T.J. Watt was always going to be playing in his brother’s shadow at Wisconsin. And because his brother is three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, it was a pretty big shadow.
T.J. Watt isn’t his brother, and that’s just fine for the Steelers
Watt stepped out of his famous older brother’s shadow with an All-American campaign in 2016.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
But the younger Watt carved his own path with the Badgers, developing from bench-riding tight end into All-American linebacker. On Thursday, he added another accomplishment — first-round NFL draft pick.
The Steelers snapped up the rangy defender with the 30th selection of the 2017 NFL draft. He’s Wisconsin’s sixth first-round pick since 2011.
Like his brother, Watt rose from unheralded high school player to game-changer in Madison. His rich bloodlines helped boost his recruiting stock — he was a three-star athlete — and made him a no-brainer pickup for the Badgers back in 2013. A knee injury kept him off the field in 2014, but it also presented an opportunity — coach Paul Chryst moved him from tight end to linebacker to help bolster a unit that had lost Chris Borland the year before and was set to lose Joe Schobert the following season.
He showed flashes at the position as a sophomore, but only recorded seven tackles in eight games thanks to a combination of injury and inexperience. That set the foundation for a junior season worthy of the Watt surname.
“Looks the part. Has NFL pedigree with both older brothers in the NFL. Has great length. Is a plus athlete who tested very well in Indianapolis. Has shown ability to use hands to defeat blockers. Has the lower-body flexibility to bend around the corner. Has shown hip fluidity in coverage. Makes creative plays against the run. Made big plays in big games.” — Read More at Bucky’s 5th Quarter
The young defender saved his best for the Badgers’ most important games, playing a huge role for a team that won three games against top-10 competition in 2016. Watt exploded for 2.5 sacks against then-No. 8 Michigan State, had 11 tackles, including a pair for losses, against then-No. 4 Michigan, and added a sack and forced fumble in the Big Ten Championship Game against then-No. 7 Penn State.
His penchant for big plays — and last name — made him something of a known commodity, but his showing at the NFL combine made him a first-round pick. Watt rated out among the event’s top linebackers across five different drills, ranging from vertical leap to the 3-cone drill. His 128-inch broad jump was longer than top tailback prospects like Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey. His 20-yard shuttle outclassed most of the Combine’s wide receivers.
What does T.J. Watt bring to the Steelers?
That freak athleticism goes a long way in explaining his success on the field. Watt is a three-down linebacker who can chase down quarterbacks around the edge or shoot gaps between blockers. At Wisconsin, he’d roam throughout the backfield to find weak points in blocking schemes, attacking to create havoc so he or his teammates could capitalize. Here’s an example of that cerebral pre-snap planning, courtesy of the Big Ten Network.
He also has the flexibility to shadow tight ends or drop into zone coverage, notching four passes defended and a pick-six last fall. Solid fundamentals — strong hits at the point of contact and good wrapping of ball carriers — make him a sound tackler. That, combined with his ability to attack and shed blockers, should make him the kind of defensive player whose name is called over the PA several times each game.
What are his weaknesses?
Watt doesn’t present the kind of DE/OLB flexibility some of his fellow prospects in the class of 2017 do, though he could be asked to move up to the line of scrimmage in stretches as a pro. With just one full season of college football under his belt, questions still remain about his ability to make a sustainable impact — especially against a higher level of competition.
What does he bring to the Steelers?
Watt joins a linebacking corps that includes Ryan Shazier, James Harrison and Bud Dupree. The Steelers’ pass rush ranked ninth in 2016 with 38 sacks, and Watt should help bolster it.
And the nice thing is, the Watt brothers will get to spend Christmas Day together. The Steelers and Texans face off in Week 16 in Houston.
See More:
