The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have the best defensive player in the NFL on their roster, and yet his dominance has been called into question based on analytics. In 2023, TJ Watt became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks for three different seasons, but found himself disrespected by Pro Football Focus. His older brother, JJ Watt, had some very interesting opinions on the reasons why player grades aren't always what they seem to be.
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Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (90).
Steelers' Watt Could Have Been Robbed By Conspiracy
It was another season of defensive excellence for Pittsburgh's Watt, tallying 19 sacks, despite battling injuries yet again during the 2023 campaign. Somehow, Myles Garrett was consistently ranked above the Steelers' future Hall of Fame edge rusher, although he didn't surpass Watt in any major defensive statistical category. It wasn't like there was some wiggle room; Watt beat out Garrett in sacks, tackles, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits.
JJ Watt was doing his weekly segment on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday when the subject of player grades came up. Never one to be shy or hold back, it didn't take long before the retired Watt was very candid about his perspectives on PFF and how they play down his brother's ridiculous accomplishments. JJ Watt was talking about the number of players who had reached out to him regarding PFF and the grades, and apparently, quite a few had things to say.
"Significant amount. Players -- players trying to -- claims and... allegations of things that have happened and reasons why things are a certain way they are. It's been fascinating to see how that's gone... Why certain, you know, in a contract year when there's connections and things, why things have switched. All [of] the sudden, this guy's got, you know, grades move and things like that. Fascinating."
For an incredibly influential former player to be that open about this subject isn't something the news media is used to seeing. JJ Watt has always been one of the most outspoken defenders of TJ Watt and what he has done in the NFL, but now to hear that there could be nefarious happenings that influence PFF rankings is something else entirely. JJ Watt wasn't done, though, because he wanted to make sure no one got his words twisted or the direction in which he was aiming his frustration.
"It's the grades that are the problem. That's the problem! It's the grades and it's the acting like you are, like, the czar of deciding who's good, who's not, all that stuff. That's my problem. It's not the actual data... it's the grading and making decisions on who is good and who is not and then presenting it as gospel. That's my problem."
If nothing else, hearing that there could be background forces at work shifting things about in the PFF system makes sense more than it sounds crazy. Anyone who watched the 2023 season that TJ Watt put together, compared to what Garrett turned in, cannot honestly say that the Cleveland Browns' rusher was the more dominant one. Well, according to PFF, not only was Garrett the better defender, but so were Micah Parsons and Nick Bosa. So if that doesn't show the lack of reality being taken into account, nothing will.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) battles Myles Garrett (95) during a game.
Steelers Should Be Prepared For TJ Watt To Be Robbed
JJ Watt's opinion on the possible strings being pulled to influence players' grades might not be too far-fetched, and because of that, there is a certain amount of reality to be faced. The truth is that TJ Watt proved that he should be the one to beat for the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year, but that isn't the case. Instead, much to the chagrin of Steelers fans, everyone will have to likely watch Garrett accept the coveted award.
Pittsburgh's Watt showed up and dominated opposing offenses, despite having very little reciprocation from Kenny Pickett or the now-unemployed Matt Canada. Somehow, though, being the most dominant at your position isn't enough.
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Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt (90) is on another level where dominance is simply expected of him in every single game.
Whether there is a conspiracy or not, the fact is that people in Pittsburgh should brace themselves for when TJ Watt does not take home the DPOY Award. This will have to be one of those moments where the truth is known deep down, but the reality is far from that. Garrett is a great defender and a worthy opponent at times, but TJ Watt is a generational talent who changes the game simply by being on the field. When you look at it from that angle, there really isn't much of a contest to be had.
What are your thoughts on JJ Watt's feedback about PFF? Comment below!
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