Cam Heyward could be Steelers first double-digit sack artist since 2010

[polamalubeast]

It's not often we see players return from injury playing the best football of their career, but that's what is happening with Steelers defensive end, Cameron Heyward.

Heyward's been great throughout his entire career, but this year, coming off a season-ending injury in 2016, he's been out of this world. Believe it or not, Heyward is on pace to not only shatter his personal single-season sack record, but this pace puts him on track to be the first Steelers pass-rusher with double-digit sacks since 2010.

Let's take a brief look at how close the Steelers have come to this milestone since that year.

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[BlackAndGold]

He's a All Pro player.

It would be laughable if he doesn't make the pro bowl.

[st33lersguy]

He has been dominant all year

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

He has been dominant all year

Yes, but not that many watch the D line play and I hope he gets his due.

Similarly, Marcus Gilbert is having a great year as well(in spite of the hamstring injury) and he is Pro Bowl worthy IMO. The injury might keep him from 1st team all pro, but again I don't think many fans give him the credit for the season he is having....again.

[polamalubeast]

[FrancoLambert]

Heyward and Tuitt are playing like beasts.

[Butch]

Heyward and Tuitt are playing like beasts.

IMHO these 2 together are the equivalent of having Quiver and Quake.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

IMHO these 2 together are the equivalent of having Quiver and Quake.

remember when we thought that Aaron Smith was the best 5 technique in the NFL but nobody gave him credit because they all run 4-3 defenses? I would make a case that both Heyward and Tuitt are better than Smith was. :jawdrop:

[DesertSteel]

remember when we thought that Aaron Smith was the best 5 technique in the NFL but nobody gave him credit because they all run 4-3 defenses? I would make a case that both Heyward and Tuitt are better than Smith was. :jawdrop:

I agree on Cam. Tuitt is one year away IMO.

[pczach]

remember when we thought that Aaron Smith was the best 5 technique in the NFL but nobody gave him credit because they all run 4-3 defenses? I would make a case that both Heyward and Tuitt are better than Smith was. :jawdrop:

Aaron Smith was a force of nature against the run. He was just so damn strong, had great technique, and was a tremendous player with a great motor.

Heyward and Tuitt are strong against the run, but they are both more athletic and better pass rushers.

It would have been interesting to see Smith play in this version of Steelers defense. He would also have more opportunities to rush the passer and been allowed to get more penetration in the current scheme.

All I know is that we are all very lucky to have had all of them. Heyward and Tuitt still have more work to do for their careers. Cam is now at his peak. Tuitt is going to still get better.

Good times!

[86WARD]

Heyward has been Just Plain Nasty. Any update on what happened to him last night?

[Hawkman]

Heyward has been Just Plain Nasty. Any update on what happened to him last night?

Must not have been terrible or we would have heard.

[tube517]

Heyward has been Just Plain Nasty. Any update on what happened to him last night?

"Bumps and bruises associated with football."
-Cool Shades Press Conference

[86WARD]

"Bumps and bruises associated with football."
-Cool Shades Press Conference

Lol. He just has a way with words.

[Hawkman]

No worries, he was back on the field for the last two series.....and that silly defensive celebration

[86WARD]

No worries, he was back on the field for the last two series.....and that silly defensive celebration

Thanks. I couldn’t remember.

[teegre]

I held my breath when Heyward was laying on the ground. I didn’t pay attention to the game again, until I saw him back on the field. Whew!!!

[tube517]

I held my breath when Heyward was laying on the ground. I didn’t pay attention to the game again, until I saw him back on the field. Whew!!!

He was in the goofy celebration after the last pick.

[st33lersguy]

Don't look now but Vince Williams has 6 sacks

[pczach]

Don't look now but Vince Williams has 6 sacks

The difference is that Williams is getting his sacks as a result of the scheme. He's usually coming unblocked or a blown assignment on the LB cross by an offensive lineman to get to the Qb. It's not like he's running over guards and tackles in 1-on-1 battles to get to the QB.

Good for him. He's making the most of his opportunities and getting quarterbacks flushed out of the pocket by a better pass rush, and a secondary that has been holding coverage much better to make quarterbacks hold the ball.

It's just a little different for a DL or Edge player with a 320 lb man in their face.

[teegre]

The difference is that Williams is getting his sacks as a result of the scheme. He's usually coming unblocked or a blown assignment on the LB cross by an offensive lineman to get to the Qb. It's not like he's running over guards and tackles in 1-on-1 battles to get to the QB.

