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Derek Watt, come on down!!!!

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Derek Watt signing means Steelers will release FB Rosie Nix, who played only 34 snaps in 2019 because of injuries. Nix was scheduled to earn $2.95 million total in base salary the next two seasons. He will still count $875,000 against the cap in 2020.</p>— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) <a href="https://twitter.com/gerrydulac/status/1240037907349594114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>
 
TJ...lol

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He is buying every time we go to dinner in Pittsburgh this season!!! <a href="https://t.co/nkatSGirum">https://t.co/nkatSGirum</a></p>— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) <a href="https://twitter.com/_TJWatt/status/1240043969293299713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>
 
Digging in a bit further on TJ's older brother.

From his draft bio:

Strengths
Utility man deployed all over the field. Used as lead-blocking fullback in traditional rushing attack. Blocked from "I," off-set and tight end spots. Great radar to fit up on linebackers. Plays with desired toughness and dirty work mentality for the position. Shows no hesitation into iso blocks or when asked to take on defensive linemen. Solid in pass protection. Runs a quality route and had no drops this season. Runs through first contact after the catch. Work ethic and football IQ run in the family. Can offer immediate special teams work.

NFL Comparison
Kyle Juszczyk

Bottom Line
Watt’s versatility will be appealing to offenses looking for hybrid types who help to disguise their offensive intentions. While he's not a hammer-head lead blocker who can blow holes open, he can handle his blocking assignments. Watt is an effective play-action fullback who is a jack-of-all-trades player, but master of none. Watt will likely be a third day selection by a team looking for a solid move fullback.
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The brother of J.J. and T.J., Derek Watt is the next in a long line of football players.

A four-down player at Wisconsin, Watt can kick out linebackers in the running game, stay on the field as a swing receiver or pass-blocker and then help as a personal protector on the punt team. He's a versatile, tough, team-first athlete.

Watt has the football IQ to spot his assignment early and seal off rushing lanes. He's agile enough to get through the line of scrimmage and match up with linebackers in space. Off the edge, Watt will chip defensive ends with success and can work to the second level to reach outside linebackers.

On third downs, Watt can stay on the field as a bigger blitz protector. He shows the footwork and strength to anchor down against free-release linebackers. He's also solid enough as a receiver, thanks to some experience at tight end, to be valued as a safety valve in the pass game.
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Strengths: Lunch-pail guy. Switched positions during collegiate career, showed strong work ethic to make switch and excel at new position. Above-average athletic ability for the position. Adequate size for the position. Experience running the ball. Catches the ball well out of the backfield, using his hands rather than his chest. Solid lead blocker, blocked for two thousand-yard rushers during his college career. Showed knowledge and understanding of pass protection. Uses good angles while lead blocking. Provides positional versatility, played tight end in Shrine Game.

Overall: Younger brother of JJ Watt. He's a solid football player. Jack of all trades, master of none. High-character kid. Watt is rarely, if ever, a liability on the field in nearly any situation. He's a great example of Wisconsin's ability to develop its players throughout the entirety of their time in Madison. Will be seen by most teams as a fullback. Can also long snap, will help keep him in a camp. Arguably the best fullback in the class, should stick on a roster.
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Now that he has four years under his belt with the Chargers, Colbert brings him in as a 27-year old, heading into his prime. Having proven himself as a lead blocker for Melvin Gordon and leading the NFL in special teams tackles.

Solid move Kevin, kudos to you.
 
What is interesting to me is how Matt Canada is going to convince Randy how to use the guy.
 
Sounds like an ideal, hard-nosed, lunch-pail guy to add to the mix. Welcome to the Burgh, Derek!

While overshadowed by his talented, pass-rushing brothers, Derek has developed into a good player in his own right at the disappearing fullback position.

"As a fullback you're more of an adjuster than anything sometimes," Derek said. "The defense might do something you weren't expecting, and so you've got to make sure that you can still get to your guy and adjust off that. A guy might come free off his block and you've got to put him back on his guy, or just pick up somebody you weren't expecting to block."

Derek was never a fit as a pass-rusher, with T.J. saying Derek's destiny was to be in the scrum.

