Injured Heyward criticizes defense
Heyward said that when the Steelers cut the lead to four, it was time for the defense to step up and stop New England.
“I felt like our offense just had a great drive and I think we only got three points out of it, but I was like, ‘Let’s get off quick because their defense is tired.’ ”
The defense did get off the field quickly, but not the way it intended. Instead, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a six-play touchdown drive that lasted only three minutes. The big play came on his 37-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski that carried to the Steelers 5 and set up Blount’s 5-yard touchdown run on the next play.
“That [play by Gronk], I know he’s a great player, but that can’t be the end of it,” Heyward said. “I felt like after that, it was almost like the wind was pushed out of us.”
Linebacker Ryan Shazier said Sunday that the run defense played like “garbage.” They allowed 362 yards rushing against them in their past two games, both losses. They had allowed an average of just 77 yards rushing through the first five games, which ranked fourth in the NFL. They are 16th today, allowing 106.7 per game.
“He’s being kind,” Heyward said of Shazier’s comment. “I would have used a different word. We can’t play like that as a defense. I think we’re close to 400 yards in rushing [the past two games]. That’s never been allowed here in two weeks. That’s just piss-poor technique. You have to have some pride when you’re out there.”
Do the Steelers lack pride? Heyward said they do not.
“It’s not that I saw it from one person. I just thought we should have made more [of a] stance by the defense. And we let them run the ball. There’s too many times when he’s falling forward, and that’s not what we’re accustomed to.”
The Steelers have been missing starters on defense, such as Heyward with his injury and Shazier, who missed the previous two games and played just 56 percent of the snaps Sunday upon his return. Heyward said it’s no excuse.
“I know we have a lot of guys [hurt], but guys have to step up, whoever’s out there. There can’t be a letdown when another guy goes down.”
Heyward believes the Steelers can use their off week to fix what ails them.
“We just have to really buckle down and have a good defense and be technique-sound. I would say in the beginning of the year, besides the Philadelphia game, we were playing pretty good. You see these past two games and you’re like, ‘Whoa, 200 yards for a running back and another 120.’ At least we should have responded better and not given up that.”
Coach Mike Tomlin revealed after the game that “we were willing to bleed a little bit in the run game in an effort to minimize big plays.”
That runs contrary to the Steelers’ usual goal of making it a priority to stop the run in all games first.
“That’s always been our goal,” Heyward acknowledged. “I don’t think he meant it [like] that. That just means more guys have to get off blocks. He has that trust in us, and guys have to step up.”
He believes they will do that starting Nov. 6 in Baltimore, an AFC North game that will decide whether the Steelers (4-3) remain atop the division alone.
“We just have to re-energize, we have to see those mistakes we made. There are so many things we can work on individually that when we come back collectively it can benefit all of us. Whether it’s tackling or whether it’s ailments or injuries for each player.
“Just technique we can clean up and address the weaknesses we’ve had in the past.”
As a captain, Heyward commands the kind of respect from his teammates that his words carry weight. He also said he was not going to be continually critical.
“We got to get better. I think we addressed it today. But I’m not going to be negative after this. You be negative in the moment but not afterward. … You be honest, move forward and try to correct it.”