First and 10: What Larry Ogunjobi Signing Means for Steelers DL

By Alan Saunders

·Updated: June 22, 2022

The signing of Larry Ogunjobi by the Steelers on Tuesday shored up their defensive line for the 2022 season. The Steelers will put Ogunjobi with Tyson Alualu and Cam Heyward to create the familiar three-man front in the team’s base defense.

It’s not yet clear what will happen in sub packages, when one defensive lineman comes off the field. The Steelers spend the plurality of their time in such defenses, and as much really only have two starters at defensive line.

So other than a boost to the little-used base defense, what does signing Ogunjobi provide the Steelers defensive line? An insurance policy.

When the Steelers defensive line fell apart in 2021, it wasn’t just because Stephon Tuitt wasn’t there. There was also the injury to Alualu that caused him to miss most of the season.

Early at OTAs, Alualu went down in a drill and grabbed his knee. The sideline fell silent. Alualu turned out to be fine. But with only two proven starters, the Steelers were going to have to cross their fingers and hope that the 35-year-old Alualu and 33-year-old Heyward stayed healthy throughout the 2022 season.

With Ogunjobi, they have the depth to absorb an injury and not have to hold their collective breath every time a defensive lineman hits the deck.

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