Tag: T.J. Watt

Browns’ Myles Garrett discusses T.J Watt’s 2023 D.P.O.Y. snub

Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, NFL, Week 12, Thursday Night Football, Defensive Player of the Year, American football, Timely, Sports news

Be careful what you wish Cleveland!  While to many it seems unwise to provoke T.J. Watt just days before facing off against him, that is exactly what the Browns did. Speaking to reporters during Tuesday’s media availability, the 2023 D.P.O.Y. award winner, Myles Garrett, was asked to comment on Watt’s less-than-enthusiastic reaction to being snubbed from winning the award after a spectacular performance last season.

Garrett, known for his issues with Pittsburgh in the past, wasted no time taking a subtle jab at Watt, stating, “I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house, and vice versa. He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me.”

Watt’s league-leading 19 sacks should have been more than enough to secure the award in 2023, but one thing the Browns’ edge rusher said rings true: T.J. will have every opportunity this week, when his team takes on Cleveland, to silence the doubters once again.

Garrett’s comments and challenge to Watt will surely only lead to Cleveland’s demise in Week 12, as the Steelers take on the Browns in this week’s Thursday Night Football game at 8:15 PM EST.

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Jared Verse and two other superstars are the only NFL players to accomplish this in 2024

Jared Verse and two other Defensive Player of the Year candidates are the only players in the NFL who can say they’ve done this

Jared Verse isn’t going to win Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie this season, but he’s off to an unbelievable start with the Los Angeles Rams – a start that has him in the company of two legitimate contenders for the coveted award.

Through 10 games, Verse has 4.5 sacks, 42 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and 14 quarterback hits, stuffing the stat sheet just about each and every week. Pro Football Focus has graded him highly throughout the year, ranking him as one of the better defenders in the league.

According to PFF, there are only three players in the NFL this season with grades of 80 or better as a pass rusher and run defender: Verse, T.J. Watt and Dexter Lawrence.

Verse has a pass-rush grade of 82.0 and a run-defense grade of 85.5, which rank 21st and 14th, respectively, among all defenders with at least 382 snaps.

Watt is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Lawrence is tied for the third-best odds at BetMGM. Verse predictably isn’t even in the conversation because he’s a rookie who hasn’t racked up enough sacks for legitimate consideration, but he’s as well-rounded a defender as there is right now.

The Rams had high expectations for Verse when they drafted him 19th overall this year, but he’s been even better than anticipated through 10 games so far.

In a couple of seasons, he could be one of the top candidates to win Defensive Player of the Year the way Aaron Donald was early in his career.

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Lamar Jackson will have to wait a few weeks to get that much-needed win over the Steelers after the Ravens sputtered in neutral for most of the afternoon in an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL’s No. 1 ranked quarterback in QBR, Jackson was 16-33 passing for 207 yards (6.3 avg), one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.1 rating, the lowest of this season.

Jackson had four carries for 46 yards, while Derrick Henry was held to 65 yards (5.0 avg) on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown, tying the single-season franchise record for touchdowns.

Zach Orr’s maligned defense held Pittsburgh to 4-16 on third downs and 303 total yards, but Pittsburgh held the football for 36:22, compared to Baltimore’s 23:38.

The Steelers held the Ravens ‘ top-ranked offense to 329 yards and just 124 yards rushing. Justin Tucker’s two missed field goals will further magnify the two-point loss. On the day, Tucker was 1-3 on field goal attempts, while Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was a perfect 6-6, including a 57-yard field goal.

Baltimore will quickly regroup before a massive Monday night matchup against Jim Harbaugh and the 6-3 Los Angeles Chargers.

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Ravens’ biggest X-factor player for Week 11 matchup with Steelers

Roger Rosengarten is Ravens biggest X-Factor in game vs. Steelers

Baltimore and Pittsburgh are set to meet on Sunday in one of the weekend’s biggest games. In one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries, 26 of the last 32 Ravens-Steelers games have been one-score affairs, including the past eight contests.

Since John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach in 2008, 18 Ravens-Steelers games have been decided by three or fewer points.

Sunday’s matchup should be no different, and the game’s biggest and most crucial matchup will feature Steelers All-Pro pass rusher matching up against Ravens rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten.

Watt ranks among the top 8 active players in sacks (5th), tackles for loss (8th), QB hits (4th), forced fumbles (2nd), fumble recoveries (4th) and strip sacks (2nd). Watt’s 19.0 sacks led the NFL in 2023. He is the first player in League history to lead the NFL in sacks three times (2020, 2021 and 2023).

Since allowing a sack to the Chiefs’ Chris Jones on his first snap, Rosengarten has allowed just two more sacks in his 278 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He’s coming off one of the season’s highest pass protection grades against the Bengals on Thursday night.

Rosengarten won’t indeed be a Raven until he defeats the Steelers, and Sunday offers that first opportunity.

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Did Cam Heyward discover the fountain of youth?

Cam Heyward’s elite 2024 play has been pivotal for the Steelers’ defense, proving age is just a number for the veteran DT.

Cam Heyward has either perfected time travel, discovered the fountain of youth, or is doing his greatest Benjamin Button impersonation in 2024, as the Steelers’ DT continues to turn back the clock with his elite play at 35 years old.

With an impressive five sacks, 14 QB hits, six tackles for loss, and a whopping 31 QB pressures, PFF considers Heyward the best defensive lineman of 2024 so far.

Throughout Heyward’s illustrious 14-year career, the Steelers’ DT has accumulated 85.5 sacks, 127 TFLs, 193 QB hits, and eight forced fumbles.

