The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their first, though certainly not their last, offseason addition to improve their defensive line. A unit that ended 2024 as one of the team’s weaknesses, the Steelers signed veteran Daniel Ekuale Sunday night. Starting 16 games for the New England Patriots, Ekuale, at 31 years old, doesn’t make the room younger. But does he make it better?
Let’s break down his run defense, pass rush, usage, and overall fit.
Daniel Ekuale’s Run Defense
Before diving into clips and the tape, here’s a summary on his run defense:
– Strong and stout at POA
– Uses length well and effective two-gapper to control the line of scrimmage
– Shows ability to stack and shed when he keys the ball
– Leverages well, good pad level and hand placement
– Strong side defender trusted to handle the run, created versatility to play up and down line with different alignments
– Lack of lateral quickness causes him to struggle against perimeter/outside runs
– Inconsistent burst off the line and prone to getting reached and cut-off
– Has trouble finding ball further it is to the edges
Ekuale is a big body and stout against interior runs.