“What the fuck?” Darnell Washington was stunned for the first time when he had to block TJ Watt

Every player who joins the NFL has a moment where they realize how much higher the level of competition is. Darnell Washington didn't even make it out of training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he learned the difference between college and the NFL. That's probably because TJ Watt, one of the best players in the league, threw him right into the fire.

“When it first hit, it was camp and we were doing the exercise called 'Grab Grass' and I was going up against TJ (Watt),” Washington said recently on The Arthur Moats Experience. “It wasn’t pass protection. It's a run blocker. He beat me in a row, coach (Mike Tomlin) had me beat (Watt) three times in a row. And when I say that he hit me three times in a row, in less than a second. I thought, 'What the hell?'”

Washington is an absolute mammoth of a man. Coming out of the draft, he was listed at nearly 6-foot-1 and over 260 pounds. There probably weren't many players in college who beat him three times in a row. However, Watt is a different breed, and he's not just a pass rusher. He's also an elite defender, a fact Washington learned that day.

It's probably better that Washington had this experience in camp than in an actual game. The coaches probably knew he wouldn't see many better players than Watt. As a newbie, I could only go up from there.

After Washington was able to play significant snaps as a rookie, especially as a blocking TE, he was much more prominent on offense. He still wasn't much of a threat, but his blocking ability has improved significantly. He had some trouble against Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, but wasn't overwhelmed. Crosby is one of the few players to come close to Watt's level, so all that preparation in camp probably paid off.

This week, Washington will have to help the Steelers against a stout New York Jets defense. Edge rusher Will McDonald IV may not be Crosby or Watt, but he was still very good. The Jets defense as a whole is a strong unit, so Washington will likely have another physical day ahead of them. However, they don't have Watt on their side, which should give Washington some comfort. Anything that isn't the best must feel like a breath of fresh air.