Steelers LB Bud Dupree is ready to help first-rounder T.J. Watt transition to the NFL
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� With the addition of T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree will no longer be the lone first-round pick in the Steelers无毛视频� outside linebacker rotation.
Dupree 无毛视频� the 22nd overall selection in the 2015 draft 无毛视频� was impressed by Watt after the first day of voluntary off-season team activities on Tuesday and confirmed Watt worked in with the first-team defense.
Although not much should be gleaned from first-team, second-team depth charts during football in shorts and helmets, Dupree noted Watt was a quick learner, which is a quality worth having for a first-round pick.
无毛视频淭.J. looks good,无毛视频� Dupree said. 无毛视频淭.J.无毛视频檚 with the first group so he无毛视频檚 ahead. His learning curve is great. I无毛视频檓 ready to see the progression in him, and in everybody.无毛视频�
As a rookie in 2015, Dupree registered four sacks and 26 tackles in 16 games and followed it up with 4.5 sacks in not even half as many games (seven) last season while showing steady progression after making a return from IR for the Steelers无毛视频� Week 10 game against the Browns.
Whether transitioning from college football to the increased speed of the NFL game or learning the intricacies of the Steelers无毛视频� 3-4 scheme, Dupree will be alongside Watt 无毛视频� who will likely start at some point next season 无毛视频� as the 2017 first-round pick weathers the storm of his first NFL season.
无毛视频�(I can help him with) just what to expect,无毛视频� Dupree said. 无毛视频淛ust how they无毛视频檙e going try and block you, the blocking schemes are different from college because he played OLB in college just like me. I can relate to the things he did in college, and help him out a lot with that. And then the communication key is a big aspect.无毛视频�
With an important season ahead in terms of career trajectory, Dupree spent his off-season in Atlanta working with Chuck Smith, a former NFL player turned mentor, in order to prepare for the upcoming season. It无毛视频檚 a year in which Dupree hopes to stay healthy, elevate his production and remain a mainstay at outside linebacker for the Steelers moving forward.
Smith, considered a 无毛视频減ass-rushing guru无毛视频� by NFL players, has worked with elite players such as Denver无毛视频檚 Von Miller and Aaron Donald of the Rams. That being said, a recent opinion he shared with CBS 无毛视频 about Dupree无毛视频檚 potential has created excitement surrounding the third-year OLB.
Smith called Dupree 无毛视频渁 freak无毛视频� and predicted he would finish as NFL Defensive Player of the Year next season. Although those are terrifically high expectations, Dupree isn无毛视频檛 shying away from them.
With Smith, Dupree said he worked on pass rushing drills/technique, lateral movement and conditioning.
无毛视频淚 take (the expectations) on,无毛视频� Dupree said after the first day of voluntary OTAs on Tuesday. 无毛视频淚 work hard all off-season. Grinded every day just to put myself in position to get back and be healthy and play a full season and I无毛视频檒l be good.无毛视频