PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s to the point when he was asked about TJ Watt making another game-changing or game-saving play Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has the look like I’ve answered this question so many times.
It’s not that he’s really annoyed, it’s just happened so often.
“I’m not surprised by it, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not appreciated,” Tomlin said. “I just come to expect it because he’s got a unique talent, a unique approach. Usually that produces unique results with a really consistent tone to it and usually at the most timely moments.”
On Monday it was with 3:04 to play and the Giants holding the football down eight points. It was third down and seven and Alex Highsmith smelled it coming.
“I knew that play, I saw they had the tight end over with me,” Highsmith said. “I saw him one-on-one with that guy. He’s about to make a play. And he did. He got the ball.”
“That’s just what he does. That’s why he’s the best in the world. Just an honor every single week to go to war with him.”
Highsmith said it’s why Mike Tomlin calls Watt an ‘A-player’ and ‘A-players’ are built for those moments.
“Just getting a one-on-one and making the most of it in a big-time moment to try and make a play for my team,” Watt said. “I was able to get to the football and recover it.”
Watt deflected credit to an extent. He said Steelers assistant coach Denzel Martin presents to the team after every game the following:
· The Steelers takeaways from the game
· Team takeaways in practice
· The turnover opportunities they miss
· The opportunities they would like to have back
· Also, all of the turnovers from around the league that week
It’s part of a mindset Teryl Austin brought with him and the increase of turnovers can be directly attributed to the start of his time in Pittsburgh in 2019. Since that time, the Steelers lead the NFL in takeaways and multiple takeaway games.
Helps to have a player like Watt as his forced fumble puts him in a tie with Cornelius Bennett, Leonard Little and Khalil Mack for 25th place in NFL history. He now has 116.5 career sacks, one shy of Cameron Jordan for 23rd place all-time.
Tomlin will likely be presented with the same question about Watt again, someday he’ll miss answering it.