Week 7 Weblog: Fun…and video games

Fun and video games: If you comply with Cameron Heyward on social media, or T.J. Watt for that matter, it is seemingly you noticed the video on Saturday.

After the Steelers completed their walk-through forward of the Browns recreation, Watt was met within the car parking zone by a mariachi band performing Happy Birthday to have fun the linebacker’s large day. That was after they left a big card they signed in his locker, and sang to him in a crew assembly.

It was enjoyable, entertaining and loved by everybody.

And simply one other instance of how shut the 2025 Steelers are, and the way a lot enjoyable they’re having being round one another.

“I wanted to do something special for T.J.,” stated Heyward. “Me and a bunch of different guys, we have been saying we have to have extra enjoyable this yr, and it was a pleasant little added-on factor.

“We gave him a card earlier in the day, so he wasn’t expecting anything after, but our player development guy, Darrel Young, helped make sure everything went smoothly.”

It’s not just like the gamers have not had enjoyable previously, however you’ll be able to see a distinction this yr. The defensive backs are at all times hanging out collectively within the locker room, and laughter can at all times be heard. Heyward’s booming voice is at all times getting on somebody, joking and teasing. And that is simply the tip of the iceberg.

“I think we’re just a more together group,” stated Heyward. “More enjoyable is successful extra video games, but additionally simply being round one another much more.

“Everybody’s a part of it from the first guy to the 53rd man to all the practice squad. It starts with myself, it starts with Aaron (Rodgers), it starts with a lot of our guys who have experienced a lot of success in this league and have just been very intentional about that this year.”

It would not damage that the Steelers are at the moment 4-1, a crew that’s persevering with to enhance on a weekly foundation and really feel extra snug on each side of the ball.

The protection introduced in a plethora of veterans this offseason, however there’s additionally youth peppered all through, and they’re younger gamers that Heyward stated they’ve loads of belief in.

“I know we have some younger guys, but I love the way everybody prepares,” stated Heyward. “Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Y.A. (Black), guys particularly on the d-line. They’re youthful guys however they take in plenty of info.

“And as a defense, I think we have so many moving parts. But to be able to run the exotic defenses we do and be able to blitz from everywhere, you’ve got to have a lot of buy-in and a lot of guys that you can trust.”

And having that has allowed a rotation within the entrance seven, and past, that’s invaluable now, however going to pay even larger dividends because the season progresses.

“We talk about making a run late in the year,” stated Heyward. “We all got to be healthy. We all have got to be trending the right way. Sometimes you watch these players who play 12 games, and then they’ll be out of action for like four weeks. But then they’re playing their best ball at the end of the year. We’re not talking about missing games, but we’re talking about mitigating the amount of reps we take, and that means we got to dominate early.”