A healthy scratch for five of the final six games (including playoffs) of last season, DeMarvin Leal went into the offseason with plenty of motivation.
“Just something to prove to myself, really,” Leal said before Pittsburgh Steelers practice Tuesday.
A third-round pick who, during a promising rookie season in 2022, had the appearance of a future stalwart on the Steelers defensive line, Leal recognized that, even at just 24 years old, his career was at something of a crossroads.
So Leal has attacked the past seven months with a purpose.
“I just set a plan, stuck to it and got to work,” he said.
Leal emphasized technique and soaked up whatever he could from teammates and coaches that would help him improve. He also is noticeably slimmer and more fit during what is his third NFL preseason.
“(My body) has changed quite a bit. It definitely has,” Leal said on the Steelers’ first day back at their UPMC Rooney Sports Complex headquarters. “Don’t feel as sluggish no more, and I feel good.”
The semi-transformation in body type has contributed to a semi-change in positions. Leal frequently has been repping as an outside linebacker during practices and preseason games. That, in part, has been out of necessity as the Steelers are deeper on the D-line and have battled attrition via injury (Alex Highsmith) and retirement (Markus Golden) at OLB.
But Leal always has had the raw athletic traits that would make for an effective edge defender. Indeed, in a 4-3 system at Texas A&M, he played on the edge as an end. And with a slimmed-down physique, Leal, by appearance, fits in better next to the likes of T.J. Watt and Highsmith than with Cameron Heyward or Larry Ogunjobi.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would not go so far as to commit that Leal is in the running to be a top backup at OLB in lieu of just being a backup lineman who can give periodic reps on the edge. But Austin allowed that Leal has “had a heck of a camp.”
“He’s probably in the best shape that he’s been in since we drafted him,” Austin said. “He can play (outside linebacker). He can play inside, he can play outside. He’s that athletic. I don’t want to jinx anyone, especially him, but he’s done a heck of a job. And if we need him to play outside linebacker, he absolutely could.”
Asked initially the differences between the two positions he has been practicing at — or even in relation to being a 4-3 end in college — Leal’s initial answer was, “It’s a lot different.”
But as Leal expanded in his thoughts, he explained that it’s the occasional responsibilities in coverage that present the challenges in playing OLB in the Steelers’ scheme.
“Basically, as an end, I was a wrecking ball. Just go and wreck things,” Leal said. “An outside ‘backer here, you’re learning all the ins and outs, dropping, learning the formations and what’s coming back to me. …
“(You’re either) going (rushing the passer), or you’re dropping (in coverage). (If you’re) going, it‘s full speed (ahead), and that’s exactly what I was doing at end.”
It was posited to Leal that he appears palpably more energetic and is playing with more passion this preseason.
“Most definitely,” he said. “feeling more comfortable for sure. Just want to stack more days, be more consistent.”
