The Pittsburgh Steelers selected DeMarvin Leal from the Texas A&M Aggies a little over a month ago in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the intention of bringing him along slowly and rotating him with Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu, along with the group of returning defensive linemen like Chris Wormley and Montravius Adams. It was a solid plan that the impressive rookie could find his way into the lineup at whatever position he learned quickest, provide some spark, and demonstrate he was a long-term option to eventually become a starter. Then June 1st happened, and Tuitt retired. It became time to create a new plan.
Steeler Nation's Justin McGonigle reported on Wormley embracing the challenge on Thursday:
“I think I’m poised to fill that role. I’m excited for Tyson to come back healthy. I’m ready for the young guys to play meaningful snaps.”
The Steelers defense did play better in the last two games of the season against the run versus the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in Ben Roethlisberger’s last two regular season games. However, that was against an injured Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski mysteriously abandoning the run, and the Ravens talented backup Tyler Huntley. The playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs highlighted that T.J. Watt and pieces of the defense are elite, but that the defensive line and middle linebacker had to be addressed.
The Steelers rarely start rookies on defense unless they are exceptionally talented, and it is even more rare that they start newcomers on the defensive line. The two best rookies to ever start on the defensive line for the Steelers played over 50 years ago, Hall of Famers Ernie Stautner and "Mean" Joe Greene. The black and gold have had a few rookies break through in the 21st century, Casey Hampton and Javon Hargrave notably established themselves as the team’s nose during their rookie season. This is partly because the Steelers expectations of a 3-4 defensive end are substantial. They must learn complicated schemes that are designed to make the linebackers the stars of the defense against the run.
Cam Heyward has been a unicorn playing the position at a Hall of Fame level and still pressuring the quarterback with 68 career starts. Prior to Heyward, Steeler defensive ends like Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel were vitally important to the defense, but rarely got leaguewide recognition as Pro Bowl players.
Photo via Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
On April 30th, I opined that Leal’s skillset would translate well to the Steelers defense which you can read here. He does his best work between the guard and tackle gap and clearly demonstrated a nasty streak in college for the Aggies. He is a bull rusher though not considered an elite pass rusher in college. He was exceptional against the run for the Aggies. The Steelers will need every bit of his skillset now.
The best-case scenario for the Steelers is that Leal heads into contact drills at St. Vincent College and demonstrates that he is clearly the best option on the current roster. A young player with a bona fide nasty streak on the defensive line is desperately needed in Pittsburgh. Leal has an extra bonus in his skillset because he demonstrated in college that splitting that guard tackle gap to get pressure on the quarterback means that if he plays with Watt over his shoulder, you cannot use a guard to double team Watt. Heyward and Alex Highsmith opposite Watt are already going to benefit from the double and triple teams that Watt will command during the 2022 season. If Leal can demonstrate early in his career that if a guard tries to slide out to help a tackle against Watt, that he can punish opposing offenses. It will not take long for Watt to be going against tackles and backs or tight end chips again which he has proven he can consistently overcome.
Names like Ndamukong Suh and Everson Griffen are being floated by the fanbase and media to replace Tuitt and give Leal a year to grow. Expensive one-year rentals are not how the Steelers did business under Kevin Colbert, but Omar Khan may feel differently. Eddie Goldman, who was mentioned by C.J. Lester on Thursday as a replacement is a very intriguing option, but I would feel better if he was insurance for Alualu and he is only 28 years old. If Leal does not show early in camp that he is ready, considering a replacement or letting Wormley win the job may be the best option for the team in 2022. However, if they must resort to that route, it may be a bad sign for the long-term outlook for a new look Steelers defense.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you hope Leal wins the job, or they sign a free agent? Please comment below or comment on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
