The tush push master: It was during this past offseason when offensive coordinator Arthur Smith approached tight end Connor Heyward about the ‘tush push.’
“He told me in the offseason if we get an older quarterback or a guy that we don’t want taking those hits, Connor you’re going to be doing it,” shared Heyward. “He knew that I have a versatile background playing quarterback in high school, doing some things at Michigan State.
“So, he told me just to put that in my ear and to see it to come to fruition.”
Heyward couldn’t have had any idea how much the play would come to fruition, really taking off when the Steelers played the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, and then reaching a peak this past week against the Miami Dolphins when they ran it four times.
“I feel like early in the offseason there really wasn’t much I could do (to prepare for it), but as the season has progressed, I find myself in the car sometimes going through the cadences and all the nuances because I want to hear it myself but also make sure I’m saying the things correctly because that play is extremely crucial,” said Heyward. “It can be as simple as a quarterback exchange, a C-Q (center-quarterback) exchange can mess up the whole play.
“It’s a play I take seriously, and it just shows not to take it for granted, just all the little things.”
Heyward lines up under center for the play, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers just hangs out in the backfield, signally first down in a fun and playful manner after the conversion.
For the most part, he stays away from the play.
But Heyward knows he is there if needed.
“I’m sure if it was really within centimeters, inches,” said Heyward if he thinks Rodgers would jump in to help with the tush push. “You guys saw him in Minnesota. I came and I hit the guy and then he came and finished the guy off in a KG (Kenneth Gainwell) bounce.
“So, you know 8. He’s 8. But I’m sure if the game was on the line or if it was the situation we were on the goal line and I’m not getting through as cleanly, I’m sure he’ll run up and give us an extra push or somebody on the other side will come over and push.
“But it is cool seeing him back there and him also having confidence in everybody on the play.”
The success the Steelers have had with the play is because they work on it, with everyone buying in and knowing the outcome can be game-changing.
“I think just us repping it more in practice, also in walk-through,” said Heyward. “Me and Zach (Frazier) getting together before the games, and also throughout the week leading up to the game.
“But also, just being in those manageable third downs and fourth downs. So, credit to everybody. Everybody up front. And obviously when we get it, it’s them up front, really everybody.
“Aaron’s back there chilling, but I mean everybody’s out there clawing for that inch to gain.
“Getting the first down, fourth and one, third and two, third and inches, whatever it is, I take a lot of pride in it. I feel like if we don’t get it, I’m letting them down. And if we get it, it’s everybody getting the job done.
“It’s something that I don’t take lightly and something that I know extends the drives.”
Heyward thrives on the aggressive approach Coach Mike Tomlin takes on fourth down, knowing that confidence he has in them is something they want to reward.
“It just shows who Coach T is and what December football is about,” said Heyward. “You’re fighting for more possessions, fighting for more opportunities so our offense can go make more plays.
“Whenever Coach leaves the offense out there, it fires us up. And it just proves to Coach T that we’re capable of getting it and giving him that trust that when he puts us out there, we’re going to get it.”