From Scott Brown, ESPN.com:
One of the indelible moments of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2014 season took place soon after it ended with a 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC wild-card game.
Defensive end Cameron Heyward held onto to Brett Keisel as if the latter was a life raft, not letting go, as tears welled in his eyes, until after a lengthy embrace.
Heyward articulated what that moment meant to him a couple of days later.
“He’s always been a big teacher for me,” Heyward said of Keisel. “He’s taught me how to lead, how to get better. I don’t want to let that guy down.”
Heyward, a first-round draft pick in 2011, led the team in quarterback pressures (21) this season and tied for the Steelers’ lead with 6 ½ sacks.
And yet, after cleaning out his locker this week, Heyward is anything but satisfied with where he is following his first full season as a starter.
“We have to have more guys getting to the quarterback, myself included,” Heyward said after a season in which the Steelers registered just 34 sacks in 17 games, including one in the playoff loss to the Ravens. “Anytime it’s a pass I’ve got to get more pressure. I put more pressure on myself than any coach could.”
“We have to have more guys getting to the quarterback, myself included,” Heyward said after a season in which the Steelers registered just 34 sacks in 17 games, including one in the playoff loss to the Ravens. “Anytime it’s a pass I’ve got to get more pressure. I put more pressure on myself than any coach could.”
The mentality is one reason why coach Mike Tomlin lauded Heyward as one of the young players who has emerged as a leader in the Steelers’ locker room.
“Guys like [wide receiver] Antonio Brown, guys like [center]Maurkice Pouncey, guys like Cam Heyward are great workers,” Tomlin said earlier this week. “Not only are they great players, they’re great workers. I think that they provide a pretty good compass in leadership for others to follow in regards to bringing the mentality that’s geared towards getting better on a daily basis and working.”
Heyward said he learned to lead from players such as Keisel, outside linebacker James Harrison, strong safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor – all of whom may have played their last game for the Steelers.
“They had already won Super Bowls before I got here but just the way they went about their business, always full-time pros on and off the field, they inspired me to be better,” Heyward said. “I just thank them for all that they’ve done.”