"They tried him out [at fullback at Wisconsin] in fall camp and it ended up working out in his favor," T.J. said. "He was more an inside linebacker. He’s not an edge guy. He was good in high school. He had a lot of tackles and had a lot of scholarships to play linebacker, so he was no slouch on defense. He's a plugger, just like he is a fullback. He'd be a run-stopping guy.”
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"The best way to describe him is that he's just a football player," quarterback Philip Rivers said of Derek. "He can catch it well, he blocks, he's smart. He just kind of can do a little bit of everything."
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https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angel...et-chargers-fullback-derek-the-middle-brother
 
Steelers haven’t had a real FB since probably Tim Lester. Nix was never anything but a short yardage battering ram. A real FB has to have vision to find the hole first and then lead the RB through. Watt can also pass protect and do enough as a receiver to be a versatile player.

I heard some RB once talking about the importance of a good FB. It may have been Emmitt Smith, I forget. He said that when you have a good FB, you trust him that he will find the hole for you, so you follow him and your eyes can then be looking at the second level for the next move to make it a big gain because you trust the FB will find the hole and pick off the first tackler.

This offense has needed a real FB for years. Now let’s hope this means they will actually use him and play more smashmouth instead of always being spread out. Let’s hope this means more play action as well.
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
Steelers haven’t had a real FB since probably Tim Lester. Nix was never anything but a short yardage battering ram. A real FB has to have vision to find the hole first and then lead the RB through. Watt can also pass protect and do enough as a receiver to be a versatile player.

I heard some RB once talking about the importance of a good FB. It may have been Emmitt Smith, I forget. He said that when you have a good FB, you trust him that he will find the hole for you, so you follow him and your eyes can then be looking at the second level for the next move to make it a big gain because you trust the FB will find the hole and pick off the first tackler.

This offense has needed a real FB for years. Now let’s hope this means they will actually use him and play more smashmouth instead of always being spread out. Let’s hope this means more play action as well.
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I'm all about smash mouth football...3 yards and a cloud of dust baby. But Canada knows how to run 20 different plays out of one formation and I hope he's granted some input into sphincter's offense . You could see I formation but once the ball is snapped, you could see a play action with Watt running a 5 yard out and JC running down the seam.
 
Tibs said:
Digging in a bit further on TJ's older brother.

From his draft bio:







Now that he has four years under his belt with the Chargers, Colbert brings him in as a 27-year old, heading into his prime. Having proven himself as a lead blocker for Melvin Gordon and leading the NFL in special teams tackles.

Solid move Kevin, kudos to you.
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Reading that I was thinking of juzczik until I got the end of the paragraph, of course Derek Watt sounds like him, I've been waiting a player like that since the rats had him and was a nightmare making the small plays that count all over the field

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
So now we can say....... Watt WATT ???

His MoM will be at our games more than at Huston's games.................... NICE





Salute the nation
 
thesteelcity said:
JJ is a FA after this season. What are the chances we have all three brothers? That would be something to see. . .
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Something funny came out of this whole conversation. Bud for JJ straight up. Honestly, if you cannot sign Bud long term it could really make sense. They make roughly the same dough and if it is going to be for one year anyhow, I will take the Watt brothers book end on any pass rush situation, any day. The Steelers play a feux 3-4 anyhow.They really mostly play 4 Dlineman. Cam, Tuitt and the Watt brothers bringing it. **** I' will take that. Really not that far fetched.
 
Cope said:
I think that chance just increased with us picking up 2 of his brothers...
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Sign and trade Bud for JJ and a Primanti's #2 special? That would certainly make many on this board very happy.
 
Hines57 said:
Always liked Rosie Nix but if you can't stay healthy they gotta move on to the next guy. Watt is a great pick up for us in so many ways. Wonder if Houston would give us the trifecta?
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Same here. It's a shame but like you said, you gotta be able to get on the field. I think it's Alex Kozora who would post his pancake blocks on STs, never seen a guy ruin so many different people on STs.
 
Watt basically fills two roster spots, takes Dirty Red and Rosie Nix's spot
 
Imagine JJ lining up with tj or Dupree behind him, with Hayward and tuitt! Wow, I forgot we got TJ Barrett also on the team
 
Steelworth said:
Same here. It's a shame but like you said, you gotta be able to get on the field. I think it's Alex Kozora who would post his pancake blocks on STs, never seen a guy ruin so many different people on STs.
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But they haven't cut Nix yet....unless I missed that.
 
Maybe they save more if Nix is a post June 1st cut.
 
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