Pouncey, Watt brothers prepare for ‘uncivil’ war
Associated Press
Los Angeles Chargers fullback Derek Watt (34) runs the ball as Denver Broncos nose tackle Domata Peko Sr. (center) and linebacker Todd Davis (51) defend during the first half of a game played Nov. 18, in Carson, Calif. The Steelers signed T.J. Watt鈥檚 older brother on a three-year contract worth $9.75 million.
Associated Press
Los Angeles Chargers center Mike Pounceyplays during the first half of a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Associated Press
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey snaps the ball in a game against the Carolina Panthers in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Maurkice Pouncey has an interesting 鈥� albeit sinister 鈥� plan for dealing with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The red-hot 8-3 Chargers will visit Heinz Field for a Sunday night prime-timer with the 7-3-1 Steelers.
Mike Pouncey, Maurkice鈥檚 identical twin, wears the same number and plays the same position for the Chargers.
鈥淗e called me late last night,鈥� Pouncey said on Monday. 鈥淲e had a good conversation. But, yeah, now that we done played each other a couple times it isn鈥檛 that big a deal. He鈥檒l come over for a good meal. I鈥檒l put some eye drops in it so he鈥檒l (****) the whole, entire game.鈥�
Uh oh. Football runs in the family.
T.J. Watt doesn鈥檛 have such a diabolical plan 鈥� at least that he wanted to make public.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see him,鈥� Watt said of his older brother Derek Watt, the Chargers fullback. 鈥淓xcited to have him out to the house, probably do a dinner the night before the game, so I鈥檓 excited.鈥�
Both Pouncey and Watt are extremely close with their Chargers brothers. Pouncey鈥檚 identical twin Mike was born two minutes before Maurkice, but it鈥檚 been said of them that Maurkice makes the jokes and Mike laughs. However, ask Maurkice who鈥檚 the better player and he never fails to say Mike.
To that end, Maurkice has watched the Chargers this season with great pride.
鈥淗e loves it there,鈥� Maurkice said. 鈥淗e loves the organization. He loves playing with that type of quarterback, that Hall of Fame-type of guy. He was never really blessed with that type of quarterback (in Miami). He thought the world of (Ryan) Tannehill, thought he was a great player, but playing with a gold-jacket guy 鈥� who even if he never plays another down is already in it 鈥� is totally different.鈥�
Does every team need a Pouncey at center? Or a gold-jacket quarterback out of the 2004 draft?
鈥淭he 2004 gold-jacket quarterback,鈥� Pouncey said with a laugh. 鈥淏oth would be nice. But, nah, you鈥檝e got to have a franchise quarterback. When you have that you have a lot better chance.鈥�
The Pouncey twins led Lakeland High School to three consecutive Florida state 5-A championships before matriculating to the University of Florida, where they both started for the 2008 national champions.
Maurkice was the center and Mike was the right guard, and after the following season Maurkice was drafted 18th overall by the Steelers and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Mike stayed at Florida and was drafted 15th by the Dolphins in the 2011 draft, topping his brother by three spots. But Maurkice is a 6-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro who鈥檚 played in seven playoff games. Mike is a 3-time Pro Bowler who was on IR for the only playoff game in which he could鈥檝e played.
Of course, Maurkice has played with that other 鈥�2004 gold-jacket quarterback,鈥� Ben Roethlisberger, his entire career. Mike only began snapping to Philip Rivers this season.
鈥淗e actually texted Mike after we got into that little scuffle in Carolina,鈥� Pouncey said of Rivers. 鈥淗e texted Mike after the game and said 鈥業 like that. Tell your brother he鈥檚 part of us.鈥� I thought that was pretty cool.鈥�
The Steelers also have the younger Watt brother, but by two years, not two minutes. Those two and oldest brother J.J. Watt never played together, but T.J. and Derek played a year together at Pewaukee (WI.) High School before spending three years together at the University of Wisconsin.
T.J. called Derek 鈥渢he best high school football player I鈥檝e ever seen鈥� after watching the running back/linebacker rush for 1,501 yards and win the 2010 AP State Player of the Year over another Wisconsin prep back named Melvin Gordon.
Gordon became the feature runner at Wisconsin and once rushed for 408 yards in one game and 2,587 yards in one season. Derek was his blocking back, and was reunited with Gordon by the Chargers.
The 6-2, 234-pound Watt has played in all 43 games since the Chargers drafted him in the sixth round in 2016. He鈥檚 totaled 149 yards from scrimmage in that time, and has only three carries for three yards this season. But, of course, his game鈥檚 all about lead-blocking and special teams.
鈥淢y brother loves him,鈥� said Pouncey. 鈥淗e said he鈥檚 like Rosie, how Rosie is. I鈥檓 like 鈥楻osie鈥檚 crazy!'鈥�
Rosie Nix is the Steelers fullback who鈥檚 paved the way for two 1,000-yard seasons by Le鈥橵eon Bell. Watt is three yards from saying the same about Gordon.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been together for a long time,鈥� said T.J. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I feel like they work so well together out there. They鈥檝e had that chemistry since freshman year of college.鈥�
But Gordon is out with a sprained MCL this week. He鈥檒l be replaced in the Chargers backfield by second-year pro Austin Ekeler, a 5-10, 200-pounder who was undrafted out of D-II Western State, but comes into the game with 409 yards rushing (5.8 per carry) and 354 yards receiving.
Derek, of course, will be his lead blocker.
鈥淓very time Derek gets the ball, and any time he gets to the second level, he seems to injure a guy,鈥� T.J. said a month ago in admiration.
But as the game draws near, T.J. said he welcomes that second-level contact.
鈥淗opefully, he gets a good amount of snaps,鈥� Watt said, 鈥渁nd hopefully we have at least one collision throughout the game.鈥�
The last time they collided in earnest?
鈥淧robably back to the training-camp days of Wisconsin,鈥� Watt said. 鈥淚 remember a few times we went head-to-head. It鈥檚 definitely in his head whether I would 鈥榦le鈥� him or go head-to-head with him. It would be fun to do it again.鈥�
NOTES: WR Eli Rogers was taken off the PUP list and allowed to practice Wednesday. The Steelers have 21 days to promote him to the active roster. 鈥� Missing Wednesday鈥檚 practice were Roethlisberger (coach鈥檚 decision), Pouncey (coach鈥檚 decision), Vance McDonald (hip), Bud Dupree (pectoral), Morgan Burnett (back), Marcus Gilbert (knee) and B.J. Finney (personal). Stephon Tuitt (elbow) was limited.