There was a telling moment on the Pittsburgh Steelers sideline Thursday night when the team lost 21-7 to the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter. Star EDGE TJ Watt grabbed OLB coach CJ Ah You’s helmet and attacked someone, presumably first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Watt expressed frustration that the Steelers didn’t have answers, and he was even seen going back and forth with DB Jalen Ramsey.
This has led to much debate about Watt’s conduct and potential internal issues facing the Steelers early in the season.
Graham put an end to all that on Monday during his press conference.
“We’re getting to know these guys in the heat of the moment. I think I said in one of my first press conferences, I wanted to see what would happen when adversity hits. And just to see how we’re going to respond and see how we’re going to respond to it as a group, – respond to it is a better word – as a group. It’s inevitable,” Graham said, according to the video via Mark Kaboly on X.
“People always talk about (it’s) an emotional game. We’re emotional people. So for me, I encourage emotions in terms of, I want them to be fully present when they play, you know? … I think it’s been a great learning experience, really.
“I’m not trying to sugarcoat it. I’m not trying to make it a bigger deal or a lesser deal.”
With Watt excited, he became a big topic of conversation. We didn’t see that much, if at all, from the future Hall of Famer during his career. He is not very demonstrative on the sidelines, and he has always been respectful to his coaches.
Things are a little different now at this stage of his career with a new coaching staff and a new way of doing things. He felt frustrated at that time, and based on his professional accomplishments, he earned the right to express that frustration to those in charge.
That’s all it was.
“…I know we’ve talked a lot about communication and how we communicate with each other. And it’s important that we build those relationships with each other so that when things are said, whether it’s in the heat of the moment, no one is sensitive,” Graham added. “And that’s the only thing I can appreciate, and I hope they can appreciate it for me. Nobody’s sensitive here, you know?”
“We are confronting the conflict head on and we will find a solution as to how we are going to resolve the issues in this area.”
After Watt’s explosion to the sideline, the Steelers defense allowed only six points the rest of the game and forced two turnovers, including a forced fumble by Watt that put the Steelers near midfield.
Of course, three of those six points came on the final drive as the Browns took a late lead and ultimately won. But the big talking points after the game were Watt’s helmet outburst, quarterback Aaron Rodgers lashing out at the sideline and Mike McCarthy calling out his quarterback with a few choice words.
Sometimes this can be healthy in competitive sports. Other times it may show a fracture. However, the Steelers are not there at the moment.
Gn sports
