What's the Steeler problem with number 1 picks?



… Dupree has surgery for sports hernia/abdominal


Last year, a number 1 pick missed almost all of the 2015 season -- center Maurkice Pouncey -- just as he did in 2013, missing most of both seasons because of knee injuries.

Pouncey has been a quality center along the lines of hall of famers Mike Webster and Dermotti Dawson.

In terms of health, Pouncey has struggled. This has not been his fault. More bad luck than anything else, as it is with most of the number 1 picks.

Jarvis Jones

Another number 1 pick, outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, has missed 12 games in three years. That included missing nine in 2014.

This is the last year of his contract, so he has some incentive to put together a great season.

Ryan Shazier

Another number 1 pick, inside linebacker Ryan Shazier, has missed 11 games in two years. That included seven in his rookie season of 2014.

Shazier has shown sparks of excellence, but he needs a full, healthy season to bring it to full potential.

David DeCastro

Back in 2012, Guard David DeCastro was a number 1 pick, and he did not even last through the preseason. He injured his right knee in the third preseason game, but he was able to return and play the final three games of the 2012 season.

DeCastro missed 13 games in 2012, and one in 2013. He has, however, become one of the best offensive guards in the league, according to their grading system.

Bud Dupree

This year, the number 1 pick from 2015 will miss only the first half of the season -- hopefully. Bud Dupree, another outside linebacker, was placed on injured reserve by the Steelers after he had surgery last week for a sports hernia.

Under the IR rules, a player will miss six games and then will have two weeks to get into shape to play again.

That assumes that his rehab proceeds well enough to be cleared to play by the medical staff.

Why?

Why do bad things happen to good people? That is one of those existential questions for philosophers, but for football players who wear the black and gold, this is happening entirely too often.

I hope that no more number 1s bite the dust, or any other draft picks. We need some good health this year.

Tweet about Dupree

Ray Fittipaldo
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@rayfitt1

Bud Dupree's surgery to repair his abdominal/groin injury took place last week.
5:03 PM - 4 Sep 2016





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