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Mike Tomlin: T.J. Watt Was ‘An Easy Evaluation’

It is often the case that NFL teams who play in a ‘base’ 3-4 front, regardless of whether or not they play in a true base of the 3-4 since the proliferation of the nickel defense, have had to do an extra level of projection when drafting players to occupy, for example, their outside linebacker role.

A good deal of some of the best outside linebackers in Pittsburgh Steelers history, at least during the 3-4 era, were actually college defensive ends who played with their hand in the dirt. There are a few notable recent exceptions, but the majority of them have had to learn to play standing up, as well as assuming other responsibilities that differ between linebacker and end as edge defenders.