Tag: DeMarvin Leal

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=”3″]

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=”3″]

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=”3″]

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=”3″]

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=”3″]

Steelers EDGE position battle heats up after Week One

The Steelers seem to have all the pass rushers they need.

It’s been a strange week for the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers. First, the Steelers re-signed former Pittsburgh outside linebacker Markus Golden. This seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle for depth as an edge rusher.

Then just days later, Golden retires. What? So now, rather than having everything the Steelers need at outside linebacker, they are back to square one, right? Maybe not.

The team’s first preseason game was Friday night and while the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans, two of the best players on the field for Pittsburgh were outside linebackers.

No, not those outside linebackers. It wasn’t T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith that stole the show. It was Jeremiah Moon and DeMarvin Leal. Each guy had a sack against the Texans and played very well.

The Steelers claimed Moon off waivers back in January. He spend his rookie season on and off of the Baltimore Ravens active roster. But the former Florida edge had a long six-year career extended by injury and COVID.

As for Leal, he’s trimmed down and it was great to see him actually taking some reps at outside linebacker in addition to being defensive end. Leal struggled in 2023 but it’s clear he’s taken it as a wakeup call.

Oh and we can’t forget last season’s backup Nick Herbig who only played 11 snaps on Friday night.

As we look to update our roster projection, It’s hard to keep Moon off the 53-man roster thanks to his play last week and Leal cemented his spot on the depth chart. Do the Steelers still need help at outside linebacker? Maybe not.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Texas A&M defensive end DeMarvin Leal shifted to outside linebacker by Steelers

“He’s always been an athletic guy. He’s more attentive in the meetings… You can see the productivity on the field is starting to show up.”

During Mike Elko‘s first stint in College Station as the Texas A&M defensive coordinator, 10 of his players were drafted to the NFL.

One of those standout stars was defensive end DeMarvin Leal, who was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ahead of this upcoming season, Leal has been shifted to outside linebacker.

“He’s always been an athletic guy. He’s more attentive in the meetings,” Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “You see him out here. He’s learned both of them — defensive end position and outside linebacker positions. You can see the productivity on the field is starting to show up.”

Leal has appeared in 23 games with six starts over two years. The San Antonio native has recorded 29 tackles, 4 pass breakups and 1 sack.

“It’s now for me,” Leal said. “I wouldn’t say now or never for the season, but it’s now for me.”

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Steelers player most poised to have a ‘true breakout’ season in 2024

It’s that time of year when fans are searching for a player who could have a breakout season for their respective team.

It’s that time of year when fans are searching for a player who could have a breakout season for their respective team.

The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly believes that player for the Pittsburgh Steelers could be defensive end DeMarvin Leal.

There aren’t many options for a true “breakout” player. I’ll go with DeMarvin Leal. He showed so much promise in his rookie year and so little in his second year. I think he can be a good player but will need to work to just get an opportunity at this point.

Leal did not make that critical second-year leap that Mike Tomlin expects from his players. If anything, he took a step back.

Pittsburgh has yet to find a franchise replacement for Stephon Tuitt and Leal could still be that guy. But he has to have a big offseason to get there.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin puts DeMarvin Leal on notice

Steelers DL DeMarvin Leal has failed to impress Mike Tomlin in limited showings. 

The final draft class from former general manager Kevin Colbert is shaping up to be a real dud.

While George Pickens has a lot of growing up to do, he’s clearly the most immediately talented player of the 2022 crop. Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans feel Kenny Pickett was a miss and Connor Heyward and Calvin Austin III have only shown flashes.

But DeMarvin Leal, a defensive lineman out of Texas A&M, has failed to impress in limited showings.

Mike Tomlin said the opportunity to contribute in the future isn’t off the table, but he has to put in the work and earn it. Expectations were high for Leal coming into his second season, but results never materialized.

“There certainly is, but he’s got to be a component of that,” Tomlin said of plans to get him more involved. “Obviously, we put helmets on guys that we think are best positioned to help us secure victory, and he hadn’t been a component of that, and so he’s got some work to do.”

Leal was a healthy scratch for seven of their 17 games this season.

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Steelers DL MeMarvin Leal clears concussion protocol

The Steelers are nearing full strength on the defensive line.

The best part of having an early bye week is it has allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to work past the rash of injuries the team got early on. The Steelers had a long list of guys out in Week Five against the Baltimore Ravens but the team appears to be getting most of them back including starting defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal.

Leal is listed as a co-starting defensive tackle with rookie Keeanu Benton.  Leal missed the Steelers last game while he was in the concussion protocol but on Monday the team got back to work with him cleared.

The Steelers defensive line took a huge hit we Cam Heyward on IR. Leal provided some push on the outside but it is clear that Benton is the future of the position. Nevertheless, the Steelers can never have enough healthy defensive linemen this week.

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