Steelers tight end Heath Miller deserves more attention
By Brian Morrin
The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first road game of the season, which also happened to be their first division game. The win came against the Cincinnati Bengals, an important win the Steelers needed.
October 21, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) cuts to his left in the open field against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Pittsburgh won the game 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE
The Steelers sit at 3-3 and with the Baltimore Ravens losing to the Houston Texans, it keeps them in the picture for the AFC North. However, let’s focus on the player who played a valuable role in Sunday’s game: veteran tight end Heath Miller.
Miller made a few key plays that played a huge role in Sunday’s game. In the first half with Pittsburgh down 14-6, Miller worked in tight coverage to get himself open in the end zone and made a catch over the middle for a touchdown. Miller then hauled in a catch for the two-point conversion on a corner fade route often reserved for a team’s big and most athletic receiver.
Finally, Miller had the key block on Chris Rainey’s 11-yard touchdown run, pulling to throw a block on the Bengals middle linebacker to allow Rainey to spring into the secondary and into the end zone.
Miller finished Sunday’s game with six catches for 53 yards, along with several solid blocks.
Here is what Mike Tomlin had to say in the post game conference about Miller:
"“Heath gives us consistent effort on a week-in and week-out basis, and sometimes when we win, it gets highlighted as it should, but his performance is in line with what he’s done all year.”"
Miller is one of the most under appreciated tight ends in the NFL. He was not only a factor in the Bengals game, but throughout the season and his career in Pittsburgh. He is not a flashy tight end like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis, but instead is an all-around traditional tight end that always gets the job done.
With Miller having five touchdown receptions already, he is set to shatter his career high of seven. It is no secret that he is a major asset to the Steelers offense, a favorite target to Ben Roethlisberger, and a favorite of Steelers Nation.