Steelers DT Cam Heyward is Missing One Thing
As a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro selection, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward is one of the most decorated defensive linemen in team history.
Pittsburgh and the Steel Curtain were literally founded on transcendent talents in the trenches, a reputation that Heyward has helped keep alive in the modern era. As he heads into his 13th training camp as a pro, Heyward talked about his goals for the upcoming season.
When asked about ending the Steelers' six-year playoff win drought, Heyward referred to that as "low-hanging fruit," explaining to the media that "there's more to accomplish than just winning one playoff game."
He's certainly not wrong by any means. After all, this is Pittsburgh, and the steel city isn't satisfied with anything less than a celebration involving a Lombardi trophy.
As for how he plans on making that dream become a reality, Heyward stated that his goal was to be the number one defense in the league. With a fully healthy T.J. Watt in the fold, that is certainly a realistic outcome in reach for this unit. Alex Highsmith and Larry Ogunjobi both received lucrative contracts to keep them around for the foreseeable future, giving Pittsburgh a ferocious front that's capable of taking over games in an instant. The pieces, especially up front, are certainly present on paper for this unit to take another step forward in 2023.
Even if Watt has taken the mantle of the Steelers' best player, Heyward is just as much the heart and soul of this team. He's their longest-tenured player, a captain, and, most importantly, a really good player, even at age 34.
In the second half of the 2022 season, Heyward found his groove and went on an absolute tear for the ages.
After Week 9, Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones was the only defensive lineman to register more sacks and total pressures on the quarterback than Heyward, according to PFF. That obviously coincides with the return of Watt, but Heyward's production down the stretch was a huge reason that Pittsburgh nearly crept into the playoffs.
Around the league, you're starting to see more and more interior defensive linemen get massive contracts from their respective teams. The position group itself is more loaded than perhaps it has ever been, but Heyward is still one of the premier talents nonetheless. After back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns, the pass-rushing numbers speak for themselves, but it's rare for a player to be equally effective against the run as well.
Most players are specialists who excel in one area or another, but the truly elite forces, like Heyward, are the guys who are well-rounded and can impact the game in a myriad of ways.
In the meantime, the former first-round pick continues to climb the Steelers record books, trailing James Harrison by just 2.5 sacks for the all-time franchise record. He may not hold that honor for very long with Watt hot on his trail, but it just illuminates the point of the type of impact that he's had over the course of his career in black and gold.
Pittsburgh's had several talented, disruptive defenses over the past decade, and none of those would've reached their peak with Heyward as a focal point upfront.
Heyward has the awards, he's headed for more records and has already established a very well-respected reputation within Steelers lore, but there's just one thing missing: a championship.
When you get drafted to the organization that was the first in league history to obtain six Super Bowl wins, you're judged heavily on your ability to add to the trophy case. As great as Heyward has been, his teams have come up short in that quest so far to date.
In seven career postseason appearances, the defensive end has registered just one sack and six quarterback hits, granted that's such a small sample size to really pass much judgment. He's always been a team-first player, and his number-one priority right now extends well beyond the stat sheet. It's about making a push for that elusive Super Bowl ring.
Even as he continues to outrun father time, it's impossible for him to play forever, meaning this Pittsburgh Steelers team must operate with a heightened sense of urgency. Even with a second-year quarterback and a young, developing supporting cast on offense, the clock is ticking, and there's no time to waste. Judging by his explosion in the second half of last season, Heyward still has plenty of gas left in the tank for one final push, but the time to act is now while they still have one of their foundational pieces at the tail end of his prime.
Pittsburgh will once again be relying on their defense to carry this team to the postseason next season, and in order for that to happen, Heyward will play a massive role in doing so.
Here's hoping that the entire squad can take a leap forward next year and help Heyward reel in that evasive Super Bowl ring. He definitely deserves it.
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