Seahawks Bracing for Steelers LB T.J. Watt: 'Whole Different Level'
As the Seattle Seahawks prepare to host the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Week 17 showdown at Lumen Field on Sunday afternoon, they face the unenviable task of attempting to contain one of the NFL's top defensive players.
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is certain to command the attention of every opposing offense he plays, including the Seahawks this weekend. The three-time, first-team All Pro is enjoying another stellar season, having collected 58 total tackles, 33 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception. Accordingly, he presents a potentially nightmarish opposition for Seattle quarterback Geno Smith and the team's offense. In fact, coach Pete Carroll acknowledged as much when asked about the prowess of the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt tackles Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith
USA Today Images via AP (Don Wright)
“You have to do a little bit of everything," Carroll told reporters on Wednesday. "There’s no one way to stop him. He’s such a volatile football player and it’s just really challenging. Everybody knows he’s there. He’s not hiding, so we have to do a nice job and keep him guessing a little bit the best we can and try to keep him from being a big part of this game.”
While Smith's athleticism and mobility may aid Seattle in its attempts to lessen Watt's impact, it is unlikely to completely neutralize him. The 29-year-old is known for being quick off the ball, while maintaining solid pass-rush skills from the edge. His lower body strength allows him to play through contact, making him tough to knock off balance.
Still, the highest compliment given to Watt by Carroll was his recognition of linebacker's ability to act as a facilitator for his teammates. Whether it be his tendency to command the double-team, or his own star quality that raises the bar for his fellow defenders, Watt is typically at the center of mostly every defensive highlight - something that occurs by design rather than happenstance. In fact, the Seahawks coach believes it not only places him among the NFL's top players at his position, but also may set him apart from his peers in that regard.
“[The league's elite linebackers] ... all of those guys are extraordinarily gifted in what it takes to be a pass rusher," Carroll said. "That’s length, quickness, explosion, athleticism, sense and timing and feel, all of those things to be that high of caliber player. It’s not just how fast you are, how big you are, there’s so many other things going ... and it makes the players around him better, too.
"For Watt to sustain that over years and continue to be a really impacting player, that’s a whole different level."
The Seahawks, while controlling their own playoff fate, will undoubtedly be keeping Watt under close watch both before and during their New Year's Eve matchup with the Steelers at 1:05 p.m. PT.
