Steelers: Will Cameron Heyward & Stephon Tuitt be the league’s top sack duo in 2016?
For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, a high quarterback sack count is something that has come to be expected from an organization with a history of dominating defenders.
From the start of the 2011 season to the end of 2014, a troubling time for the Steelers’ defense, this was definitely not the case. In those four seasons the defense averaged a total of 34.7 sacks a year. Certainly a low point for the unit, but 2015 would prove the Steelers’ defense is well on its way back to prominence.
Last season the defense registered a total of 48 sacks during the regular season, tied for second highest since the inception of the Mike Tomlin era in 2007. (48 sacks were totaled in 2010, and 51 in 2008) Those 48 quarterback takedowns were in large part due to the Steelers’ pair of young defensive ends.
Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt accounted for 13.5 (28%) of sacks registered last season. A respectable number for the duo’s first season starting together, but with expectations once again high for the Steelers to continue their quarterback terrorizing trend, these two will be the focal point of the discussion.
On NFL Network’s morning program, NFL HQ, talk of who will be the league’s leading sack tandem in 2016 was brought up. Former Steelers’ safety Solomon Wilcots chose Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive linemen Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, while Jamie Dukes selected J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney of the Houston Texans as his top sack tandem in 2016.
While all four of these athletes are devastating pass rushers in their own rights, Heyward and Tuitt stand as dark horse candidates for this year’s number one sack tandem. Both have shown they have the ability to get to the quarterback, but must take the next step on a team that is becoming more recognizable with its offense than it once was with its defense.
Since taking over for Brett Keisel as starting right defensive end towards the end of his rookie season, Tuitt is proving the Steelers selected a first-round talent with their second-round pick two years ago. In 2015 there would be no sophomore slump for the defensive end, recording 6.5 sacks and proving himself to be a very adept pass rusher.
What makes Tuitt such a valued member of the Steelers’ defensive line, is his ability to bypass offensive linemen with relative ease. While the play above is not a hit on the quarterback, Tuitt turns Denver Broncos’ guard Louis Vasquez into a human turnstile on his way to the running back. Tuitt’s quick reflexes and speed make him a dangerous opponent to defend against.
With most teams having to account for Heyward, Tuitt may be considered the lesser of two evils for offensive coordinators. His sack count could have been much larger than what it was in 2015 had he not missed two games due to injury, and it will be interesting to see how he finishes with a complete season under his belt.
For all intents and purposes, Cameron Heyward has become the face of the Steelers’ defense. He appeared in 976 snaps (88%) in 2015, most of any Steelers’ defensive lineman, and was rarely halted by defenses during the course of the season. Where Tuitt represents speed, Heyward is pure power when taking on offensive linemen.
In the AFC divisonal matchup against the Denver Broncos, Heyward displayed his pass rushing ability in more than one instance. Specifically, in the play above where his relentless pursuit of Peyton Manning nearly resulted in a sack had the quarterback not gotten his pass off a split second sooner.
Heyward has the ability to record double-digit sacks in 2016, and if himself and Tuitt are to be the best sack tandem in the league, his doing so will be a major factor in potentially leading the league in taking down the quarterback. It will go a long way in also proving the Steelers’ defense is not completely reliant on its high-powered offense to win games for them.
With the current situation the Steelers have in their secondary and linebacker corps, Heyward and Tuitt represent the strongest link in the Steelers’ defense. Both of these athletes have Pro Bowl level talent, and have a big statement to make when the season begins in September.
Next: Steelers: Definitely go for two
Will Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt be the NFL’s top sack tandem in 2016? Many do not consider them to be among the best in the league, but as they continue to develop and grow, these two defensive lineman have all the potential in the world to become not only the best sack duo in the league, but also in the history of the Steelers’ historic franchise.