Steelers Extend Heyward thru 2020.

[Oviedo]

You would disagree.
You're one of those fantasy football if it didn't make the ESPN high light it didn't happen guys.
Tell Marshawn Lynch that he's a secondary part of the game.

Read my signature. Never played fantasy football and never will. I guess when you have no intelligent response based on substance the fall back is to attack the poster. I won't do that

[birtikidis]

Read my signature. Never played fantasy football and never will. I guess when you have no intelligent response based on substance the fall back is to attack the poster. I won't do that

You may not play but you have the MENTALLITY of a fantasy football player. You don't understand the game of football, you're a high light reel fan. If it doesn't excite you then it doesn't matter. Offensive and defensive line is the most NON glamorous positions on the field. If as a defensive lineman you CAN'T stop the run YOU ARE NO LONGER IN THE NFL. Just because you think it's a "Passing league" doesn't mean the other aspects don't matter. Last time I checked Marshawn Lynch was in the last couple super bowls, and they didn't get there because they're a passing team. One dimensional teams DO NOT WIN

[Oviedo]

You may not play but you have the MENTALLITY of a fantasy football player. You don't understand the game of football, you're a high light reel fan. If it doesn't excite you then it doesn't matter. Offensive and defensive line is the most NON glamorous positions on the field. If as a defensive lineman you CAN'T stop the run YOU ARE NO LONGER IN THE NFL. Just because you think it's a "Passing league" doesn't mean the other aspects don't matter. Last time I checked Marshawn Lynch was in the last couple super bowls, and they didn't get there because they're a passing team. One dimensional teams DO NOT WIN

Sure. I'm confident only you know football. Please direct me to the location of the your bust in the Hall of Fame. I'll stop by next time I'm there. Also, point out where I said any defensive lineman is a "revolving door" and can't play the run at all. I said the way the league is going, whether you like it or not, you have to be able to attack the QB. You and I just differ in where the emphasis is, but if you desperately come on this board and need someone to agree with you...sorry. I think attacking the passer is a much more important part of the NFL today, not because of stats, but because that is the most important player in an opponents offense and if you disrupt him you disrupt the offense.

[RuthlessBurgher]

For any player in the front seven, if you are solid against the run but a limited pass rusher, then you are only two down player at best. The team will keep you while you are cheap labor on a rookie contract, use you situationally on early run downs and on special teams, then let you walk when your contract comes due.

Similarly, if any player in the front seven can get to the passer but does not play gap sound against the run, then you are only a situational player in nickel and dime formations. The team will keep you while you are cheap labor on a rookie contract, use you situationally in passing situations and on special teams, then let you walk when your contract comes due.

If you can prove that you can do both of those things well and are a true everydown reliable impact player, then you get paid as such like Cam Heyward just did.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Personally, I think the talk about sacks is over rated. Sure they're great and make nifty high light reels on ESPN. But if a guy is a sieve in the running game but gets 10 sacks, I could care less.
That's the problem I always had with Worilds. Guy couldn't stop my grandmother from running off tackle, but he could get sacks. Heyward is worth every penny of that deal if he gets 1/2 the sacks he did last year. He almost single handedly shuts down runs to that side. I'd rather have a guy who shuts down the running game than a guy who gets a sack 8 times per year.

I agree. The number of sacks an individual gets is one of the most overrated, over hyped stats in football.

An offense typically runs around 1000+ plays per season. 50 to 60+ percent (500 to 600+ plays) of which are passing plays on most teams. People are excited about the proposition of 8 to 10 sacks, seriously? Or a player records 16 sacks in a season. That's an average of 1 sack per game.

I just don't see sack numbers as a huge difference maker for a defense. The pressure a defense can deliver consistently is much more important than the number of sacks achieved. Pressure shows up on film more often. QB's remember pressure.

Heyward is being paid because it's what it cost in today's market to keep a player of his caliber. I don't believe the Steelers will regret resigning him if he doesn't average 8 to 10 sacks per year. That feat is rare for 3-4 dlinemen.

[papillon]

I agree. The number of sacks an individual gets is one of the most overrated, over hyped stats in football.

An offense typically runs around 1000+ plays per season. 50 to 60+ percent (500 to 600+ plays) of which are passing plays on most teams. People are excited about the proposition of 8 to 10 sacks, seriously? Or a player records 16 sacks in a season. That's an average of 1 sack per game.

I just don't see sack numbers as a huge difference maker for a defense. The pressure a defense can deliver consistently is much more important than the number of sacks achieved. Pressure shows up on film more often. QB's remember pressure.

Heyward is being paid because it's what it cost in today's market to keep a player of his caliber. I don't believe the Steelers will regret resigning him if he doesn't average 8 to 10 sacks per year. That feat is rare for 3-4 dlinemen.

Here's the thing about sacks (and, by the way, I'm a stop the run first guy), getting a sack isn't easy. Offenses have changed, quick safe passing is all the rage and that makes it even more difficult to sack a quarterback. That being said, when a player can get 8-12 sacks a year under these conditions that player is capable of applying pressure often. Its this pressure and threat of being sacked that causes quarterbacks to hesitate or make poor decisions. If the threat isn't there, then the quarterback feels impervious to the pressure and will get through his reads and find open WRs.

The two best 3-4 DEs in Steeler history had a combined 74 sacks (30&44) with high marks of 5.5 (Keisel) and 8 (Smith) each achieving those marks one time. I don't think there's a fan alive that wouldn't want to have either (or both) of these guys on the team in their prime. They stuffed the run and pushed the pocket, but mostly they allowed OLBs to be the stars and the Steelers had some pretty good OLBs during that time.

The Steelers need the drafted OLBs to get traction and become the players that the Steelers believed they would be when they drafted them.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

The Steelers need the drafted OLBs to get traction and become the players that the Steelers believed they would be when they drafted them.

Pappy

And there lies the key to this defense being successful again. If our OLBs can't do it we need to put our Def Linemen in a position to do it.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I agree. The number of sacks an individual gets is one of the most overrated, over hyped stats in football.

I think it was during the summer when he was being inducted into the hall, DL was asked if he would rather get sacks or consistent pressure, his answer was pressure. Pressure causes QBs to make mistakes, they feel claustrophobic, they panic and get happy feet. Shrink the pocket and you see results.

[Oviedo]

I think it was during the summer when he was being inducted into the hall, DL was asked if he would rather get sacks or consistent pressure, his answer was pressure. Pressure causes QBs to make mistakes, they feel claustrophobic, they panic and get happy feet. Shrink the pocket and you see results.

Isn't a sack the ultimate form of pressure?

[SidSmythe]

Isn't a sack the ultimate form of pressure?

In theory yes.
However u can get 3 or 4 sacks a game from good play calling and blown blocking assignments while not getting consistent pressure on the QB.

If the pressure is consistent the sacks will come but so will more mistakes such as hurried throws.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Isn't a sack the ultimate form of pressure?

I think that it was a comment on occasional sack vs. consistent pressure. QBs who are facing consistent pressure do silly things...other than Ben.