George Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, and as such, one of the best blocking tight ends if not the best blocking tight end in the entire league. He faces a lot of top pass rushers because of that aptitude and one of the best players set on the schedule this year in Week 1 is Steelers OLB T.J. Watt. The former Defensive Player of the Year has wreaked havoc on offenses, let alone tight ends trying to block him in the past.
However, Kittle is confident that he can block just about anyone in this league. Appearing on the Pardon My Take podcast, Kittle discussed his aptitude as a blocker. He will take himself against anyone and that includes Pittsburgh’s Watt. They face off in Week 1, and Kittle will get to put his blocking acumen to the test in Pittsburgh in what should be a key matchup for either side of the coin.
“If it comes to blocking, I’ll toot my own horn. That’s just stuff I practice my entire offseason. I take all the reps in-season. Like I’m very prideful when it comes to that stuff,” Kittle said. “When it’s like second down and they’re like, ‘Hey, it’s pass-15 weak, you’re one-on-one versus a Cam Jordan. You’re one-on-one versus T.J. Watt, go for it.’ I’m not like, ‘Yeah, like hey, he gets paid millions of dollars to rush the passer.’ But I look at it as an opportunity for me to be like, ‘You’re not going to be able to get past me,’ and I’m very excited about that.”
Kittle is one of the few tight ends in the NFL that a team can legitimately put on an edge rusher and be confident he could win. However, even he against Watt is a mismatch. Regardless, that will at least be a matchup that likely pops up a few times during the Week 1 matchup. It’s a fun challenge to watch with both players embodying the intensity and physical talent that it takes to excel in the trenches.