Steelers News: T.J. Watt continues to find motivation to help him climb to a new level

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how even though T.J. Watt was a Pro Bowler in 2018, he still finds plenty of ways to get new motivation to get to the next level in 2019.

Let’s get to the news:

• T.J. Watt. Remember when some called him a reach to be drafted in the first round? Wonder if they are still saying this today?

After Pro Bowl season in Year 2, Steelers’ T.J. Watt finds new means of motivation

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It was, on the surface, an early-practice position drill as part of the eighth of nine voluntary organized team activity sessions in early June.

But T.J. Watt forced himself to perform with a fire as if it was the fourth quarter of a December game against New England.

“We are so competitive in everything we do,” the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third-year outside linebacker said. “Even if you watch our drills, we are always competing.

“I think I beat Bud (Dupree) in get-offs today – so if you see him, tell him that.”

Thirty-one games and 20 sacks into his NFL career, Watt is finding new ways to motivate himself after making the AFC Pro Bowl roster after last season. Rated “above average” and as the No. 24 edge rusher in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, Watt believes he can be better.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Le’Veon Bell finally showed up to the New York Jets for their mandatory minicamp, and if you heard his press conference you might have puked...seriously.

If you didn’t see the video, here it is:

Tim Benz: Le’Veon Bell’s praise for Jets QB Sam Darnold a little much

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Fair enough. Not sure I’d buy the whole “I was working out on my own to make myself better” thing, though. I still believe Mr. Jet Ski was simply trying to work himself back into shape after a full year off. And because he just wants to do his own thing all the time.

Here is where Steelers fans will find some of Bell’s comments most interesting. He described himself as “very quarterback friendly.”

As a blocker, runner and pass receiver? Yes. Absolutely. No doubt.

When he is skipping walk-through practices and throwing his quarterback under the bus by claiming Ben Roethlisberger froze out receivers and only wanted to “win his way?” Eh, not so friendly.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Say what you want about Sean Davis, but the man has done everything the Steelers have asked of him, and more, since he was drafted. Now he looks to be a leader in the secondary for a young safety group.

One-pick Davis hopes to be more hands-on

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

Long after the rest of their teammates had gone inside Tuesday, Sean Davis and Terrell Edmunds sat out on the Steelers’ practice field at the Rooney Complex talking.

The two starting safeties were back on the field together for the first time since the 2018 season ended as Davis participated in an OTA practice for the first time this year. Davis sat out the first two weeks of OTAs with what he called a minor injury.

That time sitting and watching also allowed for a lot of looking back on his play from last season. And for Davis, the facts were clear. While his first season at free safety saw the Steelers decrease the number of explosive passing plays (30 or more yards) from 14 in 2017 to seven in 2018, he couldn’t consider it a full success.

The reason? Too few interceptions. Davis had just one as the Steelers pulled in just eight as a team in 2018.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Don’t expect NFLPA rep Ramon Foster to be on board with shortening the preseason and lengthening the regular season anytime soon.

Foster: Shorter preseason means ‘trashy football’

By: Dejan Kovacevic, DKPittsburghSports

Foster, the Steelers’ union representative, went the other way when asked about that Tuesday at the Rooney Complex after the opening of Week 3 of OTAs.

”I’m not opposed to four games at all,” Foster said, referring to the preseason. ”I think taking away the two and adding two in the regular season, you’re going to get trashy football probably in the beginning, the first two games. Look at the way the schedule is now. Teams are ice cold until maybe the first four games across the league. Guys don’t really get their feet underneath them. I’d rather do four preseason games, especially being an older guy, too. And then it just gives a younger guy, like myself when I was undrafted, more time to play, more snaps if you got four preseason games. If you take away the two games, then you have a longer camp. Is that what you want? There’s a lot that goes in. I don’t think it’s realistic.”

To read the full article, click HERE

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