Bud Dupree was drafted as the 22nd overall pick back in 2015 to bring a resurgence to the Steelers' pass rush. That hasn't happened, as the most sacks he had in a season was six in 2017. And without a signed contract with the Steelers after this season, Dupree knows he has to make this season count.
I wrote about Dupree's progress in 2018 when I graded the linebackers. Dupree cited Mike Tomlin turning him loose as the reason for his improvement in the middle of the season. I expect Dupree to be allowed to rush closer to his own preferences rather than the teaching Joey Porter was pushing in recent years.
Dupree has always been a speed rusher who prefers to beat his man around the edge by being quicker off the ball. But he's had a hard time mixing that with the need to take sharper angles to create the bend necessary to challenge offensive tackles that wait for the deeper speed rush.
Here's a play where he eventually got the sack, but you can see how his wide angle didn't engage the tackle at the right spot and forced him around Joe Flacco, to the point he was down and had to hustle back up just to finish the play:
The preferred angle would have him reaching Flacco as he turned the corner, rather than ending up behind the pocket. That requires sharper moves to engage tackles at the point of attack, preventing the hands of big offensive linemen from creating separation and controlling Dupree.
He's worked a bit on that this offseason, but he's looked a step quicker than normal:
@Bud_Dupree always grinding! Cross Chop ? #WatchOut #DrRush pic.twitter.com/CphfiNosCh
— Pass Rush Specialist (@chucksmithnfl) April 9, 2019
We saw flashes of the pass rushes that could finally get Dupree to realize his potential. Watch how much sharper his angle is on this sack of Derek Carr. You see how he's able to engage the tackle with his inside hand, but the momentum from his burst off the ball stagnates the feet of the lineman instead of simply trying to work around him.
This engagement allows for Dupree's biggest asset, his explosiveness, to actually help him. Once he's slowed up his opponent's feet, he uses his free outside hand to keep working to his spot while the inside hand disengages and he can finish the play with a clean sack:
Dupree can expect plenty of one-on-one opportunities with tackles this season. Opponents have showed much more concern in double-teaming Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt and the now Pro Bowl-caliber T.J. Watt.
If Dupree actually is sharper with his rushes, he could be the surprise of the defense and make Kevin Colbert look really smart for his decision to pick up Dupree's fifth-year option and pay him $9.2 million this season.
