Kyle Dugger is one month into his Pittsburgh Steelers’ career. He feels like he’s been part of the team for years. Not just catching the moving train but conducting it, Dugger has seamlessly fit into the defense as a steady contributor and playmaker.
“I’ve never felt more comfortable in a system and I’ve only been here, I just got here,” Dugger told KDKA’s Rich Walsh in an interview recorded earlier this week and aired Sunday morning. “I love it, this system.”
Relegated to a backup role in New England under a new coaching staff, Pittsburgh landed Dugger after SS DeShon Elliott suffered a significant knee injury that will keep him out at least a few more weeks if not the rest of the regular season. Needing someone to step in to play the role of box safety and strong tackler, Dugger didn’t miss a beat.
“You can’t really feel sorry for yourself thinking about, ‘Oh man, this is hard,'” Dugger said of his adjustment to a new team. “I never really thought about the difficulty.
Despite not landing in Pittsburgh until Thursday after his trade in late October, Dugger took the field three days later to log all but one snap in a win over the Indianapolis Colts. Last week, Dugger made his biggest play to date with a 73-yard pick-six as a turning point in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dugger and Jalen Ramsey, himself shifting to free safety full-time for the Colts game, have meshed well. Pittsburgh’s secondary has ascended despite it looking vastly different than anticipated. James Pierre turning in a career year and retaining a role even with Darius Slay’s return from a concussion. Ramsey playing stellar at safety, not corner like intended. Brandin Echols serving as this year’s Elliott, a shrewd free agent signing playing above his paycheck.
“It’s a slower moving city,” Dugger said of Pittsburgh at-large. “And I like that. It’s calm. It is not not super busy, super crazy. I like that.”
The group will be tested today and the weeks that lie ahead. The Chicago Bears hunt for big plays and are good at obtaining them. Second-year QB Caleb Williams is progressing well under offensive guru and first-year head coach Ben Johnson with a bevy of weapons to throw to. Some established like WR D.J. Moore, others on the rise like rookie TE Colston Loveland and rookie WR Luther Burden. After today’s game, the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and two games against the Baltimore Ravens are on the docket.
Dugger seems ready for the challenge.
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