TJ Watt

[FortyThree]

As long as he doesn't absolutely suck he'll be a fan favorite forever because he's white, is a linebacker, played at a Big Ten school, and his brother is good.

He will also be known as a "try hard guy" "ham n egger" no matter how athletic he is or what numbers he's put up in the combine...because he is white.

Yeah. It goes both ways. Racial bias is not unidirectional.

Weeeeeeeeell....

--------

Back on topic, I can live with Watt. I'm hoping he proves my initial feeling on the pick wrong and that he ends up being better than his brother.

And yes, having yinzers fawn all over the guy no matter what is still less annoying than Takk and his grandmother. So there's that.

[Steelafan77]

[Legacy User]

Say more.

[Steelafan77]

Looking at the measurables of these two draftees. Not that far apart...

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/ ... id=2558064

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/ ... id=2557965

Other than weighing 20LBS more and jumping 4" higher in the vert. Watt and Garrett are not that far apart.

[R_S]

As long as he doesn't absolutely suck he'll be a fan favorite forever because he's white, is a linebacker, played at a Big Ten school, and his brother is good.

He will also be known as a "try hard guy" "ham n egger" no matter how athletic he is or what numbers he's put up in the combine...because he is white.

I don't see anyone in here doing any of that.

You're the one that dumps race into the equation when the Steelers draft a white player in Round 1 for the 2nd time in 12 years.


Do you think if Jarvis Jones was a white dude that ran a 4.88 40 with a 30 inch vertical, he'd have been drafted in the first round? Honest question.

[stillcajun]

We were picking with the 30th pick in the first round, how somebody, anybody thinks that were were going to draft an immediate, impact player with so late a pick is in my opinion, delusional.

Buddy Baker would have been a major reach, just too small to matchup as a hybrid player asked to cover taller WRs or TEs.

Quincy Wilson is stiff and has tackling issues. The talent at both CB and S is such that comparable players would be available at pick 62 and in rounds 3 and 4.

I was not impressed with this edge rusher class but if you were going to try and find a solution I think it had to be done in the first two rounds, and the way things are unfolding, I expect most of the top prospects to be gone in the top 50 picks. I think Willis, Rivers, Bowser and maybe even Lawson to be gone by our 62nd pick.

Regardless, with whomever we picked I knew the sky would be falling here on SteelerFury. I can easily see Watt splitting half the snaps with Harrison, and having 6-7 sacks as a rookie. This is not a team devoid of talent, he does not have to come in and be a double digit sackman from day one. But it is also not going to be hard for him to have a very good rookie season. Everywhere you look the team has high draft picks on defense. When Watt lines up at ROLB that is 1st round CB Artie Burns to his right, that is 1st round DE Cam Heyward to his left, that is 1st round ILB Shazier also to his left inside. That is a mighty good fit to be in and to have James Harrison as your teammate that you are going to rotate with? All in all it does not get better than that.

This would be a very different situation if Watt were going to a really bad team, a really bad defense and had the weight of the world on him and was expected to carry the defense.

Pretty much sums it up.

[FortyThree]

You're the one that dumps race into the equation when the Steelers draft a white player in Round 1 for the 2nd time in 12 years.


Do you think if Jarvis Jones was a white dude that ran a 4.88 40 with a 30 inch vertical, he'd have been drafted in the first round? Honest question.

If he had the production he did, yes. The Steelers didn't draft Jarvis because of his skin color. Nor did they draft TJ Watt because of his.

What does that have to do with anything I said?

[Legacy User]

The issue I have personally with this pick is that he will not be a "difference maker" to the degree we need in the next 2 years.


I have seen this dude play more games in the BIG TEN than most here. He got lost in the wash on the reg and while he did in fact "flash" at times we simply have a very limited window to get another ring. The Facts are the Facts boys.


There are a fuck ton of talented prospects that can be impactful to the current roster. Hopefully we can get our mitts on more than one come tomorrow

Pretty much my thoughts

Of course they are -- douchebags think alike

[Legacy User]

We were picking with the 30th pick in the first round, how somebody, anybody thinks that were were going to draft an immediate, impact player with so late a pick is in my opinion, delusional.

Buddy Baker would have been a major reach, just too small to matchup as a hybrid player asked to cover taller WRs or TEs.

Quincy Wilson is stiff and has tackling issues. The talent at both CB and S is such that comparable players would be available at pick 62 and in rounds 3 and 4.

I was not impressed with this edge rusher class but if you were going to try and find a solution I think it had to be done in the first two rounds, and the way things are unfolding, I expect most of the top prospects to be gone in the top 50 picks. I think Willis, Rivers, Bowser and maybe even Lawson to be gone by our 62nd pick.

