Wanting it for Cam: On the first play of the latest Ravens-Steelers showdown, Derrick Henry took a handoff right 41 yards down the sideline before he was tackled.
Hot on Henry’s trail was 36-year-old defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who didn’t make the tackle but did take a blast in the hip from teammate James Pierre, who was blocked into Heyward drawing a penalty.
Heyward was helped off the field, and after the game joked about the insanity of chasing a play that far downfield. Heyward returned a few plays later.
“He scared me with that,” Heyward’s young linemate Keeanu Benton said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, man, get up, we need you.’ That just shows his resiliency and his want-to and will to come out here and work at his age. I think he’s still got some more in the tank. He’s a heck of a player.”
Heyward played the rest of the game and helped the Steelers hold Henry to only 85 more yards. Afterward, Heyward credited gap control and cited the entire front by name, including, of course, Benton, who tied Heyward for the team lead with 7 tackles against the Ravens.
“We talked all week about, ‘If we’re going to win this game, it’s because of everybody, not just one guy,'” said Heyward.
Benton of course listened. He always does when Heyward speaks.
“That’s why you see me doing it now,” Benton said of chasing plays downfield. “Seeing him, even in practice, it starts in practice with him turning and running. You see it on film. The young guys see it on film. You just see people start to change. I learned from him, see him turn and run. I would do it in college, but it’s like a five-yard burst. Actually, getting all the way to the ball in practice, that kind of waterfalls down to everybody.”
The defense has shown great improvement over the last month of the season. In their last four games, the Steelers allowed an average of 19 points (24 rest of season) and 317 yards (369) per game, and 3.7 (4.4) yards per carry.
“Go back to the resilience,” Benton said of the defensive mindset. “You aren’t gonna make all the plays, but the ones that you can, go out there and make. And there are going to be more to make.”
The wild fourth quarter again tested the Steelers’ resiliency. The Ravens broke loose for two deep touchdown passes. On the first, Benton, and then Alex Highsmith, missed on sack opportunities. Lamar Jackson broke away to loft a 50-yard touchdown pass.
“Missing that sack with me and Alex, it’s easy to get frustrated and lose track,” Benton said. “We still got to go out there and make plays, so you get back to level-headed.”
“You’re bred to do this,” Benton said. “Since you’re young, you’re bred to – when things don’t go right – always get back up and do it again. We wouldn’t be in this position if we didn’t do so.”
Benton’s best season rolls into the playoffs. His career-high 5.5 sacks and 12 QB hits lead all Steelers defensive linemen. He’s second to Heyward among the defensive line with 51 tackles.
The two lions up front will be stalking hardware when the playoffs begin Monday night against the Houston Texans. Benton would love nothing better for his mentor.
“There’s one thing to want to do it for yourself,” Benton said. “But when you get that connection, that brotherhood that we’ve developed throughout the years, it’s way better when you fight for somebody else. And that guy deserves a lot, so I’m gonna give all I got. I feel like our defense and offense and our team feel the same way.”
— Blog entry by Jim Wexell