DeMarvin Leal hasn’t had the beginning to his profession that many anticipated when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him their third-round decide within the 2022 NFL Draft. But by all accounts, he has taken a giant step ahead in his third season primarily based on the developmental course of within the offseason and preseason. The solely situation is, he hasn’t gotten an opportunity to actually present that enchancment by way of the primary three weeks of the season. That alternative ought to come this week with OLB Alex Highsmith coping with a groin harm.
Leal is listed as a defensive linemen, however he's additionally the workforce’s fourth exterior linebacker, which makes him the highest backup whereas Highsmith is out injured. Against a workforce that likes to run the ball lots, that ought to earn him fairly a number of extra snaps in Week 4 in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts.
Mike Tomlin mentioned Leal’s multi-position versatility in an interview with Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola this morning.
“He’s a uniquely talented ‘big.’ He’s got good body control. He’s a good athlete. He can run,” Tomlin mentioned through Labriola. “He’s additionally one of many few defensive linemen who’s on the kickoff unit, and that speaks to what makes him an fascinating animal.
“…That just speaks to his versatility. The more that you can do is something that we value. Here’s a guy who’s capable of playing D-line, he’s capable of playing outside linebacker. He makes us big and strong in run circumstances when he’s playing that position. He makes us really athletic in passing circumstances when he’s rushing over a guard as a defensive lineman. And so those hybrid, talented athletes really help you. LaMarr Woodley was like that, and that’s who DeMarvin kind of reminded me of.”
That is clearly a lofty comparability for Leal, who has achieved little or no by way of the primary two seasons of his profession, however it speaks to the kind of athlete he's total. Woodley was an outdoor linebacker, however he was listed at 6-2, 265 kilos. He was slightly outsized to your typical OLB, however the Steelers used his distinctive athleticism on the sting for seven seasons on his method to 57 common season sacks, and one of the dominant playoff runs for a defender of all time.
Leal is listed at 6-4, 290 kilos, and reportedly confirmed up to camp in the very best form of his life after studies of being out of practice the identical time final 12 months. He is method outsized for the sting, however his distinctive athleticism permits him to flex out when wanted.
Nick Herbig, who's listed at 6-2, 240 kilos, is slightly mild to your typical edge defender. He has constantly confirmed that's not a problem, however he has additionally by no means been challenged with setting the sting as a starter over the course of a full sport in opposition to the most effective offensive traces within the league. As Tomlin talked about with Leal making them large and powerful in run circumstances, it's seemingly that Leal will get fairly a number of snaps on this Week 4 sport in opposition to the Colts.
Let’s hope DeMarvin Leal reveals slightly little bit of that LaMarr Woodley comparability that Tomlin talked about.
