Jul 31, 2017 5 min read

LATROBE – You don’t often see backup defensive linemen throw Pro Bowl offensive linemen around in one-on-one drills, but that’s exactly what happened at Steelers training camp Monday.

Guard David DeCastro lined up opposite Tyson Alualu and stopped the big defensive lineman’s initial burst.

But the 6-3, 304-pound Alualu might have been playing possum. He hooked his right arm under DeCastro’s shoulder and hit him with the “hump move” made famous by Hall of Famer Reggie White, tossing the 316-pound DeCastro aside on his way to the quarterback.

It was an impressive move and one that drew kudos from Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell.

It was a significant turn of events for the Steelers, who just two years ago had practically no depth on their defensive line, relying on Cam Thomas and Ricardo Matthews, a pair of San Diego castoffs, to provide veteran depth.

Now, even the backups, highlighted by Alualu, a free-agent acquisition from Jacksonville, are good.

“We’ve got a very fast, experienced defensive line,” said defensive end Stephon Tuitt. “I think that’s going to help us. The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for having a great defensive line. I feel like we’re working toward that.

“It’s awesome for us to have some depth with guys who can go out there and get that done.”

That was on display Monday when Tuitt left practice early with a slight ankle sprain.

Alualu, a longtime starter for the Jaguars, stepped in and made his presence felt.

The 10th overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Jaguars, Alualu brings a wealth of experience to the Steelers, having appeared in 110 games and making 88 starts.

But he’s never appeared in a postseason game, something that made him want to sign with Pittsburgh when he reached free agency.

“When I took my visit and met with the coaches, I knew this was a place that I’d want to play,” said Alualu, who signed a two-year, $6-million contract. “They are always contenders to go to the Super Bowl. There were a lot of factors that played into it, but I knew this was a place I wanted to be.”

A native of Hawaii, Alualu played at the University of California, where he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection.

It was somewhat surprising that Jacksonville took him so high in the 2010 draft, but he became an immediate starter for the Jaguars and had 257 career tackles and 17 1/2 sacks in seven NFL seasons.

The only thing he doesn’t have is playoff experience.

“Every year was different,” said Alualu. “It was definitely frustrating because of how things played out. There was always hype surrounding the people they brought in and we always thought that would be the year we’d turn things around. I wanted to be a part of it, but things didn’t go the way we wanted. It’s definitely frustrating because you do put in the work and you want to reap the benefits.”

The Steelers are reaping the benefits of some astute talent evaluation and added salary cap space that enabled them to sign Alualu. They have emerging stars in Tuitt and defensive end Cam Heyward to go along with nose tackle Javon Hargrave, who became a starter as a rookie last season.

Add in youngsters L.T. Walton and Johnny Maxey, both of whom gained valuable experience last season when Heyward missed the second half of the year with a torn pectoral muscle, and the Steelers feel good about their top six linemen.

For a team that a couple of years ago struggled to have three capable defensive linemen, it’s a wealth of talented big men.

And given how much the Steelers use a four-man front in passing situations, as opposed to its base 3-4 defense, that’s a positive development.

“I think we can do both effectively, said Tuitt. “As games go on, whatever is hot is what we’ll do, whether it’s three (linemen) or four. We’re going to roll with that.

“Teams are not going to overpower us or outspeed us. I don’t think there’s one team out there that can really do that. We’ve just got to prove it and show it.”

Waynesburg’s Scott Orndoff did not practice Monday after suffering a hamstring injury Sunday. … In addition to Orndoff, a tight end, also not practicing were cornerback Senquez Golson, running back James Conner, receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster, linebacker Vince Williams, defensive lineman Lavon Hooks, safety Mike Mitchell and cornerback Cameron Sutton. … In addition to Tuitt, linebacker Ryan Shazier (heat) and quarterback Landry Jones (abdominal strain) left practice early. … Wide receiver Martavis Bryant did some running and caught passes on the sidelines but head coach Mike Tomlin said he still has not been cleared by the league to practice. … The Steelers are off Tuesday before returning to practice Wednesday.