The Pittsburgh Steelers defense hasn’t exactly been talked about in good light for the last few years with an ailing secondary and overshadowed by a prolific offense. Despite the struggles of the unit, the defensive line stands as a potentially strong part of a rebuilding defense.
Much of the focus of the offseason has been directed toward the Pittsburgh Steelers offense and secondary, and rightfully so. The offense is rich with high expectations, stars returning from injury, Bryant’s suspension, and a whole plethora of excitement.
On the other side of the football, the secondary has been the weak point in Pittsburgh for the last couple of years. With the draft focused on rebuilding that unit, plenty has been said about the future of the Steelers secondary, but not enough has been said about the already established strength at the defensive line, and the potential the future holds.
The Steelers boast two great defensive ends. Both Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt are underrated in my books, and have become a force to be reckoned with on each and every play. They provide a truly lethal combination and an exciting duo to watch for years to come.
Heyward has emerged as a true leader and inspiration on the defensive line, and led the Steelers in sacks last season with seven. Tuitt was just behind Heyward with six and a half sacks last year and is one of the best young defensive ends in the league.
Besides those two, the Steelers have a good amount of depth at the outside linebacker position. They have Bud Dupree entering his 2nd season, James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones, Anthony Chickillo, and depending on his role, potentially Tyler Matakavich.
A lot will be expected from Bud Dupree, who will be looked upon to lead the next generation of Steeler linebackers. He showed flashes of excellence in his rookie campaign, but more consistent play will be necessary for him to become a success.
Besides him, Jarvis Jones will need to really step it up if he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. He’s been a disappointment ever since being drafted back in the first round back in 2013. Not much can be expected of James Harrison, but with him seemingly aging like wine, who knows how much he’ll contribute this year.
Arthur Moats has been a consistent force on the line, and Anthony Chickillo could definitely see more playing time now entering his sophomore season.
The one major question mark on the defensive line is the nose tackle. At this point, we don’t know who will be starting at the position once September rolls around. Daniel McCullers has shown some promise in his play since being drafted in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
The other candidate would be this year’s 3rd round selection, Javon Hargrave. Hargrave had a fantastic playing career at South Carolina State, but it’ll depend on how quickly he can adjust to NFL style play.
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The defensive line is already established as a strong point for Pittsburgh on the defensive side. The Steelers ranked 3rd in the league with 48 sacks last season, only behind the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.
If the Steelers can see more growth from their younger players, and continued pressure from their established veterans, the defensive line could play a huge factor in this upcoming season.
This isn’t the Steel Curtain, nor is it Blitzburgh, but it has all the factors necessary to become something special.