Versatile Heyward moves into new role

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers notebook: Versatile Heyward moves into new role

By Mark Kaboly
Published: Thursday, June 5, 2014

Cam Heyward doesn't have the beard of Brett Keisel, but the Steelers appear set to turn Heyward into the next Keisel anyway.

Heyward — a former first-round pick who enjoyed a breakout season last year — is taking over the role of Keisel as not only the most experienced player on the defensive line but at his former position as well.

Through the first two weeks of organized team activities, Heyward has flipped from the left defensive end position where he started 13 games last year to the right side to replace Keisel, who remains on the free agent market.

Heyward, who has played left and right in his career, downplayed the move.

“I've done it all my career playing behind (Ziggy Hood) and Keisel, and it makes me better to be able to play both,” Heyward said. “I am comfortable if they want me to (play right defensive end.)”

Heyward is also being incorporated into the role Keisel had in sub packages where he stands up to rush the passer rather than have his hand on the ground. Heyward had five sacks last season making him a viable option in the pass-rushing game.

“I learned from Keisel a little bit,” Heyward said. “We want to play a little bit of a mixer and show different packages of us moving around so the offense can't get a bead on us.”

Big Ben excited

Ben Roethlisberger is the oldest player on offense as he enters his 11th season, and the Steelers' franchise quarterback is approaching OTAs like an undrafted rookie trying to make the team.

“I love being out here, and I love the game,” Roethlisberger said. “I feel younger than ever. I am excited about playing football; I am excited about this team and the direction I think we are headed.”

Roethlisberger has taken part in five of the six offseason practices. The only one he missed was because of a death in the family.

Work in progress

Linebacker Sean Spence successfully has navigated his way back from a gruesome knee injury two years ago that had his future in jeopardy to be able to participate in all six of the OTAs so far.

However, the former third-round pick out of Miami knows there are some major obstacles ahead of him before he can be labeled a success story.

“It is still a process,” Spence said. “This is just step one of coming out and competing and reacting off of other guys instead of cones. When I get to Latrobe, I will be able to test it even more there.”

Wheaton's new mentor

Second-year wide receiver Markus Wheaton spent the majority of his rookie year following around veteran Jerricho Cotchery.

With Cotchery gone to Carolina, Wheaton has found another veteran receiver to latch on to: Lance Moore.

“I feel like I am following him now,” Wheaton said. “When I have a question and Ben isn't around, I am going straight to Lance and asking him what he thinks about it. Since I don't have (Jerricho Cotchery) to lean on, I am kind of leaning on him now.”

Wheaton has run almost exclusively with the first-team offense opposite of Antonio Brown.

“It's less watching so I am enjoying it,” Wheaton said.

Odds and ends

The Steelers have four OTAs schedule for next week … Maurkice Pouncey did not participate Thursday. He also skipped a day last week as he recovers from his knee injury … Troy Polamalu has yet to show up for OTAs and isn't expected to be present until mandatory minicamp from June 17-19.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/...#ixzz33qeS2zba[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Seems odd that Wheaton has attached himself to Moore, considering that Wheaton has been in this offense for a full year already, while Moore only has 6 OTA practices in this offense under his belt. Granted, Moore has extensive NFL experience, just not in this particular offense until now.

[raycafan]

Seems odd that Wheaton has attached himself to Moore, considering that Wheaton has been in this offense for a full year already, while Moore only has 6 OTA practices in this offense under his belt. Granted, Moore has extensive NFL experience, just not in this particular offense until now.

Could be more like coverage issues, and how Moore would adjust to the given coverage. Plus, pass routes are pass routes only the names are changed to protect the innocent.

[Captain Lemming]

Seems odd that Wheaton has attached himself to Moore, considering that Wheaton has been in this offense for a full year already, while Moore only has 6 OTA practices in this offense under his belt. Granted, Moore has extensive NFL experience, just not in this particular offense until now.

Ummm Moore might be the wrong guy anyway, Wheaton fails and Moore is the man.


"Sure Ill be happy to help ya kid."
"The key to getting open is to think like a DB."
"Stick to the DB like glue"
"It will CONFUSE him when you run towards him and not away from him."

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Could be more like coverage issues, and how Moore would adjust to the given coverage. Plus, pass routes are pass routes only the names are changed to protect the innocent.

exactly... how do you handle a man in your face. tips to get free from coverage. when i run this route, where do you settle in the zone. how can you tell it's a zone. how do you know when you're the hot read... etc. stuff that every experienced NFL WR would know.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers DE Cam Heyward will play on right side in 2014

By Neal Coolong on Jun 7 2014



Steelers looking to fully utilize strength and athleticism of "Wreck It" Heyward in 2014.

Much was made out of which outside linebacker would shade the left tackle in the Steelers' defense last season. Jason Worilds had a breakout year thanks partially to the right tackles and tight ends he faced over the second half of the 2013 season. The rookie, Jarvis Jones, rushed off the defensive right side, and had a bit less success.

The Steelers are going to give him some help.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward, the team's most disruptive defensive player in 2013, will shift over to the right side, giving him something of a hand in hitting the left tackle - often the team's best pass blocker - theoretically freeing Jones up off the blindside edge.

It's not an incredibly big change; Heyward was playing all over the formation by the end of last season, and earned the nickname "Wreck It" for the damage he caused in doing it. Much of that damage was caused in sub package situations in which Heyward rushed from the interior.

