Alex Highsmith Agrees Refs Ignoring T.J. Watt
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers superstar T.J. Watt was frustrated following an embarrassing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. It was mainly the defeat that had him short as he took questions at the podium following the game but the officials, who Watt said he thinks has "something going against him," were also a point of contention.
His star running mate on the other side of the defensive front, Alex Highsmith, said he agreed that Watt isn't getting all the holding calls he deserves and understands why that would lead to some anger.
“T.J.’s held almost every play. That’s just how I feel," Highsmith said. "He’s up there rushing like hell. He’s crazy. I can sense his frustration but he’s a guy who’s balls to the walls every single play. When he doesn’t get some of those calls he should get, it’s definitely frustrating.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin added that frustration is part of the game for a player like Watt, whose talent, pedigree and history of consistently excellent performance make him the target of double-teams, chip blocks and every method of slowing pass rushers an opponent can conceive of. That could make anyone a little cranky.
“T.J.’s a special player," Tomlin said. "People go to a lot of lengths to minimize him and frustration is probably a component of play for him.”
But the fact that Watt, who ranks second in the NFL in sacks with 13 and sixth in tackles for loss this season, continues to play at such an elite level amazes Highsmith and speaks to the respect teams have for his decorated resume, even if that's only a small consolation prize for Watt.
“He’s a guy who gets chipped a lot, draws a lot of attention drawn towards him," Highsmith said. "So for him to be able to still make a lot of plays while getting chipped and getting held and everything, just shows the type of player he is.”
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