The future of the Steelers’ defensive line may very well be in good hands with Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black. So believes the patron of the group, Cam Heyward, entering his 16th season. Committed through at least 2027, he understands eventually his career will end. At least for now, he likes the trajectory of the pair of second-year guys.
“I think they’ve definitely grown. Derrick and Yahya, they play with their hands a lot better”, Heyward said on his Not Just Football podcast. “They’re able to come out of their hips. It’s no longer just like, Defensive 101. Now they’re asking, like, What are they doing on these plays, why are they doing it, and how are they gonna do it”?
The Steelers double-dipped on the defensive line in last year’s draft, selecting Harmon in the first round and Black in the fifth. Harmon was an immediate starter, though his NFL debut was two games delayed due to injury. He missed five games in total due to separate injuries, but he showed genuine potential.
Black played well, too, especially as the season progressed, and he may be headed for a bigger role. The Steelers just released their first depth chart of training camp, and it features Black as a member of the starting defensive line. Sandwiched in between Heyward and Harmon, Black is the starting nose tackle, with Keeanu Benton listed as an end. It’s unclear what practical impact, if any, that would have in an actual game setting, granted. But with the trajectory Heyward sees them on, perhaps it’s not surprising.
“That just shows the growth from Year 1 to Year 2 in such a small amount of time”, Heyward said of Harmon and Black. “But there’s a comfortability there, and it leads to, now I can play a little looser. I can take a couple chances because I know where I need to be. They have good technique”.
Derrick Harmon logged 446 defensive snaps last season despite being limited to just 12 games. He recorded 27 tackles, 1 for loss, with 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 batted pass. He had one of his best games of the season in the playoffs, recording 6 tackles and 1 sack. And he very much appears to have continued that growth this offseason.
Thanks in no small part to Harmon’s injuries, Yahya Black also saw significant playing time as a rookie. He logged 416 defensive snaps overall in 17 games, making 3 starts. He finished the year with 28 tackles with 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, and 1 batted pass. He added 2 more tackles and a recovered fumble in the playoffs.
The Steelers’ defensive line saw real, positive contributions from a pair of rookies last year, and they could provide so much more once they are fully up to speed. Cam Heyward sees both Harmon and Black making serious strides in that direction.
“It’s about being more complete, taking what you’re learning from your drills and then applying it onto a two-minute or any situational period”, Heyward said of Harmon and Black. The more they continue to show that, the better off the Steelers’ defensive line will be.