Regardless, with whomever we picked I knew the sky would be falling here on SteelerFury. I can easily see Watt splitting half the snaps with Harrison, and having 6-7 sacks as a rookie. This is not a team devoid of talent, he does not have to come in and be a double digit sackman from day one. But it is also not going to be hard for him to have a very good rookie season. Everywhere you look the team has high draft picks on defense. When Watt lines up at ROLB that is 1st round CB Artie Burns to his right, that is 1st round DE Cam Heyward to his left, that is 1st round ILB Shazier also to his left inside. That is a mighty good fit to be in and to have James Harrison as your teammate that you are going to rotate with? All in all it does not get better than that.

This would be a very different situation if Watt were going to a really bad team, a really bad defense and had the weight of the world on him and was expected to carry the defense.

Pretty much sums it up.

The sky isn't falling at Fury

Just ignore Chef and Zabo and you will read mostly rational analysis

[jeemie]

I get this.

I also AM partially colorblind so those are just circles of dots to me.

[steelclan]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o81cSkU3Y58[/youtube]

Obviously not his body of work, but I saw two really good plays and the rest "meh".

Not judging this pick as of yet, but he will need to gain lbs and muscle to be an effective pass rusher in the NFL. When will that be? 2020?

Just for perspective Garrett played same team and did absolutely nothing.

[steelclan]

Of course they are -- douchebags think alike[/quote]

Iron badly wanted King. I watched King in several games. His Cal tape stood out for all wrong reasons: it was a whole bunch of ugly. He got beat deep multiple times and struggled in underneath coverage. Overall watched him in 5 games: he was grabby, struggled in underneath coverage in every game, missed tackles routinely and didn't look fluid in hips at all. No thanks.

[Obviously]

The issue I have personally with this pick is that he will not be a "difference maker" to the degree we need in the next 2 years.


I have seen this dude play more games in the BIG TEN than most here. He got lost in the wash on the reg and while he did in fact "flash" at times we simply have a very limited window to get another ring. The Facts are the Facts boys.


There are a fuck ton of talented prospects that can be impactful to the current roster. Hopefully we can get our mitts on more than one come tomorrow

Pretty much my thoughts

Of course they are -- douchebags think alike

Zabo is not a douchebag. I disagree with him on Watt, but he is a solid poster.

[tbsteel]

LSU was the first game of the year too. Have to take that into consideration for the position change and coming back from injury.

[bradshaw2ben]

Josh Jones
Quincy Wilson
Budda Baker

To name a few

Predict Mini Watt fails to have a big impact against good teams before Ben retires

Josh Jones is bullshit better than Watt. Budda was a great NFL player-- he doesn't fit what they want out of their nickel, because he's small. Quincy is very good, but there a shit ton of long, capable CBs in this draft.

I'll say Bowser & Willis... but, truly, that's about it with what was left on the board. Watt is very Bowser-like and, since neither is a fully-finished product, Watt could end up the better player. Willis probably best suited to a 4-3 team that plays wide 9-- but if he goes to a good fit, he's going to tear it up in the NFL.

[Orangesteel]

I'll only pick Kevin King.

After sleeping on it, totally cool with this pick. I hope he's in the weight room right now, though.

[bradshaw2ben]

As long as he doesn't absolutely suck he'll be a fan favorite forever because he's white, is a linebacker, played at a Big Ten school, and his brother is good.

He will also be known as a "try hard guy" "ham n egger" no matter how athletic he is or what numbers he's put up in the combine...because he is white.

Not from me-- he's way more athlete than football player. The football player part of his game is hustle. Fans are going to love his motor and the fact that he can run. Even STD will calm the fuck down at some point and feel good about it, once the rest of the draft unfolds and he has about 6 months to get over it.

None of that changes the fact that what 43 said is also correct. Fans who don't know shit will love this pick, and mostly for the reason he stated.

[COS]

Not sure what people are expecting at 30. Kid will need some work but seems very promising, we weren't going to draft Lawrence Taylor here

[Quixotic]

As long as he doesn't absolutely suck he'll be a fan favorite forever because he's white, is a linebacker, played at a Big Ten school, and his brother is good.

Truth

This try harder will have 1000s making excuses for him til the end of time

Shoot me now

I don't post much, but this is hilarious. How many make excuses for Tomlin' s dumb ass, or Ben, or anyone they "like".

Yes, people will make excuses for him just like they did for Mendenhall, Jarvis, etc. It happens every year.

I am rooting for the kid, like the pick, and hope he can generate some pass rush to help our team. If he doesn't, I will be the first to cuss his ass.

Dude. Leave Mendenhall out of it. He was NOT Jim Brown, Walter Peyton, Earl Campbell, or Le’Veon Bell. But he was a first round talent who played like a first round pick, except when he was hurt (which was more often that I would have liked). That he was a self-absorbed jerk off the field is not even relevant. At all. In any way. He was the best available player in the position in which we drafted him. He is not the same thing as Jarvis Jones (a second-day talent at best).

That said, it did cross my mind that Stiller Nation, with its capital in the heart of Northern Appalachia, will really like a hard-working (blue collar) white linebacker from a fine family. And they will be willing to cut him a lot of slack they may not have cut…say…a slow, smallish black guy from Georgia, or a temperamental, race-baiting Big 10 running back.

