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Heyward stepping tentatively into leadership role

By Mike Ciarochi mciarochi@heraldstandard.Com 5 min read
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LATROBE — When defensive end Cameron Heyward joined the Steelers five years ago, he was a young, wide-eyed kid looking to fit in with a team of veterans.

Heyward bided his time, as the team transitioned from an aging defense to a team chock full of up-and-coming talent that is about to burst at the seams.

One-by-one, Heyward has seen the transition unfold before his eyes. Over the last few years, the team has parted ways with the likes of Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Brett Keisel, LaMarr Woodley. James Harrison was gone for a year before returning.

Heyward’s rookie year was the last year in Pittsburgh for James Farrior and Aaron Smith and the next-to-last year for Casey Hampton.

So, he has said his share of good-byes over the years, including last year, when the Steelers parted ways with Polamalu and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

Along the way, the Steelers have restocked the shelves with plenty of talent. Heyward came here a year after starting nose tackle Steve McClendon. They drafted Sean Spence a year after Heyward and added linebackers Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree in successive years. All three, like Heyward, were first-round picks.

So Heyward, the 31st overall pick in 2011, went from wide-eyed rookie to one of the most veteran defensive players in a matter of five years. When he signed a new six-year contract for almost $60 million in the days leading up to training camp, it was a reward for leading the Steelers in sacks with 7½ last season and a signal to Steelers fans that Heyward had taken over as a leader, at least on the defensive side of the ball.

Heyward became the first defensive lineman to lead the team in sacks since Aaron Smith had done so a decade earlier.

But as Heyward readily admits, he would much rather lead by example than be a vocal locker room leader.

“We have a lot of leaders,” said Heyward. “Lawrence Timmons, William Gay, James Harrison, guys who have been here, been through the fire, have experiences here. As a defensive line, me and Steve (McClendon), we’re able to help with the younger guys and just be professionals.”

Of course, the Steelers also added defensive end Stephon Tuitt in the second round of last year’s draft and, after starting the last four games of his rookie season, Tuitt is expected to start opposite Heyward, who finds himself tutoring Tuitt. He hopes things are the same for Tuitt as they were for him.

“I hope it’s not different,” Heyward said. “A lot of times, we’re just trying to play football. Old guys want to be young, young guys want to be old. I’m right in the mix and I’m just trying to get better every day.”

Heyward, of course, is a son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who was a running back at Pitt and in the NFL. Upon signing his new contract with the Steelers, Cam Heyward posted on his twitter account that Ironhead must have been looking down proudly at how his son’s career was shaping up. Cameron is married (Allie), has a child and he recently established his foundation, The Heyward House. That’s the kind of living legacy Heyward has strived for since his first day in Pittsburgh.

“I respect him more that I’ve been here,” Cam said of his dad. “I get to hear more stories, how his interactions were. Everybody’s got a story about my dad. I just hope that one day they have stories about me, too.”

The Cameron Heyward story has already started writing itself, but this season could add more than a few chapters that would make Ironhead proud of his almost famous child.

“We’re a young group, but we have the capabilities of being the best team, offense, defense and special teams,” Cameron Heyward said. “You look at our offense, we’re loaded and I’m not just speaking out about nothing. If you really look at it, we’ve got a top-tier quarterback, a couple of top-tier wide receivers, you’ve got a running back, you’ve got a great offensive line, good tight ends. You’re loaded.

“And I think when you look at it, it’s going to come down to defense. That’s the way we want it. We plan on proving people wrong that have written us off, saying we’re this, saying we’re that, but we’re excited about this year. We’re excited for the challenge ahead. We know there are going to be games when it depends on the defense and we plan on sticking our feet in the dirt and getting to work.”

With Heyward and the other young bucks seemingly coming into their own, this could be the year it all comes together for the Steelers. And Heyward would assume a leading role.

“Why not have two juggernauts,” he said. “That’s the way we want it. We’re competitive now. We hold ourselves to a high standard when we go up against each other right now. If you are competing against the best, why can’t you be the best, too?”

Spoken like a true leader.

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