Steelers' Craig Wolfley Said T.J. Watt And Cameron Heyward Looked Horribly Miserable Following Week 15 Loss: "You Gotta Stick Together"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have found themselves in a major slump. After the firing of the much-maligned Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, the Steelers seemed to show a spark of life, winning their next game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12. Then they suddenly found themselves in a worse position than they were in before letting Canada go, dropping their next three games in a row. They didn't just lose games, they lost games to teams they should have beaten. Frustration among the players is now at an all-time high. There are questions about heart and motivation floating around and even the most veteran players look dejected. Now, former Steelers offensive lineman, Craig Wolfley, is sending a message to those veterans, saying they need to be the ones to pull this team back up out of the quicksand. 

The latest disaster came during the Week 15, 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The week leading up to the game, everyone discussed how this one was a "must-win" and the players said they were treating it like a playoff game. A sense of relief was felt as the Steelers seemed to start the game off strong. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky was able to take them down the field and score. They eventually went up 13-0 rather quickly. 

However, the Colts were able to come roaring back and our ragtag defense had no answer for them. They scored 30 unanswered points while the Steelers were unable to do anything. 

Wolfley, who played for the Steelers in the 1980s, is now a radio announcer and color analyst. He currently hosts a show on AM 970 ESPN with another former Steelers offensive tackle, Max Starks. He recently appeared on an episode of the Irish Steelers podcast. He explained how shocked he was to see two players who are the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh defense, T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward, look grief-stricken after the game as the team faced another senseless loss. 

"I walked on the plane past Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and I could see the miserableness in their face. They know that game got away from them, but those are two of the most important guys that you can have to reload this stuff and pull people together. You gotta stick together. You gotta keep the voices to the outside of the four walls of the locker room," said Wolfley.

It isn't surprising the two veteran leaders are upset. They are both fierce competitors who know full well they should have won that game. Over the past few weeks, we have heard numerous players speak out about how heavy these kinds of losses weigh on your heart. 

However, Watt and Heyward are not only veterans, they are two of the most respected players in the NFL and they know how to lead. Wolfley said it is up to them in large part to right the ship. Wolfley isn't the first former player to mention that the change starts from within either, and it starts with every player holding himself and his teammates accountable. 

The Steelers Need Leadership And They Need It Fast

If the answer to this problem is leadership, then they need it and they need it now. They face the Bengals again during their Week 16 matchup. Remarkably enough, there is still a chance to make the playoffs, but to do so, Heyward and Watt will need to motivate a relatively new group of players. 

The Steelers' defense has been crippled by injuries in the second half of the season. No sooner did they get Heyward back on the field than they lost Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander. With star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick also out with an injury and Damontae Kazee suspended, the Steelers have had to scrape the bottom of the proverbial barrel to find safeties. 

It isn't easy pulling together a group of players who don't have familiarity with each other or the system, but if anyone can do it, it is Heyward and Watt. Head Coach Mike Tomlin often says the only difference between starters and backups is opportunity and many of these players are getting the opportunity they have dreamt of. It is time for the next man up! 

What do you think about Wolfley's comments? Do you see the frustration and dejection on the faces of the players too? Click to comment below.

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