PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s the Steelers all-time sacks leader and the highest paid non-quarterback in the AFC. Even with that, TJ Watt still can learn and he said he’s taken a step with his leadership this year.
Watt was voted one of two defensive captains for the fourth consecutive season. It’s the fifth time overall Watt has been selected. The numbers would back up why he gets that honor. The 30-year-old also been a leader by example, but is now understanding he needs to be more as he gets further removed from his rookie season.
“Trying to be more open to talking to guys and not be so lone wolf at times and just try to work on myself,” Watt said. “Try to be more encouraging, let guys know when they do a good job. More than anything, just talking to the offense more and not being such a defensive guy. Trying to help out anywhere I possibly can.”
Nick Herbig has followed Watt around during his three seasons with the Steelers. Herbig and Watt are both former Wisconsin players. They both had older brothers play in the NFL. It was probably fairly easy to help him. Now it’s another rookie outside linebacker in fourth-round pick Jack Sawyer and Watt is treating this opportunity with a rookie differently.
“For me, to try to remember what it felt like,” Watt said. “Obviously, this is my ninth season now, it’s hard to not feel the redundancy at a certain point. Obviously, I love what I do, but it’s also a reminder of what a guy like Jack Sawyer is feeling so I can relate to him and slow things down for him if I can.”
“It’s football at the end of the day, trust what you’ve been doing, that’s what TJ has been telling me is to trust what I’ve been doing and the abilities that I got,” Sawyer said. “They are good enough to go out there and do good things for this team.”
Watt is a not a talker, sure he can and looks great in commercials, but on a football field, especially in practice, he prefers to just do. That’s a great approach for him, but he’s learning he can do more for others.
It’s an evolution, even for someone who has done as much as Watt has.