Doom or Boom Friday

Shake it up Tomlin...

 

I don't agree. We had close 2 that in the last 2 seasons.
1 Good Cb, and I Good safety doesn't make a great secondary.
Also how long did we go with the D fully intact.
Not long. Doesn't do us any good 2 have those said players on the bench hurt. We had Starters out at every level....seems like at one time or the other.

 

I think he was impressive as a rookie. I always assumed the Steelers were going to let Dupree walk after the season. The only way that might have changed was if the injury forced him to take a team-friendly, one-year prove-it deal. That didn't happen, but I'm comfortable with Highsmith getting his shot. My primary concern at linebacker is the lack of depth outside, not Highsmith stepping in as a starter. The position is weaker than it was a year ago. Highsmith isn't Dupree and none of their backups are as good as Highsmith was last season. That doesn't mean the defense can't still be outstanding.

 

Thank Christ, we can't afford to wait four years for him to start racking up gimme sacks. He's already got more pass rush moves than Dupree developed in six years.

We need depth, but we'll be better off in 2021 with Highsmith's likely 2nd year jump.

 

This is one of the many misleading arguments you keep using to try to prop up your foolishness on this thread. The issue isn't how Highsmith compares to Dupree at the same points in their careers. The issue is how they compare now, and Dupree is better. The Steelers are worse at right outside linebacker right now than they were to start the 2020 season.

 

Allow me to be perfectly clear: I think 2021 Highsmith will be better than 2020 Dupree.

If he isn't, his career arc will flattened a bit.

 

This is your argument which not everyone agrees upon.

 

Tell me no one actually thinks that Highsmith is currently better than Dupree. It’s possible that Highsmith ends up being better, but what he’s done thus far isn’t close.

 

Don't forget that Dupree has to come back from injury.

 

What arc? He has played one season. An arc suggests he has shown improvement over time. I think he will improve, but he still has to actually do it.

I hope you are right, but the evidence available so far does not support your claim.

That said, your current claim is far more reasonable than your previous one.

 

Let me clarify. What we saw from Highsmith last season wasn’t better than what we saw from Dupree.

 

Meant to type "will have flattened". If Highsmith makes a typical 2nd year jump, I think he'll be fantastic - a Lamarr Woodley type 2nd season.

 

That would be a massive jump for Highsmith to play like Woodley that second season. I'd love to see it.

 

They had 4 good CBs, and they were good enough, not many teams have a great secondary.

 

Are you being rational Glenn? Was it the same circumstance? How about the variables that each dealt with?

 

Huh

 

Well, Dupree did have to play all of one game and most of another without Alualu, who was there in all of Highsmith's starts. That may be significant.

 

Go Steelers!




Off topic jeh but the Steeler hat that Glenn inspired me to buy (division champ one) gets daily complements here in the Land O Lakes.

 

Let it go Scribe

 

Why are you quoting yourself?

I was just having a little fun with some of the twists and turns the thread has taken.

 

His pass rush win rate was ahead of Chase Young's. He had 30 solo tackles and the 2nd highest tackle rate (tackles/snap) of all edge defenders, and appears to be taking his job seriously. We need depth, we're fine at starter IMO.

https://www.renegadeblitz.com/post/...un-his-offseason-workouts-with-beast-behavior

 

Will Highsmith be able to set the edge and play the run as good as Dupree? I see Highsmith as a 6-8 sacks a season guy.

 

Maybe not in 2021, but he held his own last year and should improve with added strength. Sacks are completely unpredictable, as long as he keeps winning at the rate he is, they'll eventually come.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/05/film-room-alex-highsmiths-run-defense/