Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Following his first practice with rookie first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon, Cam Heyward was reminded Tuesday that he’s been a Pittsburgh Steelers team captain for over a decade.
“Thanks,” he told the reporter with a hearty chuckle.
The interaction was both a testament to the 15th-year defensive lineman’s staying power and an implication that his career is well into the back nine. While standing the test of time, Heyward has helped bring along and played alongside others such as Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave. Harmon waits in the wings, and the four-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro is focused on continuing to lead the team’s defense.
“I think you don’t really think about passing the torch right now,” Heyward said Tuesday. “I think it’s about, ‘How can we make this team the best it can be?’ It’s not about holding secrets or anything. It’s about making sure we’re all growing at a pace that, by Week 1, we’re ready to kick this thing up.
“I’ll pass the torch when I have to, but I think the main thing is making sure we’re a strong unit that, from top to bottom, we can compete with anybody.”
Cam Heyward admitted the obvious about Harmon, his 6-foot-5, 320-pound successor-in-waiting, whom the Steelers selected with the No. 21 overall choice of last month’s NFL Draft.
“I think he’s definitely capable of playing this year,” Heyward said. “It’s just getting caught up, dealing with the rookie wall as it comes about, but I think he’s positioned himself well to contribute.”
The veteran avoided placing any expectations when asked what he thinks about Harmon’s potential.
“We’ll see. It’s too early. I don’t like to do that,” Heyward said.
Harmon was a second-team Associated Press All-American last season at Oregon. He totaled 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and a pair of forced fumbles. After being drafted by the Steelers, Harmon instantly thought of how much he could learn from Cam Heyward.
“Man, that was the first (thought),” Harmon said. “That was my thought process after the call, that I was able to pick Cam’s brain, be under his wing. That could be my vet now, and I can really learn from him, because he’s been doing this forever, since I was a baby. So (there) wouldn’t be no other way I wanted, really.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Cam Heyward Mentoring Derrick Harmon, Not Passing Torch Yet
