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Now that three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months J.J. Watt has been launched by the Houston Texans, that information has opened the spigot for hypothesis that he could be a part of the Steelers to play along with his brothers, T.J. and Derek.
Whereas such a transfer would do wonders for social media and native Subway sandwich franchises, I would like Steelers followers who’re lobbying for such a transfer to reply the next questions:
• How a lot is J.J. Watt going to value?
• What place is he going to play?
• Which veteran on the present roster are you keen to lose because of signing him?
• How worthwhile would the signing be when contemplating his age, well being historical past and productiveness?
So let’s tackle that job.
Given the NFL’s shrinking wage cap this 12 months, Watt higher be keen to register Pittsburgh for the veteran minimal or fairly darn near it. After the retirements of Maurkice Pouncey and Vance McDonald, the Steelers are still on pace to be roughly $30 million over the cap based mostly on a projected league-wide variety of $180 million.
Why would Watt do this, if groups with related standing within the AFC such because the Tennessee Titans or Indianapolis Colts could also be keen to signal him for lots more cash? To not point out the New England Patriots or the Green Bay Packers in Watt’s native Wisconsin. Perhaps even the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the event that they lose pass-rushing ace Shaq Barrett in free company.
Then there’s the problem of the place Watt would play within the Steelers protection. He was listed at 288 kilos final 12 months. That’s about 20 kilos heavier than Bud Dupree if the aim can be to have him substitute Dupree at proper outdoors linebacker, thus creating the Watt brothers bookend so many in “Steeler Nation” appear to crave.
The extra pure place within the Steelers protection can be on the finish place the place extremely compensated and efficient gamers Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt already reside.
Have in mind, Watt is roughly 10-15 kilos lighter than these guys. That will present up within the run sport and when you think about these two often rush up the sphere inside the 2 edge slots within the Steelers sub-package fronts.
One factor I maintain seeing on Twitter is, “Simply transfer Tuitt to nostril sort out and have J.J. begin at left finish in entrance of T.J.”
OK, why would you progress the man with 11 sacks (Tuitt) inside to the nostril for Watt, who had solely 5 sacks final 12 months and simply three over the last 13 weeks?
To not point out being a part of a Texans protection that was final in opposition to the run final season whereas Watt was on the sphere for 91.4% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Plus, the Steelers solely performed a real model of their 3-4 protection 39% of the time anyway, with sub-packages accounting for the opposite 61%. It’s a part of the explanation why nostril sort out Tyson Alualu — who had a surprisingly efficient transfer to that place final 12 months — is being deemed expendable in free company. Regardless that his capacity to use strain from the nostril possible performed a component in permitting that base look to remain on the sphere roughly 8% extra typically than the final two seasons.
Then there’s Watt’s age, 31, and his historical past of accidents. Granted, he performed all 16 video games final 12 months. However within the 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons, he missed a mixed 32 contests.
So let’s return and reply these 4 questions to determine how a signing of Watt may truly transpire.
• If he’s keen to signal for the veteran minimal (or darn near it) simply so he may play along with his brothers, though different groups are prone to provide way more.
• If he’s keen to tackle a rotational pass-rushing position with Tuitt and Heyward in sub-package conditions.
• If the group is keen to lose Alualu and discover his alternative together with getting Watt.
Alualu could have left anyway for more cash and would now for certain if his snap depend as the highest sub in pass-rushing conditions for Heyward and Tuitt disappears. And if Watt soaks up something near Alualu’s $3.62 million final 12 months, which will stop the group from conserving both Cam Sutton or Mike Hilton.
• If Watt’s snap depend decreases and he simply concentrates on getting after the passer briefly bursts, he could assist himself and support Tuitt and Heyward in the long term by conserving them recent in video games with extra high quality minutes than what was supplied when the likes of Henry Mondeaux, Carlos Davis, Chris Wormley or Isaiah Buggs crammed in final 12 months. Once more although, now they would wish somebody who can successfully deal with the nostril sort out position within the base protection.
In a distinct 12 months, with fewer wants and extra flexibility to deal with those that exist, I may see a case for the signing past the “unite the Watt brothers” argument for the sake of enjoyable coaching camp tales and community pregame present content material.
However in a 12 months the place the Steelers may have to interchange as many as six starters and two key reserves with restricted funds and a twenty fourth draft place, considering a luxurious at defensive finish shouldn’t be excessive on the group’s “to do” listing.
Particularly when you think about this group led the NFL in sacks, even with out Dupree registering one for the final six video games resulting from harm.
However, hey, why let logic stand in the way in which of jersey gross sales and Twitter traction?
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Evaluate workers author. You possibly can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or through Twitter. All tweets could possibly be reposted. All emails are topic to publication except specified in any other case.
Classes:
Sports activities | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz | Tim Benz Columns
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