Cam Heyward Its Funny to Hear a Female Talk About Routes
Connor Heyward fits the Steelers' mold. As Cam Heyward's little brother, he also has pull from inside the organization
MOBILE, Ala. — Connor Heyward is a jack-of-all-trades — Mike Tomlin likes players like that.
Heyward is a big man who runs fast and tends to play with nastiness — Tomlin likes players like that, too.
Heyward is a running back by nature who was moved to fullback and can play tight end and H-back as well — offensive coordinator Matt Canada tends to take a liking to athletic fullbacks.
And maybe most of all, he has the right last name.
So, of course, the Steelers have taken a liking to Heyward during Senior Bowl week.
Heyward is the little brother of All-Pro defensive lineman Cam Heyward and son of the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, and we all know how the Steelers love NFL bloodlines. Three of their past four first-round picks have come from NFL pedigrees — the Watt, Edmunds and Bush families.
Connor Heyward's oldest brother is Steelers All-Pro Cam Heyward, pictured here wearing the jersey their father, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, wore in college at Pitt. (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)
But if the Steelers use a third-day pick on Heyward, it's not going to be because of his name. It would be because he fits into what Canada has used in his offense in the past.
Canada was on hand at the second of three practices this week at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala., and got a close look at Heyward's unique skills. Wednesday in the rain, Heyward shined from the fullback position, especially with his receiving skills. He ran sharp routes and showed soft hands and good footwork in tight spaces.
Heyward has the attitude to be successful in the NFL and has examples of how to do it. Former Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda has carved out a nice role for himself at Detroit's all-purpose back after a change in position. Heyward moved from running back to tight end his senior year at Michigan State but spent the first two days at the Senior Bowl primarily as a hybrid fullback.
"A lot of teams have gone away from the fullback or H-back, but now they are coming back to it because they see a lot of teams having success with it," Heyward said. "Detroit had success, San Francisco had success, Green Bay had success. I showed that I can be a running back, I can flex out, I can play tight end and played a lot of snaps there and special teams as well. Not a lot of college guys have played special teams like me."
The Steelers seem intrigued.
They met with Heyward on Monday and plan to meet with him again on Thursday. At Wednesday's practice, Tomlin and Kevin Colbert were focusing on Heyward during special teams drills.
For now, the Lions staff, which is coaching the American team at the Senior Bowl, is using Heyward at fullback — the position his father played — but has preached to him the importance of versatility.
"They kind of want to see me at tight end, but I have been doing fullback right now, some H-back type things of being a running back in pass pro and coming out of the backfield," Heyward said. "Just being able to show that. They know that I am versatile, but I am not sure if I would be able to show all of that this week.
"It is really fun, but at times it can be a lot. The more the better. You have to be able to carve out a role, and that's exciting every day."
Heyward could be a cheaper replacement for Derek Watt, who, coincidentally also has a brother on the Steelers' roster, T.J. Watt.
Derek Watt is in the final year of the three-year, $9.75 million free-agent deal signed in 2020, which has already paid him $7 million. The Steelers could save $2.75 million by releasing Watt, who never found a role within the Steelers' offense.
Whether that was because of skills is unknown, but the 23-year-old Heyward would bring more athleticism to the table. Former Pitt fullback George Aston had his best season in 2016, when he scored 10 touchdowns (five rushing, five receiving) with Canada as his offensive coordinator, so there is precedent.
Heyward grabbed 96 receptions for 711 yards and six touchdowns over five years playing for the Spartans, including a fourth-quarter touchdown against Pitt in the Peach Bowl victory Dec. 30.
CONNOR HEYWARD GOT UP FOR THE TD 💪 pic.twitter.com/abveNMH66R
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2021
And the Steelers do like their bloodlines.
T.J. and Derek Watt are on the roster, with J.J. Watt in Arizona. Terrell and Trey Edmunds are on the Steelers roster and Tremaine — all sons of former Miami tight Ferrell Edmunds — plays for the Bills. Devin Bush Sr. played in the NFL, Benny Snell is the great-nephew of former Jets running back Matt Snell, and Robert Spillane is the grandson of the late Johnny Lattner, the only Heisman Trophy winner to play for the Steelers.
"Just in terms of the lineage aspect of it, a lot can be benefited by being around this game at this level and having those close to you have experience in that area," Tomlin said during the 2020 season. "I think there are fewer unknowns when you come from the circumstances (of those players). I think they have a better perspective of the challenges that lie ahead.
"I think all of that allows them to work more efficiently, be surprised less, and be better prepared from the neck up in terms of meeting the challenges."
Connor Heyward, brother of Steelers DL Cam Heyward, at the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/fS755HBcAo
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) February 2, 2022
Source: https://theathletic.com/3107881/2022/02/03/connor-heyward-fits-the-steelers-mold-as-cam-heywards-little-brother-he-also-has-pull-from-inside-the-organization/
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