Count T.J. Watt among those impressed by rookie Devin Bush at Steelers OTAs.
Wednesday at the Rooney Complex, Watt talked about Bush's acclimation to the professional game, and he offered nothing but praise in response.
"He’s not the biggest guy but he definitely does walk with a presence, and he walks with a purpose," Watt was saying. "He’s taken a good role in knowing all the plays and being able to call some plays for us."
The Steelers moved up 10 positions in the draft — from No. 20 to No. 10 — to land Bush, an atypical move for the franchise. But they loved what Bush brings to the table. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a 6.93-second three-cone drill and posted a 40.5-inch vertical leap at the NFL Combine. Add that to his all-around aggressive game and leadership on tape, and the Steelers saw something they couldn't pass up.
In the early goings, Watt sees it too.
"He is quicker than snot and he’s been flying around and making a lot of good plays, so I’m excited for him," Watt said.
Perhaps more impressive than Bush's speed and sideline-to-sideline abilities, however, is his command of the defense. As Watt mentioned, Bush is already calling plays and directing his troops, something that requires both confidence and an understanding of the playbook. To Watt, Bush is blending those two traits seamlessly.
"He seems really comfortable, nothing out of the ordinary for me," Watt said. "It’s just like anyone else in there calling plays, so he’s doing a good job.”
Helping matters is this fact: The 2019 Steelers are a close-knit bunch. Their bond is apparent when watching them work at the Rooney Complex, and it's something that is spilling off the field, as well. That sense of camaraderie is undoubtedly easing Bush's transition and helping him feel comfortable and confident.
“I think we’re just goofballs," Watt was telling me. "We hang out a lot off the field and I think that kind of builds that relationship. There’s nothing fake out here. This is all real emotion. We truly care about each and every guy out here, and I think that’s why you see us having so much fun.”
Taking that a step further, Watt said he specifically enjoys his own transition into a new role: Mentor. While Watt enters just his third year in the league, he's emerged as one of the premier Steelers defenders and a veteran voice for rookies and free agents alike. I asked him how that dynamic is playing out so far for him in 2019.
"It’s fun. It’s fun," Watt told me. "Like you said, I’m still new to all this. So a few years ago, I was in a lot of the rookies’ shoes, a lot of the free agent guys’ shoes. Just being able to pass on any kind of knowledge I can; I’m not going to hold anything in. I want to spread my knowledge and see guys grow as they continue to be here.”
