards per carry (8th-most) and a 14.4% explosive run rate (5th-highest) on runs to the left.

And Watt is often double teamed on passng downs.

Tomlin is too much of a dolt to move TJ Watt on the right edge side or in the middle often enough.