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3 Steelers defenders we can’t wait to see step up in 2020

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

As great as the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was in 2019, there is much room for improvement. Several young guys on the roster are just scratching the surface of their talent and we can’t wait to see what is next for them. Here are the three Steelers defenders we are looking the most forward to seeing step up this season.

DL-Isiah Buggs

From the minute the Steelers drafted Buggs in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft I knew they got a steal. Buggs didn’t get the pre-draft recognition he deserved and the Steelers took advantage of that. With Javon Hargrave gone I’m really banking on a big step up from Buggs. He’s strong and relentless at the line of scrimmage. He looks to be in tremendous shape at training camp and is poised for a big step up.

LB-Devin Bush

(Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

We got a little taste of what Bush was capable of last season but the sky is the limit in 2020. Bush had 109 total tackles last season and this was with a three-game stretch in the middle of the season where the coaches cut his reps way back to help avoid the rookie wall. This season there’s no rookie wall and this could put Bush among the elite off-ball linebackers in the league.

EDGE-Ola Adeniyi

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Someone has to back up T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, and Adeniyi is the senior member of the edge rusher group in terms of reserves. His preseason film is great but we really want to see him show that same get off and closing speed in the regular season. Adeniyi is heading into his third season and still has yet to record a sack but we expect him to change that quickly this season.