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Mike Adams, Cameron Heyward earn top PFF marks in loss to Dolphins

Adams gives a sense of optimism that he's able to overcome early season jitters and develop into a solid left tackle. Heyward's performance was outstanding, which is becoming routine for the third-year player.

By Neal Coolong
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

If there's any consolation in the Steelers' 34-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 14, it was the play of left tackle Mike Adams.

The same Adams who was savaged in the first four games of this season - all losses - led the Steelers' offensive players in terms of grades from Pro Football Focus, a plays evaluation web site.

Adams' +3.2 grade led all Steelers, giving a sliver of hope for the future. The Steelers are all but eliminated from postseason competition with three games to go, and there myriad questions to address this offseason. One line of thought, though, is if the Steelers could shore up their tackle positions (particularly the left tackle), they have a draft and a free agency period to build other areas.

While that kind of question isn't answered with one performance, it was by far Adams' best performance according to the site.

He replaced Kelvin Beachum in the starting lineup, adding some intrigue behind what the Steelers will do next week when they host another outstanding defensive front seven in the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cameron Heyward's +3.1 led the defensive side of the ball. Heyward has been arguably the team's best defensive player this year, and certainly its best lineman. He was credited with a sack, two quarterback hurries and five stops.

Newly minted starting center Cody Wallace was tagged with a -4.2, the lowest grade the Steelers received.

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