Parker Abate, @parkerabate
SteelerNation.com
What if I told you that you could go back in time and place a retired Pittsburgh Steeler from the last decade on this year’s team? Popular answers would include Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, James Farrior, Alan Faneca, among others.
Minkah Fitzpatrick has done what he can in the secondary to be as close to Polamalu as we all could hope, JuJu Smith-Schuster has shown flashes of being Ward-esque on offense, and a healthy Devin Bush takes Farrior out of the conversation. And well Faneca, he would be my second choice.
This brings me to one of the more underrated, productive Steelers of the 21st century: Heath Miller.
As quiet as Miller was, he was that security blanket that all quarterbacks dream of. He was no Rob Gronkowski, George Kittle or Travis Kelce, but that was okay; he made plays when he needed to. Miller was also one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL throughout his career and we all know the Steelers could really use that right now averaging just 54 yards on the ground per game since Week 8.
It’s scary to think the Steelers may not be throwing the ball down field much because Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow can’t handle it AND because no one can be trusted right now to catch a ball down field.
With that said, Miller would be of great service to this team. In his final year back in 2015, Miller had 60 receptions without a single drop. In 2011, 70.6% of Miller’s receptions went for a first down. In 2012, he caught 71 passes and 44 of them (62%) went for a first down, according to Sporting News. That’s what it seems like the Steelers are in dire need of right now offensively.
Eric Ebron has the most penalties committed on the Steelers this season (defensive and special teams included) with six. Miller had just nine penalties called against him from 2011-2013. There’s a chance Ebron creeps up on that number this season! Not to mention Ebron’s lack of consistency catching the football.
There are holes in several areas right now for the Steelers. Injuries are the main reason to blame for that, but lack of production in other areas can shoulder some of it too.
Miller was almost always a guy that, when he caught the ball, would get to the line to gain, fall forward and land a nasty block on an outside linebacker the very next play. The Steelers are missing that physicality and quite honestly, missing a pass catcher who Big Ben can trust week in and week out.
Please don’t think I’m urging Heaaaaaaaaaaath to come out of retirement. It’s just fun to play this hypothetical while the offense is at such a standstill.
Who would you bring back to this Steelers team this year? Let me know in the comments below!
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