5 Steelers who have outperformed expectations in 2020

DT Tyson Alualu

If you look at Tyson Alualu’s raw numbers on paper, you wouldn’t there would be anything special about his 2020 season. But that’s why you have to look beyond the numbers and watch the game film. Alualu has been as dominant against the run as any defender in the National Football League this year. While he has just 1.0 sack and 3 tackles for a loss to his name, he makes it easy for Cameron Heyward or Stephon Tuitt to sneak in the backfield and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

Now 33 years old, Alualu is having one of the best seasons of his 11-year career, and certainly the best he has had in Pittsburgh. Many fans were worried about the potential impact of losing a player like Javon Hargrave in free agency this offseason. But in all reality, the Steelers have been better with Tyson Alualu manning the nose tackle position.

According to Pro Football Focus, Alualu is still the second-highest-graded interior defender in the NFL – trailing only future Hall-of-Famer, Aaron Donald.  At this point in Alualu’s career, who could have expected to see the dominant play at the point of attack we have witnessed in 2020.