Video: Who ever said to bench Bud Dupree?

Sitting at Heinz Field on Sunday, a few fans who were watching the game nearby must’ve had too much Yuengling as they started to mention their “bright idea” to help jump-start the Steelers defense: bench Bud Dupree.

Yes, you read that right! Just as I heard them say it, I had to ask again to make sure I heard what I thought I heard, and the next set of comments out of their collective mouths were even worse; he’s nothing more than another Jarvis Jones.

Whoa.

Jaw-dropping stuff indeed folks. But later in the game, after biting my tongue and slyly mentioning that Dupree is nothing like the former Steeler, Jones, number 48 wrecked havoc on the Bengals offense when it mattered most. Following Sunday, Dupree has three sacks in seven games along with a pass deflection. However, his presence on the field definitely makes the opponent take notice.

This play doesn’t look like much of anything, but Dupree helps the Steelers collapse the pocket quickly. Everyone is in on the gig, including Tyson Alualu, Cam Heyward, and T.J. Watt (who ends up with the sack) but the play illustrates how athletic Dupree is, which helps set up one of the next clips.

Naturally, the Bengals would add two protectors for Dalton to their backfield.

The results? They weren’t any better!

Here’s a sack that didn’t happen for, and won’t show up on Dupree’s stat sheet. He has his hands on Bengals QB Andy Dalton just long enough to allow Alualu to sweep in and steal the sack. However, the linebacker would eventually get his, working once again in tandem with Alualu on the left side.

Dupree runs a quick stunt, faking outside and then crossing over Alualu to the “A” gap… because the “B” gap closes as Bengals right guard works with Alualu, who then takes the right tackle (outside, assigned to Dupree) with him. The guard is lost and by then it’s too late: Bud gets his third sack of the season.

Conclusion

It’s a small body of work to show, and a brief article, but in only three plays we can see how Dupree’s impact can change games. He may not rack up sacks each game, but his presence opens up the opportunity for others, such as Alualu, to get to do their own little sack dance every now and then.

https://twitter.com/_TJWatt/status/923306756981260288?s=09