DE Cameron Heyward (official thread)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Certified Grade A Prime Badass...

[BuckNut65]

Looked like a man among boys today....

[Buckskin86]

Heyward goes on the attack
Junior repeatedly storms backfield, gets two sacks
Sunday, November 8, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Chris Russell | DISPATCH
Ohio State's Cameron Heyward pressures Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Something got into Cameron Heyward yesterday.

Maybe it was the bright lights of a big-time game that got the Ohio State defensive tackle going. Or maybe it was the poke that quarterback Daryll Clark took at him early in the second quarter after he scored Penn State's only touchdown.

"I'm not sure what it was, but I like it," linebacker Brian Rolle said after Heyward was in on 11 tackles, including two sacks, in the Buckeyes' 24-7 win. "I know that guy has it in him. Sometimes you have to motivate him a little like saying something funny to him."

Or jab him in the face. That's what Clark did, seconds after he reached over the goal line on fourth down for the tying touchdown at 12:28 of the second quarter.

Heyward tried to retaliate but was restrained by teammates.

"I got poked, but I had to keep my temper -- I got a little upset," Heyward said. "They're a great team, they wanted to score, and they did."

Whether the Buckeyes found motivation from Clark's action or the fact that OSU nearly held Penn State on downs, it was enough. The Nittany Lions never came close to scoring again.

"We wanted to come out physical, and we didn't get the stop, but holding them to fourth down, that was big momentum," Heyward said. "If you can keep a team like that to a fourth down (at the goal line), then you are going to have some success."

That's especially true if a 6-foot-6, 287-pounder such as Heyward is on a rampage. The junior was in the Penn State backfield almost as much as Clark was.

"There was something about Cam the whole night," said linebacker Ross Homan, who had 10 tackles and an interception. "He pinned his ears back and was attacking, constantly attacking."

BuckeyeXtra - Heyward goes on the attack

[osubuckeyes2731]

Cam played the best game that I've seen any one on our team play this whole year. He took his game to a whole other level yesterday.

[SEREbuckeye]

Originally Posted by osubuckeyes2731

Cam played the best game that I've seen any one on our team play this whole year. He took his game to a whole other level yesterday.

I wouldn't go that far. Brian Rolle has had a game with an 10+ tackles and a turnover or two, and Kurt Coleman has also had a game with multiple turnovers.

I will say that Cam was without a doubt the DPOG and was one of the two reasons for PSU's low score (Special Teams play is the other reason). Cam is playing himself into a certified starting position for next year and will be on everyones pre-season radar for AA honors if he keeps up his performance.

Great job by the young Ironhead, his dad would be proud.

[xcrunner]

Originally Posted by SEREbuckeye

Cam is playing himself into a certified starting position for next year

For which team?

[SEREbuckeye]

Originally Posted by xcrunner

For which team?

Ummm....OSU?

There has been conflicting reports on him leaving or staying after this year, but my money is on him staying. There are only a few starting seniors that are leaving. After a down year last year and the possibility of being a captain and the DL anchor for 2010, Heyward has more upside of staying. Also, he has seen what can happen to a person after their NFL career ends; hes a smart kid that is going to make something of himself, more than football.

[1926Buckeyes]

Originally Posted by SEREbuckeye

I wouldn't go that far. Brian Rolle has had a game with an 10+ tackles and a turnover or two, and Kurt Coleman has also had a game with multiple turnovers.

I will say that Cam was without a doubt the DPOG and was one of the two reasons for PSU's low score (Special Teams play is the other reason). Cam is playing himself into a certified starting position for next year and will be on everyones pre-season radar for AA honors if he keeps up his performance.

Great job by the young Ironhead, his dad would be proud.

Er, well, there was only 1 TO (INT by Homan). But Heyward will be a first team B10 player this year and if he returns and has a Will Smith like senior season, he could end up as one of OSU's all time greats.

[bucknut502]

Regardless of when he comes out, he will be a 1st round pick IMO. He is the perfect 3-4 DE and NFL coaches and GM's are gonna love his work ethic. That being said, if he, Thad, and Chimdi come back next year, I think the D will be the best I've seen in my lifetime and I have been following Ohio State for about 14 years now...

