To make things easier for whoever is suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the quarterback position in 2022, a couple of things need to happen. The Steelers need to have an efficient run game to lean on and the defense needs to dominate!
When Minkah Fitzpatrick was first acquired in 2019 in a mid-September trade, the Steelers won seven of their next 10 games. The safety had eight of the team’s league-leading 28 takeaways, and two touchdowns, over that span. Credit: Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
The Steelers defense is led by Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, and Minkah Fitzpatrick! Not a bad list of leaders at all! Heyward and Watt received NFL All-Pro Honors for their efforts last season, while Fitzpatrick joined them the year before on the All-Pro list. All three constantly receive praise about how they are the epitome of Steelers football!
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward, left (#97), and edge rusher, TJ Watt, right (#90) celebrate during pregame warmups at Heinz Field in 2021. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
In an article by Bleacher Report released Tuesday morning, writer Maurice Motion chose a player at each position that is the most dominant! Of course, these three guys had to be mentioned:
"Edge-Rusher: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers""Watt doesn't just impact the game with tackles and sacks," Motion stated in his article. "He's recorded 32 pass breakups (at least seven in four out of five terms) and four interceptions, which shows great athleticism for a 6'4", 252-pounder.
Opposing teams may not want to believe this, but at only 27 years old, Watt may continue to improve in his prime. Even if he's reached his peak, the elite-level defender could remain just a step above his peers at the position.
Watt put his name in the record books next to a Hall of Famer in the sack category, giving him the edge (pun intended) over Myles Garrett, who's recorded double-digit sacks in each of the last four years.
Garrett is coming off back-to-back All-Pro campaigns, but he's one short of Watt and doesn't have a recent Defensive Player of the Year honor on his resume."
Turns out, I have another writer who agrees with my take from last month!
"Safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers""Since Fitzpatrick's arrival in Pittsburgh via trade in September of 2019, he's strengthened the team's back-end coverage," Motion said while listing the safety as the league's most dominant. "In his first year with the Steelers, he recorded five interceptions and nine pass breakups."
"In 2020 and 2021, the Steelers have ranked within the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns allowed. During that period, Fitzpatrick registered six interceptions, 18 pass breakups and allowed passer ratings below 82 for both terms. Last year, he sharpened his physical technique, logging his lowest missed-tackle rate for a single season (9.5 percent) while leading the team in tackles with 124."
"With two All-Pro seasons in the last three years as a key cog in Pittsburgh's defense, Fitzpatrick has shown why he's the most dominant player at the position."
Heyward was listed as honorable mention for the interior defensive lineman position group, behind, you guessed it, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman, Aaron Donald.
"Honorable Mention: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers""In a distant second, Cameron Heyward doesn't compare to Donald," Motion claimed. "Per [ESPN's Seth] Walder's chart, he doesn't see nearly as many double-teams and has a significantly lower pass-rushing win rate, but the 33-year-old has logged at least eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss in four of the last five campaigns. Heyward has also earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors in each of the last three terms."
Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward (#97) celebrates with head coach, Mike Tomlin, after their 39-38 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, December 10, 2017, at Heinz Field. | Christopher Horner / Tribune-Review
I don't think Heyward would disagree with this take as he stated in a text to Steelers former guard, Ramon Foster:
“I ain’t 5, I ain’t 4, I ain’t 3, it’s pick your poison at 1 or 2!”
Heyward definitely implied the "poison at 1 or 2" is Donald and himself.
What do yinz think about the Steelers having two, almost three players listed as the most dominant at their positions? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
#SteelerNation
