Bud Dupree likes what he sees so far out of fellow linebacker, rookie Alex Highsmith.
“Alex is ahead, man, he’s doing really good,” Dupree said in a Monday press conference. “He is a smart kid, very athletic. He moves well, and he is always eager to learn stuff, so he is always asking questions and trying to imitate some stuff that we do just to make sure that he is doing it correctly.”
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and having Dupree and T.J. Watt around to imitate is extremely valuable. Together they formed one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the league.
While Dupree doesn’t foresee needing a blow too often, he’s confident that Highsmith can handle the transition. “Whenever we get tired, we will come out,” he said. “We don’t really have any issue with that. We want to be fresher on the field so we can make as many plays as possible. Alex and whoever else, Ola [Adeniyi], and all the other guys, they will come in and provide that spark we need whenever we are not on the field.”
Highsmith was the Steelers third-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. If Dupree leaves Pittsburgh via free agency, it’s probable the Steelers will look to Highsmith will fill the void.
