T.J. Watt settles into role as a focal point on Steelers defense

Only 17 months ago, T.J. Watt still was, by definition, a rookie.

Nowadays, he’s an accomplished veteran who is among the established leaders of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Life comes at you fast in the NFL.

“It’s just a gradual kind of feeling-out process of where you are in your (peer) group,” Watt said last week after a Steelers organized team activities session.

“You can’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I’m going to be a leader. I’m going to start talking.’ I think it’s over time. It’s earning respect just being a hard worker and doing all the little things right. And you kind of feel out where you are. And if you want to start talking, and guys start responding, you just kind of keep going with it.”

At age 24 and entering his third season, Watt is beginning to build some cachet among his teammates. He doesn’t have the proven pedigree of Joe Haden or the tenure of Vince Williams or the captain role of Cameron Heyward.

Watt does have a Pro Bowl on his resume after getting 13 sacks last season, and partly because of his future Hall of Famer brother, J.J., he is a recognizable face across the league who already has done his share of national endorsements.

Also in part because of his having two older brothers in the NFL (J.J. is a perennial All Pro for Houston and Derek a fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers), Watt has the requisite appropriate demeanor that commands respect in the locker room and on the practice field.

Watt purposely was quiet and shied away from the spotlight as a rookie in 2017, a sign of deference to the veterans. He came out of his shell more last season, and all appearances are he’s comfortable as one of the preeminent faces of the Steelers defense for 2019 and beyond.

Opinion from @KGorman_Trib | Instead of deferential, @_TJWatt wants to be a difference maker.https://t.co/7bY033K9Hg

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 30, 2019

“It’s fun because I am still new to all this,” Watt said. “(Two) years ago, I was in a lot of the rookies’ shoes, a lot of the free agent guys’ shoes and stuff. Just being able to pass on any type of knowledge I can (is nice). I’m not going to hold anything in. I want to help continue to let guys grow.”

The Steelers moving Watt from the right side of the defense to the left before last season paid dividends as Watt’s sacks (seven to 13), tackles (54 to 68) and forced fumbles (one to six) increased dramatically from 2017 to ’18.

Pro Football Focus rated Watt among the league’s best pass-rushers over the final five weeks of last season. His pass-rush win rate of 26.6% in that span was the best in the league.

“T.J. did good from (the left) side,” said Bud Dupree, the other starting outside linebacker. “I think that’s the side he’s used to playing on. I never played on the other side before. … It’s good for both of us.”

My story on T.J. Watt and all he has overcome to make it to the NFL https://t.co/7pKNWZ8HM2

— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) April 29, 2017

When it comes to pass rushing, consistency could be the next step in Watt’s emergence. Half of his 20 career sacks have come in four of his 31 games. Seven have come against Cleveland.

Watt vows his accumulated NFL experience will lead to a more aggressive player moving forward.

“Early on, you just don’t want to make a mistake,” Watt said. “And you get into Year 2, and you kind of take more chances. Then, in Year 3, you can try to take a lot more chances and try to make more splash.”

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