Getty Images
When it comes to the tight end position, consistency is key. You need a player who is going to block and open up the run game, as well as catch big third-down receptions over the middle without fear of the punishment they will take from the opposition.
Yes, I’m talking about Heath Miller.
Miller was taken in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft and quickly lived up to the hype of being a first-round pick. He caught six touchdowns in his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, in addition to 61 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ upset over the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
He has remained a steadfast contributor ten years into his career, racking up 761 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 2014 season. While the numbers might not be eye-popping, it is the smaller things that make the biggest differences in his case. He was a big part of Le’Veon Bell‘s breakout 2014 campaign, blocking larger defensive linemen and following him upfield to make big blocks at the second level. Miller also has a knack for getting open when the Steelers need him to, catching 42 balls for first downs, second on the team only to Antonio Brown.
There was a lot of buzz about the Steelers taking tight end Maxx Williams in the first or second round of this year’s draft, though they opted to improve the defensive side of the ball — and for good measure. Miller may be past his prime, but that doesn’t mean he cannot be a key contributor to one of the most explosive offenses in football. Often overlooked and under-appreciated, Miller is one of the key cogs in Pittsburgh’s offensive machine.
With the Steelers’ drafting of tight end Jesse James in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, many were thinking that he could step in and have an impact either alongside or ahead of Miller. While James will certainly play second fiddle to Miller, there is a lot that he can learn. And going forward, he couldn’t have a better teacher.
