zulater
10-24-2012, 05:44 AM
Second Read” rewinds the tape after each NFL weekend to determine why the games played out the way that they did … and what it all may mean for the rest of the season.
There are flashier tight ends around the league, players like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis who change defensive game plans and steal headlines.
The Steelers probably wouldn’t trade Heath Miller for any of them.
Miller is more from the “traditional tight end” cut than the Gronkowskis of the world, but he is invaluable in Pittsburgh’s offense — and has been for several years. How much the Steelers rely on him was on display Sunday in their come-from-behind 24-17 win over Cincinnati.
“Heath gives us consistent effort on a week-in and week-out basis, and sometimes when we win, it gets highlighted as it should,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “But his performance is in line with what he’s done all year.”
The key highlights from that performance Sunday:
• With Pittsburgh down 14-6 late in the first half, Miller worked himself open in the end zone against very tight coverage, then made a tough catch over the middle for a touchdown.
• Miller then hauled in the ensuing two-point conversion on a corner fade route often reserved for a team’s most athletic receiver.
• Finally, Miller had the key block on Chris Rainey’s decisive 11-yard touchdown run, pulling to fill a gap up the middle and taking out a linebacker to spring Rainey into the secondary.
None of that was out of the ordinary — Miller finished with six catches for 53 yards, and he had several solid blocks, including a punishing one on a wide receiver screen. Miller may be one of the most underappreciated players in the league, but he showed again Sunday why he’s still a sensational tight end.
read more.....http://nfl.si.com/2012/10/23/second-read-showing-heath-miller-some-love/
There are flashier tight ends around the league, players like Rob Gronkowski or Vernon Davis who change defensive game plans and steal headlines.
The Steelers probably wouldn’t trade Heath Miller for any of them.
Miller is more from the “traditional tight end” cut than the Gronkowskis of the world, but he is invaluable in Pittsburgh’s offense — and has been for several years. How much the Steelers rely on him was on display Sunday in their come-from-behind 24-17 win over Cincinnati.
“Heath gives us consistent effort on a week-in and week-out basis, and sometimes when we win, it gets highlighted as it should,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “But his performance is in line with what he’s done all year.”
The key highlights from that performance Sunday:
• With Pittsburgh down 14-6 late in the first half, Miller worked himself open in the end zone against very tight coverage, then made a tough catch over the middle for a touchdown.
• