Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward weighed in on the struggling run defense during his media availability on Thursday. In each of the first two games, the Steelers have allowed an 100-yard rusher
In Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Seahawks, Seattle rushed for 117 yards on 29 carries (4.0 average). Kenneth Walker III led the Seahawks with 105 yards rushing on 13 carries for a whopping 8.1 average and a touchdown.
In Week 1, the New York Jets racked up 182 yards (4.7 average).
“I think it’s about being aware. A couple of times, we had them on third-and-long. I think that third-and-19 was just unforgivable,” Heyward said. “You look at that situation, you’ve gotta know they’re playing a lot of safe football there, and, if you give up any yards, it can’t be for a touchdown. Gotta take good angles, can’t go behind blocks, gotta get off blocks. And so all of those are included in the run game, but understanding what an offense is trying to do in those situations.”
Trailing 24-17 late in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh gave up a 19-yard rushing touchdown to Walker on a third-and-goal from the 19-yard line.
According to Seattle beat reporter Brian Nemhauser, it was the first time such a play has occurred in NFL history.
Heyward thinks the Steelers need get back to the fundamentals against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
“I think it’s about just us getting back to tackling well, getting off blocks, setting the edge, coming downhill — and then we can focus on getting after the passer,” Heyward said. “Until we stop the run early, we’re not gonna have a chance to get after the quarterback.”
The Steelers defense game in the season with high expectations. Head coach Mike Tomlin even said his unit had the potential to be historic.
To say the least, the Steelers defense has not lived up to the high expectations thus far.
“I think we’ve got young guys in there, we’ve gotta be better at our technique,” Heyward sad. “It’s about execution, play in and play out. I thought, early on in the game, we stopped it, stopped a bunch of their runs, but it’s a full-time job. It can’t just be one play or two plays. It’s gotta be the entire game.”
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Cam Heyward Explains What Steelers Need to Do to Smash the Run
