SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Not the Time T.J.’ Edition

Well that was as awful a performance as I’ve seen in sometime but Happy Monday to you anyway Steelers fans.

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro Linebacker T.J. Watt was fed up and he clearly isn’t taking it anymore. “The NFL is out to get me” he said in postgame comments following the team’s humiliating loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals 24-10. For the record, I don’t disagree with Watt. The lack of holding calls against him and many other EDGE rushers has gotten to the point where it’s laughable. You may remember there was a time when an offensive player had to actually “block” on oncoming defender. Now? It’s usually some form of arm bar or chokehold that keeps the pass rusher to getting to the QB. And it’s rarely called. The only problem I have with Watt’s comments is that they come on the heels of this debacle. This loss was easily one of the worst home losses in the tenure of Mike Tomlin and for Watt to choose this time and place isn’t a good look. It makes him look like a whiner and I’m willing to bet he’s gotten an earful from his brothers and likely even his parents. I’ve got no problem with him defending himself and his occupation but this just wasn’t the right time. Oh and T.J.? Remember man, there’s a lot of fantasy points out there so the NFL can’t afford to have you sacking the QB too often.

Latest on Pickett

According to Gerry Dulac, Pickett will have surgery today and will miss 2-4 weeks. That would put him on track to possibly return for Cincinnati or Seattle. This is the fifth time in 24 career starts that Pickett was unable to finish a game. The question of durability is a fair one right now.

Warren Nails It

Despite both Cam Heyward and Mike Tomlin saying things to the contrary, Jaylen Warren spoke the words that crossed the minds of all Steelers’ fans last evening. “I think we expected to win instead of wanting to work to win,” said Warren who agreed that the team took the 2-10 Cardinals “lightly.” Guys like Warren, who haven’t been around that long, noticed things like this. Are guys putting in the same amount of work as usual? Are they in the building as much? Clearly he saw something he wasn’t crazy about.

Credit Where It’s Due

Over the many years I’ve been doing this, I often have gone after the beat writers for failing to ask Mike Tomlin and the Steelers “hard” questions or make critical comments when they are often deserved. I understand 100% that these guys and gals can only go so far as they know saying anything too harsh could get their credentials revoked. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic said last night what many have said for the last few years, “this team is mentally weak.” He’s not wrong and I applaud him for saying it.

Read the Room

When you’re down 24-3 and the opponent is playing coverage so soft that Charmin toilet paper would be jealous, you need to recognize what is happening. Diontae Johnson, coming off a week where he had to apologize to his teammates for a complete lack of effort in Cincinnati, once again failed to ‘read the room.’ The stadium was less than half full and there were all of five minutes left when Johnson scored a touchdown on a throw from Mitchell Trubisky. Rather than hand the ball to the official or just drop it period, Johnson decided to do a choreographed dance with George Pickens. The only thing that comes to mind here is ‘tone deaf.’