Heyward’s play in 2024 has been a pivotal factor in not only the team’s fourth-ranked defense against the run but also the overall success of the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.

While teammate T.J. Watt is considered a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Heyward is looking more and more like a dark horse candidate with each passing week.

Heyward will face a tough challenge in Week 11 as he and the Steelers take on the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on November 17th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Russell Wilson describes his decision to sign with Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson credits a shared vision with Coach Tomlin and meetings with Steelers stars for his decision to join Pittsburgh in 2024.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and QB Russell Wilson didn’t miss his chance to join the Pittsburgh Steelers after his exit from Denver, ultimately driven by a shared vision with Pittsburgh. Wilson sat down with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and discussed his decision-making process in choosing to come to the Steel City.

Wilson described several prominent Steelers players who made sales pitches during the 2024 offseason, including fellow Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Cam Heyward, fellow Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt, and former All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick.

While playing with such elite talent seems like an offer too good to pass up, Wilson stated that his decision to sign with Pittsburgh stemmed from a shared vision with the team’s philosophy, including a similar football belief system: “I think Coach Tomlin and I share the same vision, love for the game, passion behind it, and obsession with it.”

While the success in the early chapters of the 2024 season can be credited to QB Justin Fields, no one can deny that Wilson helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers potential Super Bowl contenders.

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Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt named midseason DPOY by Pro Football Network

T.J. Watt’s sack numbers are down but he’s still a game wrecker.

It’s been a rollercoaster season for Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Despite his sack numbers being down due to opposing offenses committing two and three players to stop Watt on every play, Watt is still one of the most disruptive players in the NFL.

Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network handed out his midseason awards and despite Watt having the seventh-most sacks in the NFL this season was still his Defensive Player of the Year.

Here’s what Beasley had to say about the choice.

And Watt has been a one-man game-wrecker. His four forced fumbles (in nine games) lead the league. His 10 tackles for loss are tied for seventh. Watt also has two recovered fumbles and has three passes defensed.

If Watt gets the honor this year, it will be an upset for sure. DPOY is typically reserved for the guys with big numbers, especially sacks or interceptions. Right now Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson leads the league with 11 and New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is second in the NFL with nine.

We all know Watt has the potential to string together games with multiple sacks and get right back into the hunt but offensive coordinators are going out of their way to minimize his impact.

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PFN gives midseason award nod to Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt was named Defensive Player of the Year in Pro Football Network’s 2024 NFL Midseason Awards.

T.J. Watt is a household name to NFL fans, regardless of allegiance. Watt’s mind-blowing play since entering the league in 2017 has earned him several prestigious awards, including AP’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and AFC Defensive Player of the Week (8).

On the heels of fans naming Watt DPOY in Fox NFL’s Midseason Awards, he’s bagged the title in Pro Football Network’s Midseason Awards.

There’s no argument to be made that Watt hasn’t been a game-changer for the Steelers’ defense through 10 games, proving once again why he’s one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers. While his sack numbers (6.5) are down from what we’re accustomed to seeing, Watt’s relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks and unmatched ability to disrupt plays continue to anchor Pittsburgh’s defense, making it one of the toughest in the league. Watt’s explosive speed off the edge has garnered a second-best 18 QB hits.

Beyond the stats, Watt’s presence on the field has been crucial for Pittsburgh, as he draws double teams that open up chances for other players like Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Cameron Heyward and now Preston Smith. Watt’s energy and intensity are contagious, elevating the entire defense to a new level. Not only is Watt a nightmare for offensive lines, but he’s also a key reason the Steelers have been able to close out close games and stay in playoff contention.

Watt’s impact this season has been nothing short of elite, reinforcing his role as the heart and soul of Pittsburgh’s defense.

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T.J. Watt’s struggles spark debate: Can the Steelers’ star regain form?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accustomed to explosive performances from EDGE rusher T.J. Watt, but he’s been less dominant this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are accustomed to explosive performances from EDGE rusher T.J. Watt on defense. Still, fans and analysts notice a quieter, less dominant presence from the former Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Watt, who earns a hefty $30 million annually, has been unusually quiet in the sack department (12 in 2024), and his recent performance against the Washington Commanders added fuel to the conversation.

“Witness one pass defended, two quarterback hits, zero sacks, and zero tackles,” Mark Madden wrote in his recent TribLive column. “Sure, he’s being double-teamed and held a lot. Too bad. When you make $30 million, plays are required. Not excuses.”

Despite facing heavy blocking schemes designed to limit his impact, Watt’s production has noticeably dropped from his career-best standards. It leads Madden and others to question whether it’s time for him to vary his approach to avoid being too predictable. A defensive force like Watt is expected to find ways to adjust, especially as elite players adapt to changing coverage strategies against them.

The Steelers need Watt at his best as they push toward the playoffs. Whether he can regain his explosive impact and silence critics may be key to the Steelers’ defensive success this season. Fans are watching and waiting for their star to rise again.

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Steelers to face backup OTs vs Commanders

T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith could feast on the Commanders backup offensive tackles.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers square off against the Washington Commanders on Sunday they will be facing a pair of backup offensive tackles. Washington will be minus starting left tackle Cornelius Lucas and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie which should make life easier for Steelers edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The Steelers live and die by the pass rush on defense and have to square off against rookie Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been the best rookie in the NFL this season and one of the top quarterbacks due in large part to his ability to run the football. This means despite the advantage the Steelers have on the outside, they must rush the passer with discipline to keep Daniels contained.

 

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