The Steelers have traditionally always had tough defenses, which is what makes this team now really tough to watch right now.
The defense has been in steady decline, and Steelers fans have had to watch the guys that lead some of the best defenses in modern football history walk away.
While watching the game against the Browns, Cam Heyward briefly appeared to be injured after a cut block from Joe Thomas. I actually said out loud at the time “Not Cam! He’s only only good defender!”
That might be a slight exaggeration, but not by much.
Lawrence Timmons I’d say has lived up to his first round pick status, but he’s not a truly scary defender for offenses.
Cam Heyward started his career slowly, but Heyward now is the only guy on this defense that reminds me of some of my favorite Steelers defenders of the past.
Cam Heyward is currently on pace for an 8 sack season, which would be the first Steelers DE to reach that number since Aaron Smith did it in 2004.
When I think of Steelers defense, I think of guys like Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter, and James Harrison that truly scare people and bring it every Sunday.
Cam Heyward is the only guy that seems to bring it every week. Too many Steelers defenders now look hesitant out there, but not Cam who bull-rushed the Browns RT about 8 yards for a sack early in the Browns game.
He’s also become a leader of the defense as a whole.
The Steelers obviously value Cam as an integral part of the team picking up his option next season which will pay him $6.9 million in 2015.
I’d be somewhat surprised though if Cam plays out 2015 at that number, because I think that the Steelers would love to lock him up long term at some point during training camp.
2 comments
Kevin Colbert & Omar Khan can NOT be allowed to hand out Contract ext’s $ this offseason they BOTH need to go! Its time the Rooney’s look OUTSIDE the organization to start the REBUILDING process.
Some of their re-signings definitely look questionable now. Cortez and Gilbert were retained because they really had no viable options behind those guys. That’s probably a bad reason for an extension but you can sort of see why they’d do it.
That being said, it’s not a reason for them to make the mistake of letting Cam Heyward walk.