Tag: Cam Heyward

Cam Heyward tears into controversial Week 15 officiating vs Eagles

Cam Heyward calls out poor officiating in the Week 15 Steelers-Eagles game that saw several questionable penalty decisions made.

As viewers of the Week 15 contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles are well aware, the officiating was—to say the least—terrible.

Veteran Steelers DT Cam Heyward took exception with two poor calls in particular, one that saw his little brother TE/FB Connor Heyward being punched, and the other was TE Darnell Washington being slugged by Eagles CB Darius Slay.

On the most recent episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, the Steelers defensive tackle discussed both of the atrocious officiating decisions: “The reasoning behind those two plays just felt idiotic.”

Heyward would continue to rip into the officials’ decisions and vision on these penalties, arguing that it “did not feel like they even looked at the plays.”

Heyward concluded his analysis and criticism of the officials from Week 15’s contest, describing that, at the very least, the penalties should have offset between Washington and Slay.

Heyward will need to recompose himself, as the team has little time to focus on the poor officiating from Week 15. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the potential to take the AFC North title by defeating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, and to do so, every bit of energy and effort will need to be spent on stopping the Lamar Jackson-led offense.

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NFL analyst breaks down Pittsburgh Steelers elite Week 14 pass rush

Brian Baldinger, best known for his ‘Baldy’s Breakdowns’, highlighted how intense the Steelers pass rush was against the Browns in Week 14.

Fans of the old-school style of great Pittsburgh Steelers defenses have surely enjoyed the 2024 season so far. The team boasts one of the most elite defensive lines in the NFL, featuring several of the league’s top defenders, including T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Cam Heyward, to name a few.

Brian Baldinger, an NFL analyst, highlighted a play that showcased what all four of these players are capable of when on the field together.

Baldinger’s description of the four Steelers defenders perfectly captures their impact, as these elite players consistently hunt down opposing quarterbacks come game time.

While there was much debate about how the Pittsburgh Steelers should utilize OLBs Highsmith, Watt, and Herbig together, Week 14 proved that the defense is at its best when all three are available.

The Black and Gold will need these defenders at their peak when they head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in Week 15, on December 15 at 4:25 PM EST.

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PFF argues Cam Heyward deserves more 2024 DPOY recognition

35 year old DT Cam Heyward’s case for DPOY in 2024 gains traction, thanks to his incredible production in 2024.

Not only is DT Cam Heyward seemingly unable to age, but he is also putting together one of his best seasons to date at 35 years old. In what can only be described as a similar situation to Benjamin Button, Pro Football Focus has taken notice of Heyward’s dominance in 2024.

The ever-polarizing PFF has typically been unkind to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but no one can deny Heyward’s phenomenal start to the season. Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus argued that Heyward’s case for Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 isn’t so far-fetched.

Locker stated that Heyward’s consideration for the award is based on his production for his age and his ability to excel against both the pass and the run: “In fact, Heyward is one of two NFL defenders to have a 90.0-plus pass-rushing and 80.0-plus run-defense grade, joining Lions safety Brian Branch.”

If Heyward can continue his excellence through the final four games of the Steelers’ season, should he be considered over Watt for the award? While prestigious, one can assume Heyward would prefer a different trophy in 2024: a Lombardi.

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Steelers fans would never guess what’s fueling defensive takeaways

The Steelers lead the NFL in turnovers is fueled by an unexpected motivator: T-shirts handed out to defenders for creating takeaways.

With athletes in today’s sports making upwards of $50 million per year, what could possibly still motivate them? It could be a mix of motivations—like building a legacy, chasing a championship, or even something as simple as… a T-shirt? You read that right. ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor wrote an intriguing article describing how the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is motivated by earning T-shirts for creating turnovers.

Pryor explained how Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin hands out T-shirts with phrases like “The Culture” and “Takeaways” printed on the front. These shirts are awarded individually to players involved in takeaways, such as OLB Preston Smith, who recovered a fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. Smith described how the defense is going crazy over the shirts and how this simple idea has been incredibly effective in giving players extra motivation.

With the Steelers leading the NFL with 25 turnovers, perhaps the other 31 teams should try handing out clothing items. Minkah Fitzpatrick could snag his first turnover T-shirt with an interception against Jameis Winston and the Browns in Week 14.

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Cam Heyward calls out NFL over Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair suspension

Cam Heyward shares his thoughts on Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension, questioning the NFL’s consistency in enforcing suspensions and fines.

One of the biggest stories in the NFL right now is Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair being suspended for three games following a late hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, a hit that forced Jacksonville to place their quarterback on IR. Steelers DT Cam Heyward, one of the NFL’s most respected veteran defenders, shared his thoughts on the matter on the most recent episode of his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.

Heyward acknowledged the hit on Lawrence was dirty but described it as a “bang-bang call”, arguing defenders must be cautious of fake slides and whether a QB is truly giving themselves up.

Another interesting argument that Heyward made, one that no one seems to be mentioning, is that the NFL’s Vice President of the Policy and Rules administration, John Runyan, has more than his fair share of ‘dirty’ plays.  The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle argued that Runyan and the NFL suspending Azeez was like “the pot calling the kettle black.”

