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Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Pittsburgh Steelers No. 97 DE Cameron Heyward

By Russell S. Baxter

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) rolls out against Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) during the second quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) rolls out against Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) during the second quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a profile on underrated defensive end Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There are exactly 97 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.

Related Story: Countdown to Kickoff: No. 98 Damon Harrison

We began by previewing the rookie defensive end of the San Diego Chargers in Joey Boss (No. 99) and then gave our thoughts on New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison, No. 98 with his brand new club.

The list of No. 97s both now and today is pretty impressive. From Cornelius Bennett, Bryant Young, La’Roi Glover and Simeon Rice to current Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen. The latter has totaled 22.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) and head coach Mike Tomlin walk off the field after the AFC Divisional round playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) and head coach Mike Tomlin walk off the field after the AFC Divisional round playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

But here the attention turns to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward, who has yet to be named to a Pro Bowl but has certainly earned the respect of opponents and analysts.

The year after the Steelers fell to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, general manager Kevin Colbert made the former Ohio State standout the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. As young defensive players with the team often did when Dick LeBeau was the defensive coordinator, Heyward learned the system early his career. In his first two seasons he didn’t miss a game but also didn’t start.

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The last three seasons, the 6’5”, 280-pound pro has been in the opening lineup 45 times in 48 contests. In each of those campaigns, he totaled at least 50 tackles and a minimum of five sacks. In the 3-4 defense, it’s the outside linebackers who usually bring the most heat but Heyward tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks in 2014 and paced the Black and Gold in the same department (7 sacks) this past season.

Heyward has also earned praise from the fine folks at Pro Football Focus. In 2015, he was the sixth-ranked 3-4 defensive end in the league just behind the likes of J.J. Watt, Fletcher Cox, Mike Daniels, Jurrell Casey and Muhammad Wilkerson. He’s been equally adept at playing the run, a big reason Pittsburgh was fifth in rushing defense this past year.

More nfl spin zone: Countdown to Kickoff: No. 99 Joey Bosa

The Steelers defense has had its issues in recent seasons, especially against the pass. But Heyward has been a very bright spot for a unit that’s looking to get back to premier form…eventually.

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