LB Dupree thinks sacks will climb from right side
Steelers’ three sacks and played well in coverage, but there were some struggles as well.
Chalk up the uneven performance to a couple of things. Dupree didn’t want to make excuses, but he only practiced a couple of times last week before the game. He missed the previous week dealing with a concussion as well as being away for the birth of his son.
Plus, it was the first time he had played on the right side in a game.
“It was different,” Dupree said. “Being at practice and in a game is totally different because things come fast. Overall, I think I’ll be fine though.”
Dupree’s sack came in the second quarter against backup tackle Kyle Murphy. Dupree had less success against starting left tackle David Bakhtiari, who is one of the best left tackles in the NFL. He held Dupree at bay with no pressures in his one quarter of action.
“I was a little tight on my rushes because of some of the run defenses we had called,” Dupree said. “As I loosened up, I had opportunities to beat him.
“I can handle the adversity. I feel like I did pretty good. I feel like I had a chance to make plays. I missed a couple of opportunities. I should start making those plays.”
Dupree would like to have a few plays back from the Packers game. There were some struggles in the run game, most notably when Packers tight end Jimmy Graham, who is noted more for his passcatching than run-blocking ability, blocked him to the turf. Dupree also had a chance at a second sack when he rushed as an inside linebacker, but Packers running back Ty Montgomery blocked him out of the play.
“That’s one of the plays I wish I could have back,” Dupree said. “I saw him late. I didn’t have my eyes where they were supposed to be. It’s just being out there, trying to make plays. If I saw him earlier, I would have been able to make a better move. That’s on me.”
There is a lot of pressure on Dupree to make those types of plays this season. Pro Football Focus labeled Dupree as the Steelers’ “biggest weakness” a year ago. They cited his inability to apply consistent pressure as the main reason.
Despite that, general manager Kevin Colbert picked up the fifth-year option on Dupree’s rookie contract and believes he will begin to live up to his potential. The fifth-year option on Dupree is expected to be in excess of $9 million for 2019.
The Steelers could sign him to a long-term deal before next season or cut ties with him if they’re not happy with his performance this season. The fifth-year option is only guaranteed for injury, and the Steelers can rescind it after the season ends.
Even though the Steelers moved Dupree to the right side to increase his sack numbers, they won’t exclusively use him as a pass rusher from the outside. Dupree is super-athletic for his size, and pass coverage is one of his better skills.
They also have used him a lot as an inside linebacker this summer. By aligning Dupree inside, it frees him up to get passrush attempts against interior linemen or a running back instead of left tackles, which are usually the best pass protectors in opposing offenses.
“Free me up,” Dupree said. “It’s a game of matchups. We’re going to take advantage of matchups. I don’t feel like a back can block me. I know that. I don’t feel like a tackle can block me.
“When I’m in mismatch situations, I feel like I should win. They believe in me. I believe in myself. This is the year for me to make it happen.”