Steelers defense has improved despite loss of Heyward for season
PITTSBURGH 鈥� The stats when Cam Heyward was in and out of the lineup with his hamstring injury are well-documented.
The Steelers defensive end was sorely missed in losses to Miami and New England, and also while playing with only one good arm in the loss to Dallas.
And when Heyward was placed on IR with a torn pectoral muscle the day after the Dallas game, the defense was expected to go from bad to worse.
Instead, it has gone from bad to, um, great?
The Steelers have won four consecutive games since losing Heyward for the season, and in those games have allowed an average of 12.5 points, 257 yards and 3.7 yards per carry. The points and yardage would rank first in the season-long rankings, and the yards-per-carry would rank fourth. The Steelers鈥� 18 sacks in these last four games lead the NFL.
So, without the heart and soul, inarguably one of the top one or two players on the unit, the Steelers have improved.
How can that be?
鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening to the defensive front happened to us last year,鈥� said guard Ramon Foster. 鈥淲e lost (Maurkice) Pouncey and people stepped up. People got better because they had to get better, and then when they got better they developed a real confidence in themselves. It carried over to this year and I think you鈥檙e seeing that with Pounce back we鈥檙e a pretty good unit.鈥�
Pretty good? The Steelers offensive line has been utterly dominating of late.
鈥淚 think you鈥檙e seeing the same thing with (Stephon) Tuitt and those guys stepping up this year,鈥� Foster said. 鈥淎nd then next year when Cam comes back, those guys are going to be terrifying.鈥�
Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier, who鈥檚 health and development has certainly been another aspect of the recent dominance, is seeing that dynamic at work.
鈥淓very time a brother鈥檚 down, you always want to fight a little harder,鈥� Shazier said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e closer to him than anybody else on the team. They鈥檙e in the room with him every day. A lot of them hang out with each other outside the facility, so they understand how Cam feels because he鈥檚 still around. You can definitely see that they鈥檙e trying to fight harder for him.鈥�
Heyward, unlike Pouncey last year, still shows up on the sideline and in the locker room. But not being an active part of this hot streak is, of course, killing him.
鈥淚t is. It is,鈥� Heyward said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to even talk about it. But I鈥檓 happy for these guys. I share knowledge when I can but these guys are putting it down on the field every week.鈥�
Does Heyward agree with Foster鈥檚 theory?
鈥淵eah, they鈥檙e all playing well,鈥� Heyward said. 鈥淲hen I do get back I鈥檝e got to catch up and do more. I鈥檝e got to hold up my end of the bargain. But I鈥檓 happy with these guys. They鈥檙e playing well in all three categories: stopping the run, getting at the pass, sacks/turnovers. I feel like they鈥檝e really started to turn it on as of late. I want to be a part of this defense sooner or later.鈥�
Heyward also agrees with Foster鈥檚 assessment of the offensive line.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 replace an All-Pro but they were still having their jelling moments,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey were rushing the ball well, keeping Ben (Roethlisberger) upright. Then the next year when they brought Pouncey back into it, I thought they took another step. They did. You saw a lot of growth. Al (Villanueva) had to step up. Ramon had to become more of a leader in that role. He definitely stepped up. Dave (DeCastro) had a Pro Bowl year out of that. Gil (Marcus Gilbert) took another step as well. Those guys really took a monumental step in settling that offensive line. Before that, you had guys all over the place and still learning, but last year the offensive line took a step toward becoming one of the best in the league.鈥�
Offensively, the Steelers are second in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed and are opening enough holes in the run game that Le鈥橵eon Bell has become a legitimate MVP contender.
That鈥檚 quite a standard for the defensive front to reach, but they appear to be on their way.
NOTES: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley on the promotion of rookie WR Demarcus Ayers: 鈥淗e has worked really hard. I think that is part of the reward of getting called up. Now, getting a helmet is another issue.鈥� 鈥� Foster and his replacement at LG last week, B.J. Finney, both practiced Thursday, along with RT Marcus Gilbert and NT Javon Hargrave. Out were RB DeAngelo Williams (knee), S Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot). Williams had practiced Wednesday in the first of what鈥檚 expected to be three practices on the indoor artificial surface. 鈥� All of the Cincinnati Bengals starters practiced, although WR A.J. Green (hamstring) was limited for a second consecutive day.