The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2022 season fell under a lot of different categories and labels before, during and after the season. There are question marks on the offense, and some improvements to be made. Defensive superstar, TJ Watt was recently on The Pat McAfee Show, and one phrase that got thrown around during the midst of it all was “transition year.” According to Steelers’ star edge rusher, that was never the case this year.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Watt was asked by McAfee outright if it felt like a transition year in the building:
“Nope. Never a transition. When you have Mike Tomlin at the helm, have the leaders that we have the building. It’s just a matter of working through all the little kinks of having younger guys in the building. Having a new quarterback in the building.”
When asked how he felt about the Steelers’ new quarterback, Kenny Pickett, Watt didn’t hesitate:
“I like Kenny Pickett a lot. He’s got a lot of moxie. He came in and won the home run derby in Latrobe right away. Still a little salty about that.”
He added the last part jokingly. Watt stated that that showed Pickett’s winning mentality early. Watt was then asked about the leadership again and briefly mentioned Cam Heyward:
“He’s been doing it for a long time. I think he’s on his 6th consecutive Pro Bowl. Multiple time All-Pro.”
Watt clearly respects and admires his defensive co-captain, and says he’s still “big head” in the house.
Photo credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
TJ Watt believes the time is now for the Steelers to strike
Watt went on to talk about where he feels the team is currently at and where the team stands:
“I feel like we have a really good team here. We have a good nucleus. We have good young talent… The time is now for us, and I feel like we can put it together.”
Watt feels this team is ready to be a contender and compete for a Lombardi Trophy next season. Some may scoff at this, but there are some stats that are eye popping when the team was at full tilt with a healthy TJ Watt. The team went 1-6 without Watt. With him? They were 8-2. Pickett and Watt were 7-1 together.
For a team with the young talent they have, a quarterback on a rookie contract, and two first round picks this year (essentially), it’s hard not to think that this team will have a real fighting chance as soon as this upcoming season.
There are question marks on the offense, and some improvements to be made, but the run game certainly found its legs after the bye week, averaging 146 rushing yards per game from the bye week on. On top of that, Pickett also began to find a groove. Before the bye week, Pickett was 1-3 and had thrown for 2 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. After the bye, he threw for 5 touchdowns and only 1 interception. He also accounted for 4 game-winning drives.
Photo credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
A lot of critics have pointed to the ease of schedule post bye week, compared to the difficulty of the games prior. However, in the NFL there is no such thing as an easy win, and the growth the team showed was hard to deny. As Watt said, the nucleus seems to really be forming, and the young talent is undeniable.
The team certainly seems to be trending in the right direction. With all of this in mind, hopefully Watt’s vision of the team competing for a championship right now comes to fruition in 2023, and the team can make a real run at hoisting the elusive seventh Lombardi Trophy in team history.
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