PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Drafted in the third round three years ago, it seemed DeMarvin Leal was going to be one of the next wave of Steelers defensive linemen. Leal only played 25% of the defensive snaps his first two seasons, and was a healthy scratch a few times. This year only 10% of the snaps. Now a next chance and Leal is better prepared.
“I came in with a different mentality this year, a different weight, different body,” Leal told 93.7 The Fan. “This is an opportunity now and I just got to take advantage of it.”
Leal weighed as much as 320 pounds his first couple of seasons. He’s listed at 290 by the Steelers right now, the scale currently would show less. It will help in this week’s assignment being the back-up outside linebacker with Nick Herbig moving up as a starter with Alex Highsmith out. Leal said it’s not a big transition.
“If you really think about it, I’ve been playing outside linebacker since my rookie season when TJ went down against the Bengals,” Leal said. “The only thing that is different about me playing this position is my weight.”
What he is able to do now is be more explosive off the edge. The 24-year-old can drop in coverage, he can do everything required of the position now.
“I think that's a big thing with him in terms of how he approaches his job and the consistency with which he tries to do his job is a change,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “We kind of expected that when we drafted ‘Marv’. He was a young guy, 21-year-old guy who is coming in and going to have some growing to do. We figured there would be some growing pains along the way.”
“He’s started to obviously mature and he sees it and he feels it. I think his performance at camp and the things we like and saw about it this off-season and everything, is because of his maturity and the things he is starting to do more consistently.”
“The thing I think he’s added mostly to his game is he understands it a lot better,” said Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward. “Sometimes you can be a little confused, jumping in and out, not understanding what is going on around you. I like to think he’s grown on that front where he can play outside and feel comfortable, play inside and move around fluidly.”
“It’s not his first go-around,” said Steelers defensive captain TJ Watt. “He’s gotten outside reps and both end and outside linebacker, so we are comfortable with that. He asks good questions. He has shown a lot of versatility in his pass-rush moves. Obviously, he can stop the run, he’s a big guy.”
“He’s not just powerful, he has a lot of finesse. He’s come a long way and I’m really excited for him to get some playing time.”
Leal said Watt and Highsmith have been great in giving advice, telling him not to get lost in all of the noise. They’ve helped him understand what is really important. As Leal put it, Watt and Highsmith have given him crumbs to fill his plate so he can eat.
“He likes to be challenged,” Austin said. “I think he feels that is a good challenge. He likes to be able to play inside but also to step out, stand up on two feet and get going outside. So, it's a credit to him. He is a good athlete. He can handle it. Now I think with Alex down he'll have an opportunity to really show.”
“I’ve been playing this position, focusing on this position since I first got here,” Leal said. “Now I get to display it with more opportunity. Waiting on my opportunity to come and we are going to go get it.”
“I didn’t start this year just to slow down, so let’s get it.”