For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest energy has been their go rush. T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and firm have terrorized opposing offenses. Nevertheless, close to the top of final season, they had been much less efficient. Watt specifically had far much less of an influence than he often does, not recording a sack over the Steelers’ ultimate three common season video games. This 12 months, the Steelers are attempting one thing a little bit totally different on protection, flirting with the thought of shifting Watt and Alex Highsmith round. Highsmith not too long ago shared his ideas on that idea.
“We’re undoubtedly making an attempt to try this as a result of, I do know for us, we’ve performed on the identical aspect for no less than my entire profession,” Highsmith mentioned Sunday through the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette’s YouTube channel. “I’ve been on the best. He’s been on the left. Additionally, in faculty, my final two years I used to be primarily on the best.
“Throughout this camp, being uncomfortable as a result of I feel it’s one thing that we have to do exactly to modify it as much as give totally different seems to be to the offense,” Highsmith added. “I feel we’ve carried out a great job at making an attempt to follow that in camp.”
Highsmith is appropriate that, since he bought to Pittsburgh, he and Watt have been rooted on their respective sides of the protection. Early in his profession, Watt performed on the best aspect, however he converted, feeling extra comfy speeding from the left.
Prior to now, Watt expressed that he’s had difficulties making an attempt to maneuver over and play at proper outdoors linebacker. He and Highsmith had been having a whole lot of success as a duo, too. There was no motive to mess with that formulation.
Nevertheless, with Watt getting schemed out of video games now greater than ever, it could be time so as to add a brand new wrinkle to his sport. However shifting Watt additionally means shifting Highsmith. Highsmith is most comfy speeding from the best aspect, however he’s working to broaden his sport.
“I used to be working each side this offseason,” Highsmith mentioned. “In relation to engaged on the run sport on that aspect, working with totally different strikes. I’m not over there usually, so once I’m over there, I attempt to simply work a pair strikes and keep on with these and attempt to good these.”
The Steelers haven’t proven a ton of seems to be with Highsmith and Watt flipped. It doesn’t seem to be one thing they’re going to do usually. Nevertheless, they’re working to implement it into their protection. They might use it in sure conditions to confuse offenses.
Final 12 months, the Steelers flipped Watt and Highsmith a handful of occasions. It wasn’t a sufficiently big pattern measurement to be notable, although. That might change this 12 months, with each go rushers placing in effort and time to get used to switching.
It may be troublesome for gamers to modify sides and proceed to play at a excessive stage. Watt and Highsmith are each nice gamers, although. They’re working exhausting to be as impactful as they are often this 12 months. Which means getting used to being uncomfortable generally. Mike Tomlin likes to say that the Steelers don’t search consolation. This experiment helps that concept. We’ll see how a lot the Steelers make use of it when video games begin.
