Yahya Black defensive holding cam heyward refs
Yahya Black defensive holding cam heyward refs
It’s rare to see more than a couple holding calls against the defensive line in an entire season, let alone in the same game. Yet that’s exactly what happened to both of the Steelers’ young defensive linemen during the 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Cam Heyward had thoughts on the matter.
“Dude, that was such B.S. though. I asked the ref about that during the game, and I thought that was a terrible call,” Heyward said via his Not Just Football podcast Sunday evening. “Calling the defense for holding when it’s a downhill play. I can understand when it’s a zone-type play, and you see a guy hold, so there’s no second level. It was a double downhill, and they were going straight down the middle.
“I’m mad, [Mike] McCarthy’s mad. We’re all just trying to get our answers.”
https://i.gyazo.com/42d3cf85415bf2e565adc15974700904.mp4
The ref argued the blockers were prevented from climbing to the second level. Heyward told them that makes no sense and demanded answers the next time they saw each other. Apparently he didn’t get those answers because it got called a second time.
And if you watch the tape, it wasn’t a zone run, as the broadcast suggested to explain the penalty in real time.
https://i.gyazo.com/c57ed0a47559cb154dbe93c892c24c85.mp4
Black’s penalty came during a run that resulted in a first down anyway, but it still spotted the Falcons five extra yards of field position in a game where yards were hard to come by. They missed an ensuing 45-yard field goal attempt.
Derrick Harmon was called for the same infraction on the first play of the next defensive drive, turning a three-yard run into a first down. The Falcons punted a few plays later.
Fortunately, neither call came in a significant moment. But Heyward is right to wonder why this was suddenly enforced twice in five defensive plays.
Heyward has used that same move countless times over his career, and he’s likely instructed his young protégés when they can and can’t get away with it.
Yes, they technically pulled on pads, but defensive linemen rarely get flagged for that. Something tells me they won’t adjust how they play based on the outlier enforcement in this game.
Steelers
Steelers