[bradshaw2ben]

Of course they are -- douchebags think alike

Iron badly wanted King. I watched King in several games. His Cal tape stood out for all wrong reasons: it was a whole bunch of ugly. He got beat deep multiple times and struggled in underneath coverage. Overall watched him in 5 games: he was grabby, struggled in underneath coverage in every game, missed tackles routinely and didn't look fluid in hips at all. No thanks.[/quote]
In fairness, Cal toasted a lot of teams and CBs. Hansen is pretty much a two trick pony, but really advanced at it and no one could stop him in that conference. If you think Sidney Jones was the best CB last year, then why didn't they play him on the left side opposite Hansen?

King-Quincy Wilson-Howard Wilson-Brian Allen... all have pretty similar tools and at least one of them will be available at all three of our next picks.

[Pabst]

Even STD will calm the fuck down at some point and feel good about it

You must be new around here....

[bradshaw2ben]

LSU was the first game of the year too. Have to take that into consideration for the position change and coming back from injury.

Kind of what I was alluding to by posting the video. That's the early 2016 Watt-- struggled at times in the run game and in mental part of the game anticipation. He got better at those things and it's why its important to watch later games, too.

[Quixotic]

I'm not mad at the pick, but not doing backflips either. The knee injuries scare me a bit. He's not a natural freak athlete edge rusher. He wins on hustle and effort. Only 1 year of college experience. Could get a lot better in time, not sure how he helps the team get to the SB in year 1 or 2.

My concern exactly. If it’s win NOW time, this pick probably doesn’t get us there. Watt, Bud, Shazier, Hargrave, Tuitt, Heyward, the DB pickups from last year and whoever we take in the upcoming rounds could be a real help in making this a really good defense as we rebuild (after Ben retires, Bryant melts down, Brown and Bell walk). And we’ve proven that a great defense and a mediocre offense is better than a great offense and a mediocre defense.

But wouldn’t it be cool to have both for a change?

[Legacy User]

Not sure what people are expecting at 30. Kid will need some work but seems very promising, we weren't going to draft Lawrence Taylor here

EXACTLY

I think it's funny to hear some "experts" on TV saying that Watt isn't really a "first round pick"

We picked the guy at number 30!! That is basically a 2nd round pick!!

[Legacy User]

LSU was the first game of the year too. Have to take that into consideration for the position change and coming back from injury.

Kind of what I was alluding to by posting the video. That's the early 2016 Watt-- struggled at times in the run game and in mental part of the game anticipation. He got better at those things and it's why its important to watch later games, too.

I first saw Watt extensively when he played against PSU in the Big10 champ -- he looked really good -- popped off the TV in that game against a high quality opponent

He did the same thing in their bowl game

[Legacy User]

I'm not mad at the pick, but not doing backflips either. The knee injuries scare me a bit. He's not a natural freak athlete edge rusher. He wins on hustle and effort. Only 1 year of college experience. Could get a lot better in time, not sure how he helps the team get to the SB in year 1 or 2.

My concern exactly. If it’s win NOW time, this pick probably doesn’t get us there. Watt, Bud, Shazier, Hargrave, Tuitt, Heyward, the DB pickups from last year and whoever we take in the upcoming rounds could be a real help in making this a really good defense as we rebuild (after Ben retires, Bryant melts down, Brown and Bell walk). And we’ve proven that a great defense and a mediocre offense is better than a great offense and a mediocre defense.

But wouldn’t it be cool to have both for a change?

Watt can totally help us in years 1 and 2.

He can sub into packages as a pass rusher - he can sub in for JH to keep him fresh. He can bring a lot to Special teams.

Harrison is an old man -- we needed a replacement soon, and that's what we're trying to find.

[bradshaw2ben]

LSU was the first game of the year too. Have to take that into consideration for the position change and coming back from injury.

Kind of what I was alluding to by posting the video. That's the early 2016 Watt-- struggled at times in the run game and in mental part of the game anticipation. He got better at those things and it's why its important to watch later games, too.

I first saw Watt extensively when he played against PSU in the Big10 champ -- he looked really good -- popped off the TV in that game against a high quality opponent

He did the same thing in their bowl game

For a minute there, I thought you said "Penn State" and then "a high quality opponent"

[Legacy User]

Kind of what I was alluding to by posting the video. That's the early 2016 Watt-- struggled at times in the run game and in mental part of the game anticipation. He got better at those things and it's why its important to watch later games, too.

I first saw Watt extensively when he played against PSU in the Big10 champ -- he looked really good -- popped off the TV in that game against a high quality opponent

He did the same thing in their bowl game

For a minute there, I thought you said "Penn State" and then "a high quality opponent"

LOL

Well, I mean, it wasn't Akron or Ohio or Delaware

[R_S]

yeah, big ten champions, The best conference in college football last year top to bottom. How's Pitt been doing?

[jeemie]

For a minute there, I thought you said "Penn State" and then "a high quality opponent"

Dude- just stop.

You're getting silly with this.