The Pittsburgh Steelers are anchored by their defense, there is no surprise there. This organization's root is built on a rough and tough defense whose main objective is to get after the quarterback. The Steelers organization has quite the resume to back that theory up. The Steelers have prided themselves on having a superior defensive front, then begin to build their secondary as well as the outside and inside linebacker positions. This has been a plan that has worked more in the Steelers favor than most, and is a tradition the Steelers hope to carry on for years to come.
Obviously, the anchor of the defensive front for a good chunk of the last 10 years has been defensive end Cameron Heyward. The 4x NFL Pro Bowl selection has done everything in his power to make sure that tradition stays alive. Over the past 6 seasons, the Steelers defense has been ranked in the top 10 in all of the NFL in total team sacks per game. There is no question the reason being isn’t solely due to Heyward's success, but also with the players on his left and right. This team has been fortunate to be blessed with some serious production at the outside linebacker level in having T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree for the last 4 years together. In 2019, both Dupree and Watt accounted for double digit sacks each in the same season, taking a little less pressure off the guys up front. Pair that with his counterpart defensive end Stephon Tuitt success through the first 7 seasons of his career and there shouldn't be too many questions as to why this defense has been successful.
With that being said, there are still questions left at the defensive tackle positions as far as where the majority of the reps will come for the upcoming season. It is assumed that last year's starting DT Tyson Alualu will get a chance to go into training camp as the starter, in a sort of “it's your spot to lose” type of scenario. The players that are on the depth chart below him don't nearly have the experience he does, but they do have some intrigue that follows them. Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs and Carlos Davis are the names that many see competing for playing time at this position when the first week of training camp starts. With Alualu coming off a season where an injury held him out for a good chunk of the year, this position is going to be one of importance for the new season.
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I personally do not think expecting Alualu to come back and have the same type of success he had in the first half of the season last year is too far of a stretch. I think he fits in extremely well with this defensive front and it showed once he got more comfortable in our system. Having Heyward and Tuitt on either side of him on each play allows him to capitalize on opportunities that most players won't receive. This, I believe to be the main reason why Alualu chose to re-sign with the Steelers after originally agreeing to go back to his original team in the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Alualu has the experience and resume, the others below him are names still trying to make their mark on this league. I believe going into training camp there is going to be a wide open competition for a spot behind Alualu on the depth chart. Buggs and Wormley pretty much split their time on the field between each other. When Alualu went down with an injury, the two of these guys shared the majority of snaps at this position. With help from others, both showed flashes of success but weren't able to do it on a steady consistent level. In my opinion, Buggs played better when given the opportunity and really came in during the last half of the year. He was involved in stopping the running game and applied pressure on the opposing quarterback at times. He has familiarity with defensive line coach Karl Dunbar from his time at The University of Alabama and I think this coaching staff has high hopes for the young man.
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The Steelers themselves could possibly have another plan in mind. Carlos Davis is not a player that got much playing time last season, but he did manage to see some playing time and make the 53-man roster, after being a 7th round pick of the Steelers in 2020. Another name that I think will compete with Davis for the spot is rookie 5th round pick Isaiahh Loudermilk. To me, at least one of these two are going to make the roster, they are both considered project type players, meaning they have all the talent in the world to be successful but are just lacking a bit of experience. The Steelers moved up to select Loudermilk in this year's draft and there has to be a good reason for that.
If experience is what these guys need, then this is the right team for them. There is no better defensive line group in this league to learn the tricks of the trade from. There are All Pro type players in every direction you look. If being on this unit with these groups of guys doesn’t bring out the best in you, I don’t know what will.
Who do you want to see get playing time at defensive tackle in 2021? Comment below!
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