Because the Horrible Towels twirled at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, forcing the Falcons right into a silent rely, quarterback Kirk Cousins despatched tight finish Ross Dwelley in movement. Simply when the tight finish was concerning the cross the middle, the ball was snapped. It bounced off Dwelley and ricocheted to the turf.
There was T.J. Watt, able to pounce.
“Steeler Nation is unbelievable,” Watt stated after the sport. “The fumble that I used to be in a position to land on was as a result of they needed to be on a silent rely at their very own place. Anytime that occurs, when you will have shifts and motions, snaps can go anyplace.”
The third-quarter fumble restoration was only one play on a day stuffed with splash for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game-wrecking edge rusher. Along with leaping on the free ball, Watt recorded two tackles for loss, three QB hits and a sack. His stat line might have been even higher if he hadn’t been known as offsides on a play by which he strip-sacked Cousins and recovered the ball himself. Watt stated after the sport that the official admitted he made a mistake. An illegal-hands-to-the-face name additionally worn out one other fumble compelled by Watt.
After sealing the sport along with his sack, Watt fittingly took a bow.
Take a bow @_TJWatt 😁#EasyToCelebrate | @Budlight pic.twitter.com/rwVK3IQbyk
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 8, 2024
“T.J. Watt at all times delivers when it will get thick,” coach Mike Tomlin stated. “We don’t take that as a right.”
Whereas Watt’s efficiency modified the sport and allowed the Steelers to flee with a victory on a day the offense failed to attain a landing, actually, that’s nothing new from a perennial Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate.
What’s new? The 2 others accountable for turnovers: security DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson.
Jackson was acquired this offseason within the Diontae Johnson commerce and Elliott signed with the Steelers as a free agent. Each reeled in interceptions.
“Their veteran presence was evident,” Tomlin stated. “They’re new to us, however they’re not new to the NFL. I like their game-day demeanor. They have been communicative. They performed with nice vitality. They have been useful to one another and others. That’s simply stuff that you just get from veteran gamers.”
Whereas Watt will at all times be Watt, if the brand new items like Jackson and Elliott can proceed to carry out at a excessive stage, there’s purpose to consider this protection ought to be higher than the one which completed sixth in scoring protection final season.
Contemplate that final season, two of the weakest hyperlinks on protection have been at sturdy security and on the nook place reverse Joey Porter Jr. Final yr’s sturdy security, Keanu Neal, stylistically appeared like a match. Nevertheless, when he went down with an harm, that place group become a revolving door. Partially consequently, Minkah Fitzpatrick was compelled to play within the field greater than he ever had in his profession and thus didn’t file a turnover in any type.
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In that approach, Elliott’s mere presence, as a stout 210-pound security, ought to have a ripple impact that permits Fitzpatrick to play extra because the publish security, the place he can sit again as a ballhawk. That alone has worth. Now, if Elliott, who recorded 4 tackles and defended two passes, can also be creating takeaways? That’s intriguing to consider.
Equally, on the cornerback place, the Steelers leaned on veteran Patrick Peterson final season. Whereas he’s worthy of respect as a potential future Corridor of Famer, he was additionally 33 years outdated final season and confirmed indicators of it. His misplaced step was one of many causes the Steelers struggled to restrict explosive passing performs final yr.
Against this, pace has been Jackson’s calling card after he ran a 4.32 on the 2018 NFL mix. At totally different factors in his profession, he has been requested to be the No. 1 nook accountable for shutting down the opponent’s prime receiver. As a result of Porter usually has that position, Jackson will get pleasure from extra advantageous matchups. He additionally has proved in his profession he could be a playmaker, as that interception was the fifteenth of his profession.
ACTION JACKSON 🎬
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/DOq1Ls1MDU
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 8, 2024
“We’ve received a variety of pace on this protection, as you guys have seen,” Watt stated. “Plenty of playmakers. Plenty of offseason acquisitions. Plenty of guys rising from 12 months 1 to 12 months 2, and many others., and many others. We simply have a enjoyable protection to be part of proper now.”
Past simply the turnovers they produced, the additions of Jackson and Elliott — to associate with the remade inside linebacker room — can even profit the Steelers from a schematic perspective in a number of methods.
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For instance, tight ends have usually been a problem for the Steelers over their current historical past. Due to the upgrades at security and inside linebacker (Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson), the Steelers now have extra choices in the case of deciding how they’ll attempt to defend that place.
On many situations Sunday, Elliott was a part of the answer there. Despite the fact that Kyle Pitts was accountable for the Falcons’ lone landing, that was a miscommunication greater than a personnel mismatch. Largely, the Steelers held Pitts in test, limiting him to 3 catches for 26 yards. There’s purpose to consider they’ve personnel higher geared up to deal with the tight finish and in addition extra choices to combine issues up and put the offense on its heels, whether or not that’s utilizing one among their many safeties on a good finish or one among their rangy inside linebackers.
Additionally on Sunday, Tomlin talked after the sport about how Cousins is harmful in opposition to the blitz and in opposition to five-man pressures. Pittsburgh wished to hurry simply 4 as a lot as potential. A few of that meant dropping Alex Highsmith into protection within the Steelers’ base protection, which turns into a five-man entrance when the surface linebackers within the 3-4 stroll all the way down to the road of scrimmage.
The opposite a part of creating four-man strain was the Steelers’ upgrades at inside linebacker ought to permit them to play extra nickel, which incorporates a four-man entrance, two inside linebackers and 5 defensive backs. Final season, the Steelers usually went into dime (with a security physique kind instead of a linebacker) as a option to have a coverage-capable participant in the midst of the protection. However now with Wilson and Queen within the fold, the Steelers have two rangy inside linebackers who can match up with working backs or tight ends.
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instance of that got here on the opening drive. Wilson seemed to be in man protection with Bijan Robinson. Instinctive and athletic, Wilson received off his block and made a touchdown-saving sort out in opposition to the dynamic working again within the purple zone on third down.
Now, it’s just one sport. However when you think about the Falcons have a big-money quarterback in Cousins and top-10 picks at working again (Robinson), receiver (Drake London) and tight finish (Pitts), this was a dominant effort that ought to present optimism the Steelers will be capable to as soon as once more rely on their protection to guide the cost.
“We’re going to return in and we’re going to work like they put 50 on us,” Jackson stated. “Simply return to the drafting board and prepare for subsequent week. However it simply goes to indicate you the kind of group we’ve, the kind of work we put in and the way hungry we’re for greatness. We see ourselves being a dominant protection all yr. However that is the 1st step. We’ve received to maintain climbing.”
(Picture of DeShon Elliott, left, and Donte Jackson: Todd Kirkland / Getty Photos)
