LOS ANGELES -- When Cam Heyward speaks in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room, people listen. As a result, his comments following the team’s 25-10 loss against the Chargers comes as a blunt message to the rest of the group.
When asked about how the team can get back to being consistent and play at a high level, Heyward questioned if everyone knows what they are doing on a given play, and if that is translating onto the field.
“I’m not looking for an excuse,” Heyward said. “I’m looking to play better. We talk about it, but do we really know what we’re doing play in and play out? Do we trust the guy next to us? Offense, defense, do we trust each other to be in the right spot to make plays?"
At times this year and after the game, Heyward made a specific point about the defense playing like a collection of ‘superheroes’ rather than a group of players who work with each other, which has led to some of their ills throughout the season.
After this game, Heyward agreed with T.J. Watt, who said they were too dependent on turnovers to stop other teams. Heyward believes some players are pushing too hard to make a big play instead of just staying true to their assignment.
“It’s very true,” Heyward said on Watt’s statement. “That’s about trusting your guy and it’s not about being a superhero. You don’t have to make an extravagant play.”
The Steelers defense was not the reason they lost on Sunday, but the trust questions go to the offensive side of the ball, too, where it appeared quarterback Aaron Rodgers was skittish behind his offensive line and questioning some of his pass catchers.
The Steelers did not look like a cohesive unit as a team on Sunday, and for large portions of the year, they have continued to struggle and build that rapport as a group.
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