Looks Like the Pittsburgh Steelers Have Another One
May 26, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (L) and linebacker coach Joey porter (R) participate in OTA drills at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Since the days of Greg Lloyd and Kevin Green, the Pittsburgh Steelers have terrorize with edge rushers. Guys like Joey Porter LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison have also come through and done damage. And while 2013 first-round pick Jarvis Jones enters his stud or dud year with three career sacks the Steelers look like the have another one in Bud Dupree.
The 6’4″, 270-pounder with 4.5 40 speed has everything you want as an edge rusher physically. But he hasn’t just impressed the Steelers on the field, he’s done it in outside linebacker meetings too. Dupree has impressed outside linebackers coach Joey Porter with the good questions he’s asked.
Porter told Pennlive.com, “He wants to know ‘Is this good enough, did I do that right?’ And when you get guys asking those questions, you know it means a lot to ’em. I mean we’re asking him to go out there and play football at a high level, pick up the concept of the defense and learn it in a fashionable amount of time for us to be ready to play and he accepts the challenge.”
In the first week of Steelers organized team activities, Dupree has impressed Jones too. Jones told Pennlive.com, “He learns fast man. Just in the meeting room you can tell he’s picking things up. I mean, it’s Day 2, but he’s picking things up so it’s going well so far right now. I can speak only on what we have done.”
Porter said, “He’s just a smart guy. Just a guy that takes this personal, understands where he was drafted at and understands the stuff that we’re asking him is not a lot.”
Smarts to go with that athleticism sounds like a winning combination.