Dec 12, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – All the Steelers need in their outside linebacker rotation is something borrowed and something blue.

In James Harrison, they have the “something old.” And in Bud Dupree, they have the “new” covered.

That two were on the field for all but one play in the Steelers’ 27-20 win at Buffalo Sunday and it appears that will continue to be the case in the final three games.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said two weeks ago he wasn’t into five-man rotations at the position. As it turns out, he doesn’t want any more than two.

“We played who we chose to play because we thought they could be effective,” said Tomlin.

For Harrison, that’s been the case largely for the past handful of games. He had his consecutive-games-with-a-sack streak ended at four against the Bills, but was part of a defensive effort that held the NFL’s top rushing team entering the game to 67 yards, nearly 100 below average.

Dupree, meanwhile, had his most productive day as a professional.

The Steelers’ top draft pick from 2015 had five tackles, including three for a loss, and a career-high two sacks, chasing down speedy Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Not bad for a guy who had surgery to repair a sports hernia in September. Dupree has quickly ramped up his playing time from one snap in his first game back against Cleveland, 55 in the next two games combined to 51 against the Bills.

“I’m making great progress,” said Dupree. “It’s getting better and better each week. The more I play each week, the more my groin loosens up and the more I can do. I’m just trying to keep moving forward.”

This was supposed to be a breakout season for Dupree, who came into training camp 20 pounds lighter than as a rookie.

He lost that weight to help increase his speed, which already was excellent. Now, he’s become another fast player to an already fast defense.

In inside linebackers Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers might have the fastest pair of players at that position in the NFL. Defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt runs like a much smaller man, and safeties Mike Mitchell and Sean Davis and cornerback Artie Burns run sub-4.5 times in the 40-yard dash.

“We’ve got a lot of fast guys on this defense,” the 6-4, 250-pound Dupree said. “Shay (Shazier) is really fast. I take pride in my speed. Artie (Burns) is fast. (Lawrence) Timmons is even fast, and he’s old. It’s coming together.”

It seems to be. The Steelers have 18 sacks and have given up only 247 yards rushing in their past four games. It’s added up to four consecutive wins and a defense that has allowed 50 points in those four games.

Dupree feels the defense can still get better, especially as he continues to round himself into playing shape. And he hasn’t given up just yet on this being his breakout season.

“It was going to be this year,” said Dupree. “But we still have a long way to go. We’ve got three more games and then the playoffs. We’ve just got to keep winning the rest of these games and get a chance to win the title.”

The Steelers released placekicker Randy Bullock Monday and signed receiver Demarcus Ayers to their active roster. Ayers, a seventh-round draft pick this year, had been on the practice squad since Week 1. … Le’Veon Bell has risen to fourth in the NFL in rushing with 1,053 yards. … With his three interceptions, Burns, a rookie cornerback, is now tied for eighth in the NFL. He is in line to be the first rookie to lead the Steelers in interceptions since Scott Shields tied for the team lead with four in 1999.