What To Expect from the Steelers Defensive Line after This Year

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Although they get little to no credit from people outside of the organization, the defensive line of the Steelers is one of the best in the league.

Based in a three-four alignment, the job of the defensive line is not that of the four-three. In the three-four, the defensive line's job is to tie up offensive linemen so the linebackers can make the plays.

Luckily for Pittsburgh, our linebackers are one of the finest bunch in the league.

Let's check out the defensive line:

Starters

Nose Tackle—Casey Hampton.

Big Snack, as he is called, is the anchor of the defensive line. At 6'1" and a reported 325 pounds, Hampton is one of the best three-four nose guards in the NFL. 

Hampton came to the Steelers as the 19th pick in the first round of the 2001 draft.  He has been the starter for every game he has been healthy since.

The biggest issue with Hampton is that he is entering the last year of his contract.  At 31 years of age, are the Steelers going to spend the kind of money they need to in order to keep Hampton with the team?

Left Defensive End—Aaron Smith

Smith took a different path to success than Hampton.  Smith was also drafted by the Steelers in 1998. Unlike Hampton, however, Smith was not an immediate starter. He worked his way into the line.

Unlike the defensive ends in a four-three, Smith has a hard time rounding up the numbers for Pro Bowl honors.  Smith has only been selected to one Pro Bowl, after the 2004 season.

Aaron Smith is entering the second year of a five-year deal signed in 2007 for $25 million.

Like Hampton, Smith is getting long in the tooth.  Smith recently turned 33.

Right Defensive End—Brett Keisel

Keisel came to the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2002 draft. Unlike Smith and Hampton, Keisel was a project player.

In his first two years, Keisel made the team by his play on special teams.  It wasn't until 2006 before he cracked the starting line-up.

In the last two years, Keisel has done an above average job for the Steelers.  Again, not making the plays, but tying up the blockers so the linebackers can get to the play makers.

Keisel is entering his last year on his contract.  He will be 31 years old shortly after the season starts.

Having drafted his believed replacement Evander Hood, this is probably his last year with the team.

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