Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward is known for his tough, no-nonsense approach to football. He isn’t a player that draws a lot of negative attention, he isn’t flashy and he isn’t a “diva.” Heyward's play speaks for itself and out on the gridiron, he gives it 100% every single week and it shows.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 02: Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers smiles after sacking quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs as offense linemen Eric Fisher #72 and Zach Fulton #73 and linebacker James Harrison #92 look on during a game at Heinz Field on October 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Chiefs 43-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
This season, he had 10.5 sacks, making him the first defensive lineman in Steelers history with 10+ sacks in a season for 3 seasons (2017, 2021, and 2022). However, those kinds of sack numbers can conflict with the league's directive to keep quarterbacks safe.
It feels as if the “roughing the passer” rule came under fire once again during the 2022 season after Miami Dolphins quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion after being sacked. From the perspective of the defender, it is difficult to know exactly what you can do and what you can’t, where you can hit a QB and where you can’t. Each week in the NFL, there are examples of the rule being applied differently by different officials.
That seemed to be the case in Pittsburgh as a costly penalty on Heyward led to the Cleveland Browns getting a first down. On his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, he explained to his co-host Hayden Walsh, how he felt about the call.
Steelers Cam Heyward Frustrated With Bad Call
During Week 18, the Steelers were up 20-7 in the fourth quarter, but Cleveland was driving. Heyward sacked QB Deshaun Waston on a 2nd and 7, which would have left them at a much less manageable 3rd and 15. However, the call gave the Browns a first down and ultimately a touchdown.
Heyward said he just doesn’t understand how defenders are supposed to know what to do:
“I don't know what else to do, the dude [Watson] was literally running through tackles the entire game. That's a credit to him, he's a heck of a player. It’s not like we heard an inadvertent whistle or anything, if there was a whistle blown, shoot I'll stop. How else am I supposed to play my game?”
Heyward also addressed the notion that the penalty was a make-up call for something that was missed earlier in the game:
“I know you could say there was a missed call on another sack, but no play should be indicative of the next. I don't know how you put the genie back in the bottle. The makeup call thing is so dumb, to me that’s nowhere in the rule book.”
The NFL has increasingly been using technology to help guide the decision-making process to ensure refs get calls right. However, Heyward, as well as many fans, feel that the technology is not used where it is needed most. The league has used the remote crew to eject players for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness and yet they do not seem to use that technology to ensure that those penalties are called properly:
“I'll say this, we have all this technology and New York can look at these plays. A ref could be so involved in the game that they can be emotional. You would think New York could have more influence because it puts points on the board. It's not just for my sake of getting a sack, but man we're off the field we're surrendering three and now we're surrendering seven.”
Oct 29, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) walks off the field just after the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
What did you think of Heyward’s tackle? How do you think the NFL can help ensure that all games are reffed fairly? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