The benefactor here is Jones. Having a strong pass rusher in front of him, a player with Heyward's athleticism and strength, can help the Steelers utilize Jones' quickness and mitigate his increasing strength. The AFC North - the version of it the Steelers will play - has three outstanding left tackles, Baltimore's Eugene Monroe, Cincinnati's Andrew Whitworth and Cleveland's Joe Thomas. The strength of their opponents may be as much of the reason for this move than anything, but the reality is, Heyward is the team's best defensive lineman, and using him against the strength of the opponents' blocking schemes is the smart decision.

Tribune Review reporter Mark Kaboly wrote the Steelers will utilize him in stand-up rush positions like they've done with Brett Keisel in the past. Having him stand up can really pressure an offense in the sense he can slant down the line and pressure the A-gap as part of a tackle-end stunt, or attack the outside shoulder of the tackle in an effort to open up the B-gap for an inside or outside linebacker.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014/6/7/5788424/steelers-defensive-line-positions-starters-depth-chart-roster-otas-2014[/URL]

[Shawn]

Maybe someone could enlighten me...someone who has played the game. But, why would you want to pit strength against strength? Logically speaking, I would want my strength against an opponents weakness, that's what you call a mismatch. I would want Heyward against the RT, and my best LBr right beside him. I would think at least in pass rush situations that would be ideal. In the run game I can see why that could be a problem but I would think that a guy like Joe Thomas has a good shot at neutralizing a guy like Heyward essentially taking him out of the game.

[Slapstick]

I guess in in neutralizing Heyward, he also neutralizes himself...if Joe Thomas is blocking Heyward, then who is blocking Jarvis Jones?

If it is a RB or maybe a TE, the Steelers are thinking that is a mismatch...

[Shawn]

That's a possibility. Obviously, I'm wrong in my thinking and just want to know why.

[Shoe]

Maybe someone could enlighten me...someone who has played the game. But, why would you want to pit strength against strength? Logically speaking, I would want my strength against an opponents weakness, that's what you call a mismatch. I would want Heyward against the RT, and my best LBr right beside him. I would think at least in pass rush situations that would be ideal. In the run game I can see why that could be a problem but I would think that a guy like Joe Thomas has a good shot at neutralizing a guy like Heyward essentially taking him out of the game.

Well I don't think you need any actual playing, to make sense of it. I think it just depends if you think your strength can beat their strength. e.g. If putting our strength there (Heyward) means he starts whipping them at their strength, it will be big for us. And vice versa. If we put Heyward there and he suddenly turns back into 2012 Heyward, we are in bad shape.

Heyward's development is going to be huge for us. We lack playmakers and identity at this point (defensively). And so TBH, I think putting him here is slightly risky. I have a feeling he'll be fine, but if it stunts his growth... that'll suck.

[birtikidis]

Maybe someone could enlighten me...someone who has played the game. But, why would you want to pit strength against strength? Logically speaking, I would want my strength against an opponents weakness, that's what you call a mismatch. I would want Heyward against the RT, and my best LBr right beside him. I would think at least in pass rush situations that would be ideal. In the run game I can see why that could be a problem but I would think that a guy like Joe Thomas has a good shot at neutralizing a guy like Heyward essentially taking him out of the game.

Well if you'd prefer Joe Thomas bulldozing your defensive end and creating a huge mismatch in favor of the Browns offense, be my guest... Just don't coach for the Steelers.. go somewhere else, like baltimore or something.

[feltdizz]

Seems odd that Wheaton has attached himself to Moore, considering that Wheaton has been in this offense for a full year already, while Moore only has 6 OTA practices in this offense under his belt. Granted, Moore has extensive NFL experience, just not in this particular offense until now.

Why wouldn't he take notes from a vet?

[Flasteel]

Maybe someone could enlighten me...someone who has played the game. But, why would you want to pit strength against strength? Logically speaking, I would want my strength against an opponents weakness, that's what you call a mismatch. I would want Heyward against the RT, and my best LBr right beside him. I would think at least in pass rush situations that would be ideal. In the run game I can see why that could be a problem but I would think that a guy like Joe Thomas has a good shot at neutralizing a guy like Heyward essentially taking him out of the game.

You are basically trying to negate and even flip a mismatch those elite LTs normally enjoy. If Heyward can match-up with these tackles, then their advantage is gone. If it helps keep J. Jones free to attack the edge or fill in run support (assuming he makes that year 2 leap), then the advantage has swung to us. They will have to slide their protection schemes and keep guys back to protect, instead of releasing. That would in turn, create other weak spots for our defense to exploit.

[Shawn]

You are basically trying to negate and even flip a mismatch those elite LTs normally enjoy. If Heyward can match-up with these tackles, then their advantage is gone. If it helps keep J. Jones free to attack the edge or fill in run support (assuming he makes that year 2 leap), then the advantage has swung to us. They will have to slide their protection schemes and keep guys back to protect, instead of releasing. That would in turn, create other weak spots for our defense to exploit.

Thanks for explaining to me instead of being rude like Birt. I do understand the logic, and in the run game it makes sense to me. But, in passing situation even if Thomas is getting the best of the DE, he can't protect the right side and the goal is to get to the QB. I would think in passing situations creating a mistmatch, our strength vs the O's weakness makes sense in getting pressure against the QB.

[Slapstick]

Thanks for explaining to me instead of being rude like Birt. I do understand the logic, and in the run game it makes sense to me. But, in passing situation even if Thomas is getting the best of the DE, he can't protect the right side and the goal is to get to the QB. I would think in passing situations creating a mistmatch, our strength vs the O's weakness makes sense in getting pressure against the QB.

If you have Heyward negating their best o-lineman, then who is blocking Jones? Or Worilds on the other side (presuming Tuitt is occupying their best o-lineman on that side)?