Steelers News: Concerned about an OLB being the Steelers communicator? T.J. Watt isn’t

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 2 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Seattle Seahawks, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at the plethora of news surrounding the fact T.J. Watt had the ‘green dot’ communication sticker on the back of his helmet in Week 1 vs. the Patriots.

Let’s get to the news:

• Your outside linebacker is the main communicator of the defense, is this a big deal? According to many it is, but T.J. Watt doesn’t see it as a big deal.

Being Steelers’ new defensive ‘green-dot helmet’ designee no big deal to T.J. Watt

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By the time he’d reached the seventh of nine questions about it from media Wednesday, T.J. Watt couldn’t help but laugh.

“Way too much on the green dot,” the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker said of being the new designated defensive player equipped with the special helmet that carries the coach-to-player communication system.

“It’s basically a walkie-talkie. I get a call and I say what ‘Butts’ (defensive coordinator Keith Butler) just told in my ear. So it’s not a big deal at all. I have been playing with walkie talkies since I was a kid.”

With the Steelers employing a rotation among three inside linebackers – the position traditionally tasked with relaying the defensive calls from the coaches and to the rest of the defense – the decision was made to give Watt the radio-equipped helmet marked by the green dot.

“He was probably the most indispensable second level defender,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “a guy that’s positioned within the group to communicate with those in front and those behind.

“He’s a capable guy, good communicator and leader. It’s a nonissue there in terms of what he’s capable of doing.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Speaking of communication breakdowns, the Steelers are hoping to crack down on those in Week 2 when the Seahawks come to town.

Steelers defense looks to solve communication breakdowns

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

For all that went wrong defensively for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their season-opening 33-3 loss in New England, perhaps their defensive coordinator encapsulated it best in a way only he can.

“We busted some daggum assignments,” Keith Butler said Thursday.

The Steelers sure did, opening an old wound that has plagued their defense seemingly in perpetuity: communication issues.

When asked what went wrong against the Patriots, cornerback Mike Hilton said: “Really, just our communication, especially when they up-tempoed us. We kind of looked a little shook and kind of lost out there.”

A 42-37 home-opener loss last season to the Kansas City Chiefs exposed the Steelers’ defensive communication issues.

In 2017, allowing big plays plagued the defense all season. Many were chalked up to miscommunication.

When the Steelers opened with a loss at New England in 2015, part of the blame was a “lack of communication.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• If you are looking for Steelers gear, in the future you will be able to go to Heinz Field to get all the gear you need!

Steelers approved for multimillion-dollar retail store addition to Heinz Field

By: Bob Bauder, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County on Thursday unanimously approved a request by the Steelers to build a two-story addition to the FedEx Great Hall at Heinz Field that will include a merchandise shop along Art Rooney Avenue.

Team spokeswoman Heidi Edwards told SEA board members that the Steelers would fund the estimated $11 million to $13 million project.

Interior demolition is scheduled to begin in November followed by exterior work in February. The store is expected to open by July.

It will include storage space, restrooms, a lobby, interior access and a main entrance along Art Rooney Avenue, Edwards said. She called it a “small and modest addition, but a critical one for us to add more retail space.”

Ticket offices in that space will be moved farther south along Art Rooney Avenue as part of the project.

The store will be open daily to the public and during yet-to-be-determined hours on game days. Fans will have access from inside the stadium during games.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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