Tackling is a key component in the game of football, specifically on defense. It’s among the basics of the game, part of the fundamentals.
And yet, teams and players in today’s NFL struggle to do it consistently. Some of that is due to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the limit on the number of times teams can be in pads in training camp, the ban on two-a-day practices, and a limit on the number of padded practices throughout the season, too.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are no different from those other teams. In fact, they might be struggling the most when it comes to tackling. According to Pro Football Reference, the Steelers have the second-most missed tackles this season with 93, behind only the Cincinnati Bengals, who lead the NFL with 123.
Based on charting at Steelers Depot, I have the Steelers down for 102 on the season, with nine of those misses coming on special teams.
That’s an average of 10.2 misses per game. In the last six games after the Week 5 bye week, Pittsburgh has missed double-digit tackles in all six games, leading to 72 misses in six matchups. That’s 12 misses a game.
It’s not a comforting number. Last season, including the Wild Card Round loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers missed just 144 tackles in 18 games, good for just 8.0 misses per game. Based on how things are projecting right now, Pittsburgh is going to surpass that number by a long shot.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, there’s one shining beacon of hope in the tackling department. That would be veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. According to Pro Football Focus, Heyward leads all NFL players with the most snaps without missing a tackle at 497 snaps.
Pretty impressive stuff from the 36-year-old veteran.
It’s not just a one-year commodity, either. Though he missed five tackles in 2024, he had a missed-tackles rate of just 5.8% last season, one of the best marks on the team. In 2023, though he dealt with injuries, Heyward missed just three tackles, good for a missed-tackles rate of just 7.1%.
He’s consistently been a good tackler, one who doesn’t make mistakes and gets guys on the ground quickly and efficiently. It’s what he’d done his entire career. According to Pro Football Focus, Heyward has just 36 missed tackles across 10,260 defensive snaps. That’s a missed tackle once every 285 snaps.
There’s consistency, and then there’s Heyward in the tackling department. He’s not putting up the sack numbers he has in the past, but he remains a great defensive lineman and is leading the way for the Black and Gold when it comes to tackling.
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