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With the reported news of Bud Durpee tearing his ACL apart, and consequently losing for the season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans around the world are wondering what the team will do.
Will they sign an outside linebacker like Clay Matthews or Cameron Wake to help fill the void?
Will Keith Butler deploy crazy ploys to help the defense keep pushing on both sides of the line?
The list of questions ranges from staff to percentage of snaps played by specific players, but one answer is certain …
The Steelers will not be looking for a single player to fill the massive void left by Dupree.
Some will want the acquisition of a free agent, but the realistic approach is to fill that void internally. As Mike Tomlin always says, the norm is the norm.
So who, or how, will the Steelers help solve this problem? How will they develop a plan that will keep TJ Watt from teaming doubles and coming out of the backfield with every passing play?
It will be a group effort.
The first name on the list would be none other than rookie Alex Highsmith. Highsmith has seen his shots increase throughout the season, and he will be called upon to take on the responsibilities Dupree held both as a passer and as a cover. Highsmith recorded 20 sacks, 1 sack and 1 interception in 11 games this season when Dupree needed a rest.
But the Steelers won’t be relying solely on Highsmith, not in his freshman year in the NFL. Ola Adeniyi will also be called upon to see an increased role within the defense. Adeniyi has the passing skills to get the quarterback, as well as the defense experience, and he should be a really nice compliment to Highsmith.
The possibility of getting head-to-head clashes on the rim also comes from the defensive side by playing alongside the passer. It would be none other than Cam Heyward. Heyward has had a strong season, registering 36 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 interception throughout the 2020 campaign. Heyward will need to step up his game to give Highsmith and Adeniyi opportunities to wreak havoc in the backdrop of the season. opposition.
When an offense is game planning for end-of-book pass rushers, this may be a proposition to choose from. Until Dupree’s injury, if you wanted to make sure Watt didn’t ruin your plans, Dupree would have the opportunity to do some damage. Without Dupree, it will be Watt who will be the focal point of the crime protection system.
This is where Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu will be part of the success, or struggles, of defense going forward. Tuitt being dominant, as he has been for most of the season, will allow Watt to move without doubles teams.
In other words, it will take a team to replace Dupree’s 8 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The answer is not just a player, nor a free agent acquisition. The Steelers defense will need to prove their superiority by doing what they’ve been doing all season.
Play excellent team defense.
This defense was never built around a single player, and their continued success will prove it. Is the loss of Dupree a blow to the group? Absolutely, but if the norm is really the norm then the Steelers defense will be fine.
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