[SEREbuckeye]

Originally Posted by 1926Buckeyes

Er, well, there was only 1 TO (INT by Homan).

Not sure what you are getting at here? I said that Rolle has had a game where he has come up BIG (Navy), and also that Kurt Coleman has had himself a huge day (Purdue, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 TFL).

I don't think I said that Coleman nor Rolles big day was this game. Id say Homan's game vs Wisconsin has been the most dominating all season; he had 15 tackles, 2 TFL, 1FF, 1 BrUp, 2 Scks

..I guess Im confused at what you are saying?


BTW, Cam was named "Walter Camp Player of the Week":

OhioStateBuckeyes.com

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CAMERON HEYWARD, OHIO STATE
Junior, Defensive Tackle, Suwanee, GA/Peachtree Ridge
Ohio State defensive tackle Cameron Heyward recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including three for losses, and two quarterback sacks as the Buckeyes defeated Big Ten-rival and 11th-ranked Penn State, 24-7. Heyward led an Ohio State (8-2, 5-1 in Big Ten) defensive unit that allowed just 201 yards of total offense.

[Magua]

Originally Posted by SEREbuckeye

Not sure what you are getting at here? I said that Rolle has had a game where he has come up BIG (Navy), and also that Kurt Coleman has had himself a huge day (Purdue, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 TFL).

I don't think I said that Coleman nor Rolles big day was this game. Id say Homan's game vs Wisconsin has been the most dominating all season; he had 15 tackles, 2 TFL, 1FF, 1 BrUp, 2 Scks

..I guess Im confused at what you are saying?


BTW, Cam was named "Walter Camp Player of the Week":

OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Yes, but Cam affected FAR more plays than he gets credit for in the stat sheet. This was without a doubt the most dominating game for a single player on our team this year. No question. He changed the LOS on almost every play, and was in Clark's face all night long. Sure, in previous games people had more tackles or more turnovers, but it's a lot easier to rack those things up as a LB or S. A defensive lineman with 11 tackles is absurd. Throw in 2 sacks and 3 TFL's and the constant abuse he inflicted on the 11th ranked team in the country's Oline and that's just an all world beater day my friend.

[Oh8ch]

I don't think Heyward's performance was the best this year for OSU.

I think it was the best in a couple of years.

Great LB games are often the result of great DL play.

A lineman has to make it out of whole cloth. Cam was just throwing people around.

[SEREbuckeye]

Originally Posted by Magua

Yes, but Cam affected FAR more plays than he gets credit for in the stat sheet. This was without a doubt the most dominating game for a single player on our team this year. No question. He changed the LOS on almost every play, and was in Clark's face all night long. Sure, in previous games people had more tackles or more turnovers, but it's a lot easier to rack those things up as a LB or S. A defensive lineman with 11 tackles is absurd. Throw in 2 sacks and 3 TFL's and the constant abuse he inflicted on the 11th ranked team in the country's Oline and that's just an all world beater day my friend.

Id say each lineman has taken their turns at dominating all season long:

Larimore had 7 tackles against Navy
Heyward had 7 tackles (2 TFL & 1 sack) against USC
Gibson had 7 tackles (2 TFL & 1 FF) against Illinois
Worthington had 7 tackles (1 TFL & 1 sack) against Illinois
Gibson had 6 tackles (3 TFL, 1 FR & 3 sacks) against Minnesota

I guess I'm used to the entire line taking turns in dominating the LOS. Speaks volumes about our team.

[xcrunner]

Originally Posted by SEREbuckeye

Ummm....OSU?

There has been conflicting reports on him leaving or staying after this year, but my money is on him staying. There are only a few starting seniors that are leaving. After a down year last year and the possibility of being a captain and the DL anchor for 2010, Heyward has more upside of staying. Also, he has seen what can happen to a person after their NFL career ends; hes a smart kid that is going to make something of himself, more than football.

I'm not sure if I share your optimism (I always assume someone's going to go pro.. Just makes the surprise if they stay all that better, and no getting disappointed), but I certainly hope you're right!

[NateG]

BRING IT!!!!!!