Steelers News: How productive can Bud Dupree actually be in this defense?

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at what kind of production fans can expect from Bud Dupree not only in 2019, but in Keith Butler’s defense.

Let’s get to the news:

• Bud Dupree is a player fans love to bash. As a first round draft pick he hasn’t lived up to the hype, but it doesn’t mean he can’t continue to improve and show success. What can fans actually expect from Dupree in 2019?

Carter’s Classroom: How good can Bud be?

By: Chris Carter, DKPittsburghSports

Bud Dupree was drafted as the 22nd overall pick back in 2015 to bring a resurgence to the Steelers’ pass rush. That hasn’t happened, as the most sacks he had in a season was six in 2017. And without a signed contract with the Steelers after this season, Dupree knows he has to make this season count.

I wrote about Dupree’s progress in 2018 when I graded the linebackers. Dupree cited Mike Tomlin turning him loose as the reason for his improvement in the middle of the season. I expect Dupree to be allowed to rush closer to his own preferences rather than the teaching Joey Porter was pushing in recent years.

Dupree has always been a speed rusher who prefers to beat his man around the edge by being quicker off the ball. But he’s had a hard time mixing that with the need to take sharper angles to create the bend necessary to challenge offensive tackles that wait for the deeper speed rush.

To read the full article, click HERE

• A new change to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff seems to be blending well with a coach from last year.

Bradley, Austin meshing with new secondary

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

It seems you can go home again.

At least that’s the case for Steelers defensive backs coaches Tom Bradley and Teryl Austin. The two men come from different areas of Western Pennsylvania — Bradley from Johnstown, Austin from Sharon — but the football coaching community is a small one. And in this case, it led Bradley and Austin back together again this year when the Steelers hired the latter.

Again?

This is the second time Bradley and Austin have worked together. In 1991, Bradley, then an outside linebackers and special teams coach at Penn State, was on staff when Joe Paterno made the move to bring in a young former Pitt star who had just completed his playing career after a brief stint in the World League of American Football with the Montreal Machine.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Hate the preseason? Think it is too long? Roger Goodell seems hell bent on shortening this part of the NFL calendar.

Roger Goodell repeats stance to shorten preseason

By: Herbie Teope, NFL.com

According to Wawrow, Goodell drew on discussions he had with coaches around the league before concluding the current span of preseason games is not required to evaluate players before the start of the regular season.

Goodell told reporters the league should strive to accomplish tasks at a high level, “and I’m not sure preseason games meet that level right now,” via Wawrow.

The length of preseason action comes up every summer, of course, but Goodell entrenched in an idea that the exhibition games need to be cut from four games could eventually effect change.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Sean Davis finally got back to the field during the last week of OTAs, and he has a plan on how to improve his game, and the defense’s game, heading into the 2019 regular season.

Back with a plan

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

“Yeah man, it’s been a while since we played together,” Davis explained. “Just choppin’ it up, talking about the year, talking about practice today and trying to get better.”

Davis anticipates having a better feel entering his second season at free safety.

His first campaign after switching from strong safety resulted in one interception for Davis and eight for the Steelers.

“I was trying to get the hang of things, and maybe I was more focused on being the last man back there rather than playing aggressively,” he said. “But obviously one interception isn’t enough for me. How many did we have as a unit? Eight is not enough for all of us, that’s definitely been a point of emphasis.

“For me personally, I’m just trying to get better, learn different angles, read the quarterbacks a little bit better and just perfect my craft. One interception is not acceptable, so definitely gotta get more than that this year.”

To read the rest of this article, click HERE

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