While Azeez’s appeal was denied, Heyward raises important questions about whether the NFL is consistent in enforcing suspensions and fines.

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Steelers DT discusses brutal hit on Bengals RB

Cam Heyward reflects on the huge Chase Brown hit and the ensuing reaction, showcasing his dominant season as the Steelers’ veteran leader.

One of the biggest hits of the season took place between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13.  Co-host of the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward podcast, Hayden Walsh, asked the Steelers defensive tackle to discuss the play where he blew up Bengals RB Chase Brown in the backfield during Week 13. Though unintentional, Heyward stated that officials during the game informed him that while the hit was clean, stepping over Brown went too far.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman hilariously referenced the photo of him standing over Brown, comparing it to NBA’s Allen Iverson standing over Tyronn Lue, but explained that he was simply trying to stand up after making the play.

Walsh continued to stir the pot, letting Heyward know that the play caused him, like most of the Steel City, to jump out of their seats. Heyward chuckled, stating, “I was trying to wake up everyone in the seats.”

Plays like the one where Heyward blew up Brown on the run have become increasingly common in recent weeks for the Steelers defensive tackle. At 35 years old, Heyward continues to turn back the clock, putting together a career year this season.

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Steelers fans react to ‘Hard Knocks: In Season with AFC North’ premiere

Steelers fans were captivated by the debut of ‘Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North’, sharing their excitement on social media.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the most entertainment Steelers fans could have ever dreamed of was experienced last Tuesday night during HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North debut episode.

The premiere of the AFC North’s rendition of Hard Knocks went off with a bang and showcased not only several important storylines fans have grown familiar with during the 2024 season but also shed light on some important behind-the-scenes revelations for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Aside from the backstage point of view and the inner workings of what went into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game plan for Week 13’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, there were several fun and exciting moments throughout. From HC Mike Tomlin’s passion to the Heyward brothers’ hilarious dynamic, fans were in love with the new series’ debut. With that in mind, here are some of the best fan reactions to the premiere of Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North.

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Steelers DT welcomes the challenge tough six-game stretch brings

The Steelers face a challenging six-game stretch, but Cam Heyward’s leadership offers a steady focus on improvement and perseverance.

Competition breeds excellence! Within this final six-game stretch to end the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Cincinnati Bengals’ explosive offense twice, three fearsome Super Bowl contenders in the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles, as well as the Cleveland Browns, who already defeated Pittsburgh once this season. However, Steelers DT Cam Heyward offers an interesting perspective on how the team should handle the troubling schedule realization.

During Wednesday’s media availability leading up to the Week 13 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, Heyward stated, “I think when you look at our schedule, you know you can’t change anything. You can’t cry about it. I think you look at it as who’s next on the list and how can we improve from our last performance.”

As a veteran presence and leader in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room, Heyward checked all the right boxes you’d want in a proper rallying speech heading into this tough six-game stretch.

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DT Cam Heyward blasts Urban Meyer for Ohio State alumni disrespect

Cam Heyward criticizes Urban Meyer for dismissing alumni like Mike Vrabel and praises Ryan Day for restoring Ohio State’s connections.

It is safe to say Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cam Heyward may share something in common with much of the Jacksonville Jaguars fanbase: their dislike of former HC Urban Meyer.

On the defensive tackle’s podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, the veteran Steeler was asked his opinion on the recent comments fellow Ohio State alumnus Mike Vrabel made about Meyer. Vrabel had worked with Meyer, who was the head coach of Ohio State from 2012 to 2018 and defensive line coach from 2012 to 2013, but when the two met in the NFL, Meyer pretended he didn’t know who he was.

Heyward didn’t hold back with his comments: “I got a lot of respect for Vrabes, so to hear someone like Urban Meyer, who won a championship with that guy, kind of spit in his face with that comment, I’m not for that. There’s a reason why when I left there, there was a drop-off in communication with alumni.”

Heyward continued to air his frustrations with Meyer but credited current Ohio State HC Ryan Day with repairing the damage Meyer had done.

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Steelers to battle Bengals and cold weather in another icy matchup

The Steelers face another week of freezing conditions in Ohio, taking on the Bengals in Week 13 after a snowy Week 12 loss to Cleveland.

It appears the Pittsburgh Steelers cannot catch a break when playing games in Ohio. Last week against the Cleveland Browns, in what can only be described as a blizzard bowl, the team lost a heartbreaking Week 12 matchup, 24-19. Heading into Week 13 in Cincinnati, the weather conditions are once again less than ideal.

While the snow from Week 12 may not be there, freezing temperatures around 29°F appear to be awaiting the Steel City as they take on the Bengals in Week 13, with winds gusting up to eight miles per hour.

This may not be pleasant news for WR George Pickens, who was very vocal following Week 12’s loss about how the weather heavily impacted the game’s outcome. However, Steelers veteran DT Cam Heyward cleared the icy air surrounding this speculative blame game, stating that the weather offered the Browns no advantage over the Steelers.

Fans of the Black and Gold can watch the frigid Week 13 matchup on December 1 at 1:00 PM EST.

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