The Pittsburgh Steelers will be back on the practice fields of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe on Sunday for what will be their ninth training camp practice of 2016. However, according to an early Sunday report, second-year outside linebacker Bud Dupree still won’t be able to practice fully once again.
Dupree, the team’s first-round draft pick last year, is currently dealing with a bruised groin, according to Chris Mueller of the Beaver County Times, and he’s hoping it heals in time for him to take part in the team’s two upcoming scrimmage practices against the Detroit Lions.
After registering 4 sacks last year during his rookie season, Dupree said recently that his goal this year is to hit double-digits thanks to his expanded array of pass-rushing moves that he has developed during the offseason. The Kentucky product has also lost quite a bit of weight during the offseason after claiming to have hit the proverbial rookie wall last season.
Double-digit sacks for Dupree in 2016 would certainly be a welcomed sight as the Steelers haven’t seen an outside linebacker hit those kind of numbers since James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley registered 10.5 and 10 respectively in 2010. Last season, the Steelers entire group of outside linebackers only produced a total of 15 sacks during the regular season with several of them coming late in games in which they had comfortable leads.
After playing 560 total defensive snaps on defense last season, Dupree figures to far exceed that number in 2016 as an every-week starter on the left side. Hopefully that groin injury will indeed heal quickly and thus allow him to take part in the two upcoming scrimmages as he certainly could use the work.
