Derek Watt?

Maybe this has been brought up previously on here, and if so I missed it, but I am really struggling to understand why Derek Watt has not been utilized more. I couldn't understand last year after finishing last in the league in rushing. What was the point of releasing Rosie Nix and signing Watt then? I am beyond baffled this year especially after drafting Harris. Why are we paying Watt 3 million a year to only play Special Teams. 4 offensive snaps in week 1 against Buffalo and none this past week. He's a freaking Fullback, use him.

 

The simplest answer is..... Ben doesn't run an offense that has a fullback.

 

Tomlin said you can never have too many Watts on the team. And all joking aside, I think that's the main reason they signed him. They signed the best FB in the NFL for a team that doesn't even use one. It's a dumb move.

 

Who?

 

Here’s a post from a while back that will give you more comments:

http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/threads/should-the-steelers-use-derek-watt-more.26764/

 

The standard reason given is the Steelers would have to take one of DJ, JuJu, Claypool, or Friermuth/Ebron off the field to play Watt. I would take DJ off the field, and do a running play with Watt at FB. If you get four yards, run the play again, or run play action. If you don't get four yards, then you are where you would have been anyway.

 

oops, yep, I must have missed it then. Thanks jeh, appreciate it!

 

It was buried. I just remembered it and got lucky with a search. Didn’t want you to feel unloved.

 

LOL, thank you sir!

 

I hate holding the Ravens up as an example but what they do in the Run game and RPO is awesome when it's working. They force teams to choose do you put nickel and dime DB's in to combat Jackson's running ability but sacrifice size and speed to thier bigger athletic TE's or do you put in your multiple LB sets to stuff the heavy run sets and hope they have the speed to stay with Jackson or his TE's. Meanwhile you have Pittsburgh that won't put in Watt Muth and Gentry with Claypool or Juju because then you are taking playmakers off the field but not realizing you still have playmakers on the field. Heck a Bunch set with Gentry, Muth and Claypool that is some tall trees to throw to. Use Ballage and Harris split back and fake the hand off and pass or give Ballage the ball and let him plow for 3. But shotgun 95% of the time is just futile.

 

You can forget about Tomlin using a split backfield. He's had a decade and a half of excellent chances to do just that and squandered them all.

Derek Watt is laughing his way all the way to the bank being a ST's captain and the 4th or 5th one on the spot to make a tackle. I wouldn't harp on the guy so much but 3.25 Million a year to basically be a spectator is a bad ROI.

 

You are a bit harsh on him. he has been there on a couple of nice plays but I don't think that trumps what Roche or other pure special teamers brought to the table. In the line of return on investment Watt is hardly the worst case we could hold up during the Tomlin Era but given his views on multifaceted player roles signing a guy to be a lead blocker and not using the skill set is wasteful

 

For 3 years $9,750,000 he should attribute more. That's not his problem though. It's the FO believing that 1 TD and a 2 point conversion over 5 years is worth that much. Actually, I think they were just going for the brotherly love PR effect that they were hoping ESPN would throw their way. Personally, I think the guy is a waste of a roster spot, but what do I know?

 

Hey 86WardsWay.

Your Quote: "Personally, I think the guy is a waste of a roster spot, but what do I know?". My friend, you know quite abit (smile). Since his arrival, has he made one impact play whatsoever? He is a complete waste of a roster spot IMO. In fairness to him, he can only do what the Administration asks of him; which seems like basically nothing.



STEELWINDS The East Side Kid

 

Before you run him out of town, can you at least wait to see what he looks like in Canada's offense after Ben steps down?

 

A wasted 10 million over three years, could have gone to a more
deserving player.

 

But, but, he's TJ's brother.

 

So, If Ben plays the remaining 15 games left on the schedule we can expect Derek to participate in 7 or 8 ST's plays a game for maybe a tackle or two? At that point the Steelers will have wasted $6,500,000 so that we can see what he may be able to do with Mason or some other QB in 2022 for the final year of his deal. That's just a bad deal no matter which way you slice it.

 

Would like to see the Steelers run more 21 personnel. Najee, Watt, Muth. JuJu and Claypool, their best blockers, at WR. Can run or pass out of that, keep the D off balance.

 

He's buried in the special teams playbook being the Captain

 

I fully expect to see Mason and Watt out there before the end of the year with how Ben has played in the first 2 weeks.