Steelers’ T.J. Watt Adding Wrinkle To Scare Opposing Quarterbacks

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has something special in store for opposing quarterbacks this season. The seven-time Pro Bowler said Monday he will be varying his pass rush lanes. This will change where he lines up to attack the quarterback.

“That’s something that this time of year is perfect for, to move around to get comfortable,” Watt said, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “It’s not about winning every single rep and having to be on the left side and having to get everything mastered on the left side. It’s about trying new things and moving around.

“… We just have so much depth. … I’m sure we’ll have some cool packages and some new stuff for you guys to see,” Watt added.

Watt has primarily rushed the quarterback from the left side during his career. But the four-time All-Pro admitted after January’s 28-14 wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens that he’s open to new ideas.

“I prefer the left, but at this point in my career I want to be an impact player,” Watt said after the game, according to Pryor.

Much has changed on the Steelers’ defense since that loss. Most notably, Watt signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension and Pittsburgh traded for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Now you can add his pass rush wrinkle into the mix.

“We’ll move him around a little bit, but we’re not going to move him around to our detriment,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said, per Pryor. “We know he’s had some really great seasons coming on that our defensive left, offensive right side, and he could still do that. We’re trying to open up, open it up for him and for others to so we can get more sacks.”

Pryor’s reporting noted the Steelers lined up Watt on the right side 12 times last year. Almost half of those snaps came in the Week 8 win against the New York Giants. Watt recorded two sacks in the 26-18 victory on Monday Night Football.

Watt, 30, finished last year with 11 1/2 sacks and 27 QB hits. Based on what he’s said at training camp, the future Hall of Famer expects to post better numbers this season.

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