PITTSBURGH -- Replacing Cam Heyward the football player may be the easy part for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Asics Shoes Wholesale . Finding someone to do all the things their injured defensive end -- out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle -- does on the field that dont show up on tape will be considerably more difficult.It definitely hurts us, linebacker Ryan Shazier said. It punches you in the heart because hes the heart of our defense.One who does more than simply shrug off blocks and wrap up running backs. Heyward is one of Pittsburghs four captains for reasons that go far beyond simple talent. He makes the line calls, offers in-game pointers and serves as the emotional fulcrum for the guys around him.Now hes gone after an MRI discovered the twinge he felt in last weeks loss to Dallas was actually his pectoral muscle shredding itself, leaving behind a defense thats failed to limit big plays during a four-game losing streak thats sent the Steelers (4-5) tumbling into a midseason crisis. While the winless Cleveland Browns (0-10) offer the promise of a temporary salve on Sunday, Pittsburgh understands it needs to find a way to get better quickly if it truly wants to turn things around.Its hard to lose a guy like your captain and stuff like that, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. But other guys have to step up. I mean, its that time of year.If the Steelers want to get it together, they dont really have much of a choice.Weve just all got to get better as a group, rookie nose tackle Javon Hargrave said. Thats our leader. Hes the oldest on the D-line. He knows more than us. Weve just got to grow up.Quickly. The defensive front faltered when a bum left hamstring forced Heyward out of the lineup for the first time in his six-year career last month. He could only watch in frustration as Miamis Jay Ajayi became the first player in 16 years to go over 200 yards rushing against Pittsburgh in a Week 6 loss and New Englands Garrett Blount bulled his way for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns seven days later.Teams been running on us a lot lately, nose tackle Daniel McCullers said. Thats not Steeler defense.At least not the way Pittsburgh used to play it. Not so much anymore. The proof came in the final 2 minutes last week against Dallas, when Ezekiel Elliott sprinted to the end zone twice to rally the Cowboys to a victory that sent the Steelers to their fourth straight loss. And that was with Heyward in the huddle. Now theyve got to clean up the mistakes without him.Sometimes we get in the right spots and were not executing, Shazier said. Sometimes were in the right spots, getting moved out of the way and sometimes were not doing the right thing.Heywards absence puts more pressure on Stephon Tuitt, who defensive coordinator Keith Butler will move up and down the line in search of mismatches. Thats fine by Tuitt, who has shown flashes of dominance at times but will now be asked to do it on a more consistent basis. Hes developed a close friendship with Heyward during his three years in the league, in part because he knew at some point this moment would arrive.Its gonna be tough because we have a partnership, we have a chemistry, Tuitt said.One Tuitt will try to develop with Hargrave, McCullers and Ricardo Matthews. Tuitt is more reserved by nature and joked earlier in the year he doesnt pay attention to the game plan and instead simply does what Heyward tells him to do. Now Tuitt will find himself doing the yelling.For me to get this role now, its not under the circumstances I want them to be under but I almost get the veteran role back and teach my defensive linemen and lead by example.Heyward will still be around on the sideline and in meeting rooms. But not having his familiar No. 97 in the huddle will take some getting used to for a group thats grown accustomed to his steadying influence.Hes like a brother to us outside of football, McCullers said. We always spend time with each other, hang out. Its big (to lose him). Weve got to play hard for him.Game notes TE Ladarius Green (knee), WR Sammie Coates (finger), S Jordan Dangerfield (groin) and TE Xavier Grimble (quadriceps) were limited on Wednesday. ... C Maurkice Pouncey (finger) and WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder) did not practice.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Asics Shoes Discount Online . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Asics Shoes Clearance Sale . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. http://www.cheapasics.net/ . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The good news for Purdue is that the Boilermakers are just three wins from becoming eligible for a bowl game.The bad news is how beat up Purdue is following its 34-31 overtime victory at Illinois over the weekend.Purdue likely lost leading receiver Dominique Young (29 receptions for 338 yards and a touchdown) for the season with a right knee injury suffered during the second half at Illinois. Coach Darrell Hazell said Monday he was waiting for an MRI result before confirming Youngs status.Purdue hopes to have leading rusher Markell Jones (shoulder) and standout middle linebacker JaWhaun Bentley (ankle) back in action this weekend against Iowa (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) after each missed the Illinois game. Jones has rushed for 339 yards in four games and Bentley has 27 tackles.Running back Brian Lankford-Johnson started in Jones place and carried 18 times for 127 yards and a touchdown but left the game in the second half with a sprained shoulder and was replaced by Richie Worship. Hazell said he was confident Lankford-Johnson will be ready to play against Iowa.Defensive backs Myles Norwood and Tim Cason also missed some playing time at Illinois because of an assortment of bumps and bruises, but Hazell also hopes to have one or both back against the Hawkeyess. Cheap Asics Shoes Online. Its still early in the week, he said. Its a day by day thing, but they were in good spirits (Sunday).If either Norwood or Cason is unable to play, freshman cornerback Josh Hayes will get more action.For now, the Boilermakers (3-2, 1-1) are trying to enjoy the win. Quarterback David Blough said after suffering a 50-7 loss on Oct. 1 at Maryland, the comeback victory at Illinois is tremendously significant.There was nothing like getting a shot at redemption after (the loss at Maryland), said Blough, who ran for a touchdown and passed for another. Illinois was probably the most fun game Ive played at Purdue.The Boilermakers are now 3-23 in Big Ten games during Hazells four seasons at Purdue.Game notes Freshman kicker J.D. Dellinger has been selected Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after his field goal in overtime won the game at Illinois ... In keeping with the Boilermaker train theme at Purdue, Hazell said Monday that Purdues version of the Wildcat formation is known as Amtrak, and another gimmick formation with offensive linemen aligned outside the norm is called The Polar Express. Purdue used both formations at Illinois. ' ' '