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The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is ready to buck the ongoing trend amidst their unit in 2019. Talk to any Steelers fan, or listen to any media outlet, and you typically hear the same thing.
“The Steelers offense is great, but that defense is average at best.”
This contradicts the usual narrative when talking about a Pittsburgh Steelers defense. When people usually think of a Steelers defense, they think of the Steel Curtain, Blitzburgh and any other nickname given to a Pittsburgh defensive unit throughout the years. But is this ‘average’ defense about to make a big step forward?
If so, they will be doing it with speed. Pure speed.
T.J. Watt joined the Jim Rome Show recently and talked about the upcoming season for the defense, but more importantly, the difference between this defense and past defenses. As the interview continued, the topic of conversation moved from the overall defense to Watt’s rush partner, Bud Dupree. Watt gave a glowing review of Dupree and what fans should expect in 2019.
Check out the clip:
There are situations in sports where fans think a simple change is just that — simple. For example, a right tackle moving to left tackle. Seems easy, right? Probably not as easy as you may think. Watt talked with Rome about the move from the right side of the defensive front to the left, a change which took place in 2018, and how Watt and Dupree are both still getting comfortable with their respective sides.
Watt gave some great insight into why he prefers the left side to the right, and you can check out the clip below:
Steelers fans are tough on Dupree, and that comes when you are taken in the first round and produce just 5.5 sacks in 2018, and never more than 6.5 in a season. It doesn’t help when Watt has produced more sacks in 2 seasons as Dupree has in 4. Nonetheless, there is hope Dupree and Watt are the next dynamic duo in the Steelers defense, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Titans in Week 3 of the NFL Preseason this Sunday night in Tennessee.