FA 2019 quick thoughts about Dupree

[steeler_george]

After reading a few articles about FA, I am still have no idea what this team needs and where they are going in the future. There is no clearity ( this team is a mess, I can not recall last time we were in NEED at so many positions)

Maybe it has to do with the AB, Bell fiascos.

Maybe it has to do with the coaches ( who stays and what is there new roles)

So here are my quick thoughts:

Dupree, in my opinion he is not worth signing for 9 M for a year, or am I living under a rock and that is the going cost of an average starting OLB.
DL there is no depth, depending if we resign the current back ups we have.


fixes: 1 ) resign his contract to make that 9 M gone for the year but in long run he will make more loot.
2) cut ties with him and go into FA or draft or ...
3) change our D scheme all together and have no need for him ( we might of be in process since we released Porter )... more of a 4-3 and sub package 3-3-5. This might be the year to make that switch, the first round is strong and deep at DL. It wouldn't shock me if we did draft DL instead of ILB, OLB, or even CB in the first. After Heyward, Tuit, and Hargrave we have no depth on the roster, unless we resign Alalu, McCullurs, and Walton.

If we go route 3, would our LB be : Watt, (VW, Bostic, TJ Ford, hybrid -Edmonds ???) OLY/? Can any of those ILB flip to the outside in a 4-3?

[Steel Maniac]

George, your right about needing so much. And it sets the stage for the 2019 season. Because I don’t think Colbert is going to go out of the norm to handle a defense that has so many holes. This requires an amount of aggressiveness that Colbert hasn’t shown me as of yet.

So.. what’s going to happen is a couple of holes will be filled and then he brings in a few grade C players and starts to talk those grade C players up like their legit. But they won’t be; Like he did last year.

[Ernie]

I'm not a cap guru by any means.. but I think we need to extend Dupree and spread out some of his salary over the next 2 to 3 years... and hope like hell the next OLB coach is Kevin greene

[steelerkeylargo]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but, the Steelers picked up Bud Dupree's 5th year option last year. Meaning there is no way they will take a 9m dollar dead money cap hit (specially with the AB situation). So either Bud will play at $9m or they will extend him.

[Northern_Blitz]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but, the Steelers picked up Bud Dupree's 5th year option last year. Meaning there is no way they will take a 9m dollar dead money cap hit (specially with the AB situation). So either Bud will play at $9m or they will extend him.

I thought they still have the flexibility to cut him and avoid most (maybe all) of the dead money as long as he's not injured. I think the option is all salary, so cutting early means no cap penalty.

I could be wrong though, not a cap expert

[Steel Maniac]

My question is why?

Dupree is a marvelous athlete. But he doesn't have it above the neck. While big red is great above the neck but not below the neck. If we could combine Big Red's intelligence with Dupree's body then we'd have a pro bowl linebacker.

I don't think we bring back Dupree. We can do better on the open market. Seriously.

[Shawn]

Dupree showed improvement this year and is the least of our concerns. We need a long twitchy iLB with a mean streak. We need another DB. We need a WR. I see us filling one or more of those spots in FA. DL depth is a concern but I see the Steelers doing what they normally do. Bringing in a quality back up. Sky isn’t falling.

[Steel Maniac]

Dupree showed improvement this year and is the least of our concerns. We need a long twitchy iLB with a mean streak. We need another DB. We need a WR. I see us filling one or more of those spots in FA. DL depth is a concern but I see the Steelers doing what they normally do. Bringing in a quality back up. Sky isn’t falling.

I disagree. The sky has fell. Look where we are at compared to where we were in 2016. We've declined to the point where we are not in the playoffs.

[Steel Maniac]

And Dupree is a concern because he isn't up to par and not worth keeping on. Meaning we only have one legit lb in Watt.

And yeah, we may use free agency. But in a real way? Not by getting cast off bums like we got last year. And then the front office putting out fake news on how good the cast offs are.

[Ernie]

I hate to say it... but there is little chance we upgrade from Dupree in FA. Simplify his role to where he just has a few distinct tasks... and work on perfecting them.

[Steel Maniac]

I hate to say it... but there is little chance we upgrade from Dupree in FA. Simplify his role to where he just has a few distinct tasks... and work on perfecting them.

that's sad.

[Ernie]

sad but true my man. I hope like heck Ola is able to come in next year and earn some reps

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Dupree showed improvement this year and is the least of our concerns. We need a long twitchy iLB with a mean streak. We need another DB. We need a WR. I see us filling one or more of those spots in FA. DL depth is a concern but I see the Steelers doing what they normally do. Bringing in a quality back up. Sky isn’t falling.

amen.

well, not "least", but, enough improvement that i'm ok with extending and stretching his cap hit while trying to find him some competition in the draft.

Hoping to see a top ILB in this upcoming draft (but, there are a couple of decent edge rushers in the neighborhood where we should select).

I'd trade AB for a DB. Period. I would NOT draft one. This team's DB scouts suck, but, WR scouts are pretty dang good.

Dream deal: AB for Tre'davious White

[steeler_george]

I forgot to mention, Chicko is also a FA, and we all know he reached his ceiling. Between resigning him and Dupree that is a lot of cap spent on "average" players.

I also think we can cut Dupree, since he wasn't injured and resigned lower if he is still available on the waiver.

So what are we going to do? We have 1 legit OLB, in Watt going into 2019.

WE are definetly worse than 2016~!!! But then again we still didn't win anything since then.

[steeler_george]

amen.

well, not "least", but, enough improvement that i'm ok with extending and stretching his cap hit while trying to find him some competition in the draft.

Hoping to see a top ILB in this upcoming draft (but, there are a couple of decent edge rushers in the neighborhood where we should select).

I'd trade AB for a DB. Period. I would NOT draft one. This team's DB scouts suck, but, WR scouts are pretty dang good.

Dream deal: AB for Tre'davious White

Deville, I always liked your posts, and I agree and think this is the most common sense, quick fix thing to do is to resign him long term, spread out his cap hit. Is he the long term soloution? No way! I think he is comparable to a poor man's Clark Haggans.