The Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty began with the drafting of Joe Greene and LC Greenwood in 1969. They were two key pieces of what would become the Steel Curtain and an important part of four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s. The Steelers switched to a 3-4 defense in the 1980s and have had a steady and sometimes spectacular group of defensive linemen who have kept the tradition of outstanding defensive line play going for decades.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers defenders Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi are locked in as two of the three starters along the defensive line in 2023.
The 2023 Steelers defensive line is generating a lot of buzz and could be the best unit on the entire team. The last great defensive lines of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel delivered three Super Bowl trips for the tween teams over a decade ago. Cam Heyward has had a Hall of Fame career, but the current version of the Steelers' defensive line might be the best unit he has ever played with.
Christopher Carter who hosts the Locked On Steelers podcast on YouTube cranked up the bandwagon on the Friday episode of his popular show. Carter, who also writes for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, was positively gushing about the prospects of a dominant defensive line for the upcoming season.
“There is a lot of upside,” Carter raved. “There is a lot of excitement. Cam Heyward is still the leader. Larry Ogunjobi’s got a full year healthy. Keeanu Benton is a rookie that everyone was talking about. DeMarvin Leal is a guy who I think is criminally underrated in the NFL for what he is about to be as a second-year player.”
Locked On Steelers Podcast YouTube
Steelers DeMarvin Leal
The top two players in the Steelers’ defensive line rotation in Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi are proven NFL players. Heyward is an All-Pro and Ogunjobi's absence made a huge hole in the Cincinnati Bengals defense that they could not replace last season. Leal is a very versatile piece of the defense who will be called on to spell the older defensive book ends in front of him. Leal has also shown he is versatile enough to get a look as an outside linebacker and could provide the Steelers with a lot of flexibility in 2023.
“They got guys like Breiden Fehoko and Armon Watts,” Carter continued. “I think they have a really good chance at things.”
The one thing the Steelers have lacked up front since they lost Javon Hargrave in 2019 is a true nose tackle. They drafted Benton to fill that role and Fehoko is insurance in case he struggles early. The Steelers depth at the position runs so deep that a solid contributor like Montravius Adams will likely be fighting hard for the final roster spot on the defensive line.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Keeanu Benton at OTA's
The Steelers have demonstrated to observers in OTAs that the occasional four down linemen look like they used against the Carolina Panthers last season are not only viable but extremely dangerous for opposing offenses. An occasional defensive front that includes Ogunjobi, Heyward, Benton and Leal should be extremely difficult to run against.
“The chemistry these guys have,” Carter said. “They like each other but they are not feeling like they have got this in the bag.”
Steelers Larry Ogunjobi Expressed How Important It Is To Be Able To Practice
Carter’s point is that they are working well together, knowing they have not won a single game yet. They also seem to truly enjoy the camaraderie the unit is developing. Ogunjobi’s health is a key component of a successful campaign for the Steelers but his influence on the second-year player Leal is palpable. Leal dubbed him as “Scary Larry” but caught flak from the defensive captain shortly after it escaped his lips.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The Steelers' defense should be one of the best in the NFL in 2023, led by veteran stars Cam Heyward and TJ Watt.
“I think Leal just likes to rhyme sometimes,” Heyward joked. “I think Larry has put a lot of work in this offseason and he is not hampered by his foot anymore.”
The Steelers roster, despite the opinions of Colin Cowherd, is constructed around defense because Ben Roethlisberger retired, and he was the only established star on the offense last season. The offense is exceedingly young while the defense has All-Pros at every level, and they are being paid accordingly.
The Steelers are traditionally at their best when the defense is an intimidating force that gives the offense the freedom to figure it out. No matter how good they are, the modern NFL is different. Great defense in 2023 is going to give up 17-20 points regularly and they will occasionally get burned for substantially more. It is what the NFL wants, and they make no secret about it.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Larry Ogunjobi waits for drills to start during a team practice in 2022.
Watt is a force of nature and if the defensive line has taken the step forward that Carter and many other observers think, it won’t just be Ogunjobi who is scary in the fall. The entire AFC North should be terrified.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Is the defensive line new and improved or is it just preseason hype? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
#SteelerNation
