Jul 30, 2017 4 min read

LATROBE – T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree went down to the far end of the field at Saint Vincent College after a grueling two-and-a-half-hour practice and worked on their hand placement for another 15 minutes.

Given the way they performed during the running backs-on-linebackers drill that punctuated Sunday’s practice, the extra work those two have been putting in is paying off.

It better.

While the ageless James Harrison is a great story and a fan favorite, if the Steelers are going to make a big improvement as a defense in 2017, it’s largely going to be because of the play of Watt and Dupree.

The two outside linebackers just might be the key to Pittsburgh’s overall success.

A pair of first-round draft picks – Dupree in 2015 and Watt this year – the young pass rushers are being counted on to bring the blitz back to Pittsburgh.

“I have high expectations for myself,” said Watt. “At the same time, I can’t put too much weight on my shoulders. I am just going to go out there and do what I do best and play football.”

What Dupree and Watt do best was on display in the Steelers’ first padded practice of the season.

Watt (6-4, 252) and Dupree (6-4, 255) put their first-round pedigrees on display, running over would-be blockers in the running backs-on-linebackers drill. Dupree also intercepted a Landry Jones’ pass early in the team portion of the practice.

“We can make an impact both dropping into coverage and rushing the passer,” said Dupree. “I don’t like covering, but I will cover. I like to pass rush.”

Rushing the passer is why they were both brought to Pittsburgh.

A groin injury suffered early in training camp limited Dupree to just seven regular season games last season, but he still managed 4.5 sacks. He then added another half sack in the postseason, giving him five in 10 games.

Watt, meanwhile, had 11.5 sacks at Wisconsin last year in his only season as a starter.

Both are powerful and fast. And Dupree is impressed with what he’s seen from his younger teammate.

“I think he catches on fast,” Dupree said of Watt. “I think he’s coming along faster than me, really. He’s really ahead in the playbook. I think it’s going to be a great year for him.”

If that’s the case, the Steelers could be in line to improve on the 38 sacks they had as a team last year.

As they have the past couple of seasons, the sacks last year were spread out among a lot of different players. Harrison led the way with five, while Dupree’s total ranked second.

Ideally the Steelers would like to get to the passer with just four guys, with Dupree and Watt teaming with defensive linemen Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt to do so.

Pittsburgh has had Watt practice with the first-team defense throughout the offseason and in training camp while Harrison works out on the side, saving his 39-year-old body any additional wear and tear.

“I think I can help a lot,” said Watt. “I think my skill set and what I was brought here to do is rush the passer, among many other things. I’m just trying to come out here each and every day and show people what I can do.”

The Steelers haven’t had a player record double digits in sacks since 2010 when both Harrison and LaMarr Woodley did so.

That could change this season.

Whether it’s Dupree, Watt, Tuitt or Heyward, the Steelers feel they have the players capable of reaching that total.

“I just want to get better each day,” Dupree said. “Tomorrow, I want to be better than today. This year will be a big year for me, not just me, but the defense as a whole. I feel like we’re going to take a big step.”

The first day of padded practice brought a rash of injuries. Safety Mike Mitchell was banged up early in the session and did not return, though he stayed on the sideline. Waynesburg’s Scott Orndoff, a tight end from Pitt, and cornerback Senquez Golson both left with hamstring issues that head coach Mike Tomlin attributed partly to the heat or fatigue. Linebacker Keion Adams and tight end Xavier Grimble also exited because of what Tomlin said was heat-related illness. Running back James Conner left with a shoulder injury after a good day of practice…. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster and cornerback Cameron Sutton, both rookies, did not practice…. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given the day off, as was inside linebacker Vince Williams, who had offseason shoulder surgery…. The Steelers will practice at 2:55 p.m. today. It is open to the public.