Pittsburgh Steelers: Rookie LB Bud Dupree's Slow Progress No Reason for Alarm

After the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted outside linebacker Bud Dupree in the first round of this year's draft, it looked like he'd be on the fast track to start. Not only did the Steelers need his pass-rushing assistance, given that the defense totaled only 33 sacks last year, but Dupree also seemed like a quick study early on.

Dupree worked with the first-team defense during June's OTAs and told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "Everything is starting to click. [My goal is] to show them I know the plays and show them they can trust me."

Fowler also pegged Dupree to be a rookie-year starter later that month, writing the following:

"

He’s a bit raw, but his experience at Kentucky allowed him to rush the passer and backpedal in pass coverage, which should help him acclimate to coordinator Keith Butler’s system. ... If Dupree catches up mentally to the speed of the NFL game, his natural ability could give him the nod over [James] Harrison and [Arthur] Moats.

"

Snaps	Run D Snaps	Rush Snaps	Cov. Snaps	Solo T.	Asst. T	Sacks	Hits	Hurries
78	39	32	7	2	1	0	0	1

But as OTAs gave way to minicamp, and minicamp gave way to training camp and preseason games, it's clear that Dupree's rawness will take some time to polish. It looks like it could be some time—maybe even next year—before he plays a starter's share of snaps in a game. 

That's nothing to worry about.

In an ideal world, every first-round draft pick would be an instant starter who would quickly live up to his billing. But there are other things to consider, such as the established veterans on the depth chart, the team's yearly goals, the rawness of a rookie and whether a first-round pick was selected to be an immediate-impact player or someone to develop into a future star.

For the Steelers, Dupree looks to be a project.

Dupree is firmly a second-team linebacker at this point. He didn't get starting snaps against the Minnesota Vikings in the team's first preseason game. Moats and Shayon Green started instead, while Harrison and Jarvis Jones sat out.

The same was the case in the team's second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, though that was less surprising, given that Harrison and Jones were dressed and active.

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

Dupree is not concerned about his standing on the depth chart. Last week he told Fowler, "This is the Steelers. If this was a different team, I would think otherwise. Being the Steelers, this organization has already been established. We've got good players on the team already. Nothing is going to be given to you, I just have to go out there and take it."

Because the Steelers have Harrison, Moats, Jones and Green, Dupree can take all the time he needs to master the nuances of his position this year. The Steelers won't be forced to put him on the field before he is ready. It would be more concerning if the Steelers' depth at outside linebacker was thinner and Dupree's rookie year became a trial by fire.

As ESPN's Louis Riddick pointed out earlier this week, Dupree has work to do to become a truly dominant NFL pass-rusher.

Riddick, via Fowler, said that it's "a real concern" that Dupree hasn't stood out as a natural pass-rusher, adding, "I know it’s early. I know they’ve only played two preseason games. Bud looked no different against Jacksonville than he did against Minnesota in the Hall of Fame game. This is a guy who was a combine workout warrior."

But Riddick also conceded that Dupree's low sack numbers at Kentucky were partially a result of how often Dupree dropped back in coverage, plus a spate of minor injuries. But to quote Fowler: "What I still need to see is feel for the game, instincts, counter moves to get loose."

It's visible in games, to be sure. As Dave Bryan of Steelers Depot noted during the Jacksonville game, "Dupree is still in that thinking instead of playing stage," though that is "not unexpected."

Why? Because, to use a phrase favored by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, he's a rookie. Rawness as a pass-rusher combined with rookie status usually means one thing: Patience is required.

Bryan's colleague Jon Ledyard pointed out on Monday, "Dupree needs to learn proper hand usage. He can't disengage from anyone right now," adding that he was "plagued by the issue in college." So why start him before his fundamentals are where they need to be?

The Steelers are in a stable enough situation at outside linebacker that Dupree not starting Week 1 won't be a setback for the team.

There is one real goal for Dupree this year: to see his snaps steadily increase as the season wears on. If that doesn't happen, it's still not the end of the world. Dupree's full-time services won't really be needed until 2016. Forget the first-round pedigree. Just let Dupree be a rookie for now.