The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is absolutely loaded with talent on all three levels! Of course, you have to mention Steelers savvy veteran All-Pro leader, DL Cam Heyward, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), TJ Watt, and superstar FS Minkah Fitzpatrick when you talk about this defensive unit that has the potential to be one of the best in all of football! The three look to lead the team to the promised land in the upcoming 2022 season as they chase the franchise's seventh Lombardi Trophy.
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The three defensive leaders have Super Bowl aspirations as the Steelers enter the 2022 season. That's the team goal, but players have to have individual goals as well, right? Watt, as the reigning NFL DPOY, may have some stiff competition while trying to repeat as the winner of the award, but the stiffest competition may come from someone he shares the defensive huddle with.
Fitzpatrick has seemingly been more of a vocal leader during the team's training camp practice. Rookie TE Connor Heyward caught a pass and began to talk some smack to the defense just a few days ago:
“Nobody’s afraid to hit you. Trust me. I’m gonna flip your a** next time,” Fitzpatrick yelled from the sidelines via The Athletic.
Fitzpatrick signed a massive long-term deal to stay in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future this off-season that made him, at the time, the NFL's highest paid safety in league history. He's been noticeably more vocal as he's been chirping at offensive players during training camp in Latrobe. Just ask his teammate CB Arthur Maulet:
“Let me tell you, Minkah is going to let you know somethin’ somethin’ when he’s out there,” Maulet stated via The Athletic. “He’s not afraid to chirp at the guys, for sure.”
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Fitzpatrick is aware of the "flip of the switch" that is required by defensive superstars and he's taken advantage of the time in training camp to be a little more vocal.
“Off the field, I am reserved and stick to myself, but on the field, I am a competitor,” Fitzpatrick said. “Camp is the time to bring it out because guys are sometimes a little low, a little beat up, a little down and might not be in the right frame of mind. The talking and chirping are not only for the guys, but for me as well.”
The author of the article published by The Athletic, Mark Kaboly asked Fitzpatrick if his mentality aligns with a player striving to become an NFL DPOY.
“That’s the goal,” Fitzpatrick said.
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Fitzpatrick has instilled confidence in the team's defense since arriving via trade in 2019. He's a strong leader that is a game-changer on the back end for this Steelers defense! He wants to do anything and everything he can to ensure this team's success.
“Minkah is a serious competitor, and it shows in environments like this,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated via The Athletic. “He always wants in. He wants to cover receivers, he wants to tackle running backs, he wants to blitz. He’s a football player. He’s a guy that loves football, that loves competition. He’s just a good guy to have in an environment like this because it’s never a down day with him. He’s always about it and he’s always ready to work.”
Will Fitzpatrick be able to dethrone his own teammate, Watt, as the NFL's DPOY in this upcoming season? He has the ability and drive to do so, that's for sure!
What are yinz thoughts on Fitzpatrick gunning for the DPOY in the upcoming 2022 season? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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