Steelers DL Cam Heyward among elite NFL players over 30
For the past three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward has stood out as one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. The NFL Network ranked the best players in the NFL over the age of 30 and Heyward clocked in at No. 5.
Here’s what they had to say about Heyward:
As dominant an interior lineman as there is in the AFC, Heyward has only improved with age: All three of his Pro Bowl nods and both of his All-Pro selections have come during the past three seasons. The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder capped his underrated 2019 campaign ranked No. 1 in stops (55) among defensive linemen and with a new career high in tackles (83, from 59 in 2013). Even with the team’s bumbling offense and inept QB play last year, the Steelers only narrowly missed the playoffs — in large part thanks to Heyward’s profound impact on the defense. Pittsburgh allowed the third-fewest yards per rush (3.8) in the league despite deploying a light box (six or fewer defenders) on the highest percentage of run plays (59.6%), per NGS. In simple terms: Heyward dominated the line of scrimmage with such impunity that the Steelers rarely had to overcommit resources to stop opposing backs. And that was with Stephon Tuitt sidelined for more than half the year.
It is good to see the national media finally giving Heyward the credit he deserves. Steelers fans have known for a long time how dominant Heyward was but because it didn’t always show up in a box score or an analytic it was ignored. But Heyward had made a surge here later in his career and really asserted himself as a pass rusher which has really opened eyes.
