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For 15 years, Cameron Heyward’s training camp routine at St. Vincent College was defined by raw physicality. Under former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, full-contact periods and iconic drills like "Seven Shots" served as the foundation for the team's hard-nosed identity. But under new head coach Mike McCarthy, that long-standing culture has undergone an abrupt shift: live tackling is officially out.
On his podcast “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” the veteran defensive captain offered a candid look at adjusting to McCarthy’s modern, health-conscious practice structure. Entering his 16th season, Heyward admitted the change feels foreign for a defender built on collision.
"It's very different for me. I've always been a proponent of you got to tackle. You got to have some physicality that lends itself to showing how you're going to tackle in the game," Heyward explained. "You don't want to go into a game figuring out who can tackle and who can't because everybody looks good in shorts."
While Tomlin regularly set aside live tackling sessions to test physical resolve, McCarthy prioritizes player preservation over summer thumping. Staples like "Seven Shots" have been scrapped in favor of high-tempo situational work and mandatory end-of-practice two-minute drills.
Despite his personal affinity for traditional, live-contact camp reps, Heyward understands the delicate balance between proving reliability and keeping key players healthy for a 17-game season. He remains optimistic that McCarthy’s staff will bridge the gap through refined practice techniques.
"Hopefully Coach McCarthy has a plan," Heyward said. "He's a professional, and we'll get to some ways to replicate that. Obviously, we want to have everybody healthy throughout the entire season. So it's a bit of a pendulum swing where you can't do too much of one way, you can't do too little of the other."
For a team balancing veteran health with a new coaching regime, McCarthy’s non-contact philosophy marks a significant culture shift, one Heyward is embracing, even as he adjusts to a brand new era of Steelers football.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Cam Heyward reacts to Mike McCarthy banning tackling at Steelers camp
Continue reading...
On his podcast “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” the veteran defensive captain offered a candid look at adjusting to McCarthy’s modern, health-conscious practice structure. Entering his 16th season, Heyward admitted the change feels foreign for a defender built on collision.
"It's very different for me. I've always been a proponent of you got to tackle. You got to have some physicality that lends itself to showing how you're going to tackle in the game," Heyward explained. "You don't want to go into a game figuring out who can tackle and who can't because everybody looks good in shorts."
While Tomlin regularly set aside live tackling sessions to test physical resolve, McCarthy prioritizes player preservation over summer thumping. Staples like "Seven Shots" have been scrapped in favor of high-tempo situational work and mandatory end-of-practice two-minute drills.
Despite his personal affinity for traditional, live-contact camp reps, Heyward understands the delicate balance between proving reliability and keeping key players healthy for a 17-game season. He remains optimistic that McCarthy’s staff will bridge the gap through refined practice techniques.
"Hopefully Coach McCarthy has a plan," Heyward said. "He's a professional, and we'll get to some ways to replicate that. Obviously, we want to have everybody healthy throughout the entire season. So it's a bit of a pendulum swing where you can't do too much of one way, you can't do too little of the other."
For a team balancing veteran health with a new coaching regime, McCarthy’s non-contact philosophy marks a significant culture shift, one Heyward is embracing, even as he adjusts to a brand new era of Steelers football.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Cam Heyward reacts to Mike McCarthy banning tackling at Steelers camp
Continue reading...
