T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree have makings of 'awesome tandem'

[polamalubeast]

GERRY DULAC

Little more than two years into his Steelers career, and T.J. Watt wasn’t lying.

He said when he was drafted with the 30th overall pick in 2017 that he loves football and plays it with passion because he realizes how important the game is to him.

And he wasn’t kidding.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a training-camp practice in Latrobe or a meaningless preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Watt is all-in, attacking the right tackle and going after the quarterback as though it’s a playoff game in January.

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https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/08/20/pittsburgh-steelers-tj-watt-bud-dupree-training-camp-nfl-season-opener/stories/201908200112

[polamalubeast]

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[86WARD]

What sucks is if Dupree is lights out this year...let’s say he produces at a level where you’re talking about Watt and Dupree in the same sentences as Woodley and Harrison or Lloyd and Greene or whatever...do you sign him to another deal and hope you get the 2019 Dupree and not the 4 previous years of Dupree or do you let him walk?

[Mojouw]

What sucks is if Dupree is lights out this year...let’s say he produces at a level where you’re talking about Watt and Dupree in the same sentences as Woodley and Harrison or Lloyd and Greene or whatever...do you sign him to another deal and hope you get the 2019 Dupree and not the 4 previous years of Dupree or do you let him walk?

It all depends on how flexible Dupree and his agent are willing to be. I think you give him a contract with a low(er) amount of guarantees but a big amount of $$$ that become guaranteed if Dupree hits a series of mutually beneficial benchmarks (games played, sacks, pressures, etc.)

BUT if Dupree just wants a straight up big $$$ "I'm a Big Boy Pass Rusher Now" contract -- well then you hope that Tupac or Alphabet Soup learns to play well in space.

[86WARD]

It all depends on how flexible Dupree and his agent are willing to be. I think you give him a contract with a low(er) amount of guarantees but a big amount of $$$ that become guaranteed if Dupree hits a series of mutually beneficial benchmarks (games played, sacks, pressures, etc.)

BUT if Dupree just wants a straight up big $$$ "I'm a Big Boy Pass Rusher Now" contract -- well then you hope that Tupac or Alphabet Soup learns to play well in space.

From the sounds of it, the latter may be what his playing for...

[Mojouw]

From the sounds of it, the latter may be what his playing for...

Almost certainly. If he posts 10-12 sacks this year and continues to look athletic in open space, he is almost certain to sign for a boatload of money in the open market.

Unfortunately the ZaDarius Smith and Preston Smith contracts are almost certain to be the minimums that Dupree and his agent ask for. In fact, I would make a case that Bud Dupree is positioned to be 2020's version of Dee Ford. If he posts double digit sacks, someone is going to decide he is a mid 20's NFL pass rusher who has finally "turned the corner" and is going to back up a dump-truck of money for him.

[polamalubeast]

Almost certainly. If he posts 10-12 sacks this year and continues to look athletic in open space, he is almost certain to sign for a boatload of money in the open market.

Unfortunately the ZaDarius Smith and Preston Smith contracts are almost certain to be the minimums that Dupree and his agent ask for. In fact, I would make a case that Bud Dupree is positioned to be 2020's version of Dee Ford. If he posts double digit sacks, someone is going to decide he is a mid 20's NFL pass rusher who has finally "turned the corner" and is going to back up a dump-truck of money for him.

If Dupree has a season like Dee Ford last year, the steelers could franchise TAG him and traded him after if they think this season is a fluke.

The Steelers need to not make the same mistake they made with Jason Worilds after the 2013 season when he had 8 sacks in 8-10 starts but almost all of his sacks were dong sacks.

[Fire Goodell]

Dupree sure played his ass off against the Chiefs, I hope it translates to the regular season. He may play himself out of our price range, but we have some promising young talents at OLB right now

[st33lersguy]

I still don't buy into Dupree. Also a sudden breakout year after 4 years of middling play may just be trying to play for a contract

[86WARD]

If Dupree has a season like Dee Ford last year, the steelers could franchise TAG him and traded him after if they think this season is a fluke.

The Steelers need to not make the same mistake they made with Jason Worilds after the 2013 season when he had 8 sacks in 8-10 starts but almost all of his sacks were dong sacks.

Steelers don’t do that.

[polamalubeast]

I still don't buy into Dupree. Also a sudden breakout year after 4 years of middling play may just be trying to play for a contract

The reason why I think Dupree could have a breakout season is because Keith Butler is our linebacker coach

No doubt, Butler is not good as DC, but as a linebacker coach, he is very good...much better that Porter at least at this job...

[DesertSteel]

What sucks is if Dupree is lights out this year...let’s say he produces at a level where you’re talking about Watt and Dupree in the same sentences as Woodley and Harrison or Lloyd and Greene or whatever...do you sign him to another deal and hope you get the 2019 Dupree and not the 4 previous years of Dupree or do you let him walk?
TAG him and make him do it 2 years in a row.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Steelers’ Dupree looks to break out in 5th season

https://www.apnews.com/37606c1954164bcd931c73ca44251839

[teegre]

I’d rather Dupree has a great season and we lose him... than have Dupree be mediocre for another season.

Think about it this way: either way, he’s probably gone after this season; so, why not get at least one great season out of him.

Plus, if he leaves for a huge contract, we’ll get a R3 comp pick for him.

[EzraTank]

I still don't buy into Dupree. Also a sudden breakout year after 4 years of middling play may just be trying to play for a contract

Same here. He's had plenty of time to prove himself. It didn't take TJ years to "produce".

[Fire Goodell]

He's been working hard to get into what he calls "18 sack shape"

[pczach]

Same here. He's had plenty of time to prove himself. It didn't take TJ years to "produce".



Not every player develops on the same schedule.

I'm not saying he's going to lead the NFL in sacks. What I'm saying is that the lightbulb isn't on out of the box with most players.

Let's see what he can do this year and then decide.

[polamalubeast]

Our pass rush could be even better if Dupree is better...

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[Craic]

I still don't buy into Dupree. Also a sudden breakout year after 4 years of middling play may just be trying to play for a contract

Don't forget, however, this is the first year they've decided to scheme him according to his strengths rather than making him play a role in a system that didn't fully fit him. At least, that's what Wolf and Tunch were saying a few weeks ago (I think it was them).

[86WARD]

He's been working hard to get into what he calls "18 sack shape"

I guess that does take a good amount of time...

[teegre]

Don't forget, however, this is the first year they've decided to scheme him according to his strengths rather than making him play a role in a system that didn't fully fit him. At least, that's what Wolf and Tunch were saying a few weeks ago (I think it was them).

^^THIS^^

Square peg, round hole. It reminds me of Mike Vrabel: decent OLB, didn’t fit, left the Steelers, new coach utilized Vrabel’s strengths, became a great player.