Rookie DeMarvin Leal eager to learn from host of older veterans on the Steelers’ D-line

The top five at his position group combine for 43 seasons of NFL experience and have an average age north of 30 years old.

As a 22-year-old rookie, DeMarvin Leal lacks the experience of most of his much-elder teammates on the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line. But that doesn’t mean Leal isn’t wise enough to appreciate that he can use them as a resource.

“It’s an opportunity as a first-year guy just to learn everything from all different types of (pass)-rushers and run-stoppers,” Leal said. “Everybody in our room has a different game, so taking pieces from each one of them is something that I am learning to do and just use that and then display it on the field.”

The Steelers’ third-round pick, Leal stands as a major part of the future of the Steelers defensive line. At present, it’s a unit that — if healthy — might be one of the best and deepest in the AFC.

But All Pro Cameron Heyward is 33 years old. Fellow projected starters Tyson Alualu and Larry Ogunjobi are 35 and 28, respectively. Top reserves Chris Wormley and Montravius Adams join Ogunjobi as six-year veterans.

Leal therefore joins 2021 fifth-round pick Isaiahh Loudermilk as the only defensive linemen on the 53-man roster who project to have potential to be here well into the middle of this decade.

The quantity and quality of veterans above them on the depth chart allow for a chance to Leal to — if needed — take something of a “redshirt” year in which he doesn’t need to carry a heavy workload and can assimilate himself into the NFL in general and the Steelers’ defense in particular.

“I feel a lot more comfortable now than from when I got here,” Leal said. “It was a nice month (at camp) of just straight learning new technique and just the way everybody communicates because everybody communicates differently at each position.

“All around, so far, it’s been a journey — but it’s definitely been a fun one.”

Get the stats on DeMarvin Leal — the 3rd round #Steelers draft pick@C_AdamskiTribhttps://t.co/NL4nEStVb8

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 30, 2022

The Steelers expect all of their defensive linemen to learn all of their positions — the “ends” and nose tackle in the “base” defense (three d-linemen) and the “tackles” when they are in nickel or dime. Leal, even as a rookie is no different (although as the Steelers’ lightest defensive linemen he is not expected to play nose).

“We have a great defensive line,” Leal said. “Every guy can pretty much play ‘0’ through ‘5’ (technique). I know am expected to adapt to that.”

Coming out of Texas A&M with a reputation as an athletic lineman who could rush the passer, the 6-foot-4 Leal weighed in at 283 pounds at the NFL combine. There have been concerns he’s not big enough to excel as a 3-4 defensive lineman, but Leal said he’s added some weight since being drafted. The Steelers list him at 290.

“I (gained weight) just because I wanted to,” Leal said. “I felt like there was (room to grow), even (leaving) the speed that I need to get to still. Weight is good, strength is good — so I am able to take double teams and still rush the passer extremely well.”

Over 110 defensive snaps in the Steelers’ three preseason games, Leal had six tackles, one sack, three QB hits and a batted-down ball. Pro Football Focus graded him as the second-best pass rusher and second-worst run-stopper among the Steelers 11 defensive linemen who played in the preseason.

As a third-round pick taken by the Steelers behind the high-profile selections of a quarterback from the local college (Kenny Pickett) and a dynamic receiver from the national champions (George Pickens), Leal has somewhat sat under the radar among Steelers rookies. That figures to continue while in a veteran-laden position room.

Still, Leal’s promise popped during the Steelers’ open camp practices just as they did when he was accumulating 8½ sacks in the SEC last season.

“(Steelers coaches are seeing) the same thing we saw in college,” defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. “He has some quick twitch and he has some range. That is the thing that was so attractive about him in the third round.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.