T.J. Watt desires to and can transfer round this season. In a want for him and the protection to be extra a number of and fewer predictable, the Steelers are already displaying wrinkles all through coaching camp. Watt has logged time at proper exterior linebacker and dabbled at off-ball linebacker in roamer rush appears. Like Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons, make offenses discover him first earlier than attempting to dam him.
Can’t the identical apply to Cam Heyward?
Heyward has been static like Watt. He aligns on the identical aspect of the ball. Out of his 748 common season 2024 snaps, right here’s the place we charted his alignments.
LDE: 5
LDT: 11
NT: 23
RDT: 483
RDE: 225
ILB: 1 (rep the place he stood up)
That’s a proper aspect participant. That’s the place he’s been all through his profession. Like Watt, it’s the place he’s carved out elite seasons. But when Watt is on the desk to maneuver round, doesn’t the identical profit apply to Heyward?
One huge profit to transferring Heyward round could be pairing him with Watt. A top-notch duo with Heyward at defensive finish/deal with and Watt at exterior linebacker. Good luck operating of their route.
There’s pass-game causes, too. Watt lately mentioned coordinating stunts with rookie DL Derrick Harmon. To their credit score, they’d an amazing rep in Tuesday’s apply. Harmon was the “crasher” into the B-gap with Watt looping into the A-gap. Harmon drew proper guard Mason McCormick’s consideration, occupying him and proper deal with Troy Fautanu as Watt looped inside free. Textbook stuff.
However Heyward is the king. Few know the methods of the commerce like Heyward on stunts. He’s helped make careers out of it. Bud Dupree can attribute some (not all, in fact) of his success to Heyward releasing him up on stunts/twists/video games. Heyward is aware of the way to get away with subtly holding guards to allow them to’t move off stunts and decide up the looping exterior linebacker.
Did it once more Sunday. Bumps Wills and grabs again of jersey along with his exterior hand to make sure he occupies each blockers. Dupree is available in clear because the looper on the stunt. #Steelers https://t.co/o1RaVVo6It pic.twitter.com/UscacNDKob
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) October 20, 2020
Pair that with Watt and also you’re going to get Watt free much more usually. In equity, that would occur extra if Watt is transferring round and enjoying extra on the appropriate aspect, Heyward’s aspect. However having the ability to combine and match it is going to make the protection much more versatile.
Like a No. 1 cornerback who travels, the opposite man needs to be versatile. Up to now, Harmon has solely performed on the left aspect. However Keeanu Benton can play both d-tackle spot and out of the gate, the crew can lean on transferring Heyward round when paired with Benton.
A counter argument could be not placing your greatest guys on one aspect in worry of offenses operating away from each of them. Nevertheless it’s a win to make an offense one-dimensional and if the remainder of the items are nearly as good as they give the impression of being, Pittsburgh’s entrance seven is robust, the protection received’t have a real weak spot wherever.
If this plan was put into motion, Heyward received’t get as a lot time to check it. Mike Tomlin’s stored him in bubble wrap this camp. He’s barely participated in crew intervals, sitting out a number of days after going by particular person periods. His commonest matchup is the blocking sled he hits whereas the remainder of the protection works. A wise concept given his age and never needing the reps. However a vet like him can line up wherever and play at a excessive stage so lacking out on these summer season reps means little.
Like Watt transferring round, this can be a minor level. A wrinkle, an add-on. It’s not making or breaking the season. Heck, I’m within the minority that Watt doesn’t want to maneuver round to return to type. However within the spirit of brainstorming methods to make the Steelers’ protection much less static, a transparent aim of the offseason and preseason, then Heyward needs to be on the transfer like everybody else.