Good for him. He's making the most of his opportunities and getting quarterbacks flushed out of the pocket by a better pass rush, and a secondary that has been holding coverage much better to make quarterbacks hold the ball.

It's just a little different for a DL or Edge player with a 320 lb man in their face.

Think about this, though...

Most pass-rushers get 45-50 opportunities per game to go up against those 320 lbs. behemoths; whereas, an ILB only gets 5-6 opportunities per game to rush the passer.

In other words, Vincenzo has had about 45-50 opportunities (about one game’s worth), and he’s gotten 6 sacks. That is pretty impressive.

[DesertSteel]

Think about this, though...

Most pass-rushers get 45-50 opportunities per game to go up against those 320 lbs. behemoths; whereas, an ILB only gets 5-6 opportunities per game to rush the passer.

In other words, Vincenzo has had about 45-50 opportunities (about one game’s worth), and he’s gotten 6 sacks. That is pretty impressive.

I agree. As fans we laud some and downgrade others using the exact same metrics. VW deserves his due.

[pczach]

Think about this, though...

Most pass-rushers get 45-50 opportunities per game to go up against those 320 lbs. behemoths; whereas, an ILB only gets 5-6 opportunities per game to rush the passer.

In other words, Vincenzo has had about 45-50 opportunities (about one game’s worth), and he’s gotten 6 sacks. That is pretty impressive.

I hear what you're saying.

I'm not bashing Williams. I'm simply explaining the differences in the way he gets them when someone introduced Williams into this thread about Heyward.

Heyward is having to defeat offensive linemen, track the quarterback, and then be able to bring him down. Williams is operating in space, but when he is engaged by an offensive lineman, he isn't able to defeat the block and get to the quarterback.

It's just completely different.

- - - Updated - - -

I agree. As fans we laud some and downgrade others using the exact same metrics. VW deserves his due.

They're not the same metrics. He's an ILB blitzing compared to guys that line up across from blockers. Scheme has gotten him most of his sacks.

Coaches deserve their due as well.

[DesertSteel]

They're not the same metrics. He's an ILB blitzing compared to guys that line up across from blockers. Scheme has gotten him most of his sacks.

Coaches deserve their due as well.

To be clear I wasn't referring to ILBs and DEs, but specifically VW to Timmons and other ILBs. If sacks were so easy then why didn't LT put up numbers?

[teegre]

To clarify...

Vincenzo was brought into the discussion, because he, too, could have double-digit sacks.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

To clarify...

Vincenzo was brought into the discussion, because he, too, could have double-digit sacks.

Vince has been very underrated for a few years now.

[43Hitman]

I was saying at the beginning of the season that I thought a lot of people would be pleasantly surprised at how well VW would play in LT's spot. Sure it was a bit rocky at first, but he has settled in nicely. Looks like the Front Office made the right move again.

[Born2Steel]

VW has played better than I expected, I will admit that much. So much better that we haven't had a Matakevich discussion on here since around week 3/4. I credit a lot of that to our DL being a group of blocker eating monsters as well. This entire defense has impressed me this season. Still some room for improvement, but this unit has been fun to watch.

Cam has been on a different level since returning. I don't know if he spent much of his time in the film room while rehabbing, but it sure looks like it. He's in the backfield more consistently, and has been a bringer of chaos on nearly every snap. And I'm loving it.

[Psycho Ward 86]

VW has played better than I expected, I will admit that much. So much better that we haven't had a Matakevich discussion on here since around week 3/4. I credit a lot of that to our DL being a group of blocker eating monsters as well. This entire defense has impressed me this season. Still some room for improvement, but this unit has been fun to watch.

Cam has been on a different level since returning. I don't know if he spent much of his time in the film room while rehabbing, but it sure looks like it. He's in the backfield more consistently, and has been a bringer of chaos on nearly every snap. And I'm loving it.

Oh man, those were some good times . Nothing screams better than VW like making 10 tackles after 8 yard gains in that blowout loss to the Dolphins a season ago

[Mojouw]

Oh man, those were some good times . Nothing screams better than VW like making 10 tackles after 8 yard gains in that blowout loss to the Dolphins a season ago

I'm just going to pull this down. It was unnecessarily divisive and contributed nothing to the overall discussion.

It was an attempt at humor that was in poor taste and went down a road that is never constructive.

Apologize to everyone.