Deshaun Watson After Steelers Loss: "You Put it On Me"

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson spoke to the media after the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, embracing the criticism and pledging to be better.

Throughout this past offseason and two games of the season, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has not hid from the responsibility or the pressure that comes with his position and his contract. After the loss to the Steelers, a game in which Watson played terribly, he told the media, "You're not going to put it on anyone else. You put it on me."

Watson continued, saying, "I can take the full blame. I can take the criticism and I'm going to do that. And I told everyone on our offense, the whole team I'mma do better for this team, for this organization so we can win games like that. I'm fine with taking the criticism and I will be better."

When asked about how he feels he's playing, Watson told reporters he's "still coming along." He described his play as "shitty", that "it's not good enough."

Watson asserted that he still felt confident late in the game. "Every time you step on the field, you gotta feel positive, you gotta have that confidence. Even when the momentum is not going our way, you gotta change that. We gotta find ways to flip that momentum, especially on the road in a hostile environment. You gotta go out there and try to make plays and the plays didn't go our way towards the end."

As for what comes next, Watson said, "I just gotta keep doing what I'm doing., trying to get one percent better each and every week." 

He continued. "I can't force the issue. I can't force, you know, deep balls or throws, things like that. I just gotta do what the coaching staff is asking me to do. Going through my reads and checking it down when I need to and try to make plays with my feet. That's all I can really do."

Watson did acknowledge the issue he failed to address most of the game and especially the second half.

"I just gotta get the ball out quicker," Watson said in terms of dealing with pressure. "They're coming and maybe I should check it down faster and sooner. I just gotta get rid of the ball and try not to take those unnecessary sacks."

Watson didn't feel like he was pressing, just that he was trying to go through his reads and make plays. 

There was no hiding from accountability on this one and Watson didn't try. Now he's got to try to deliver on the improvement he's promising. In just six days, he'll have his opportunity against the Tennessee Titans, though with as bad as he played in this game, improving is a low bar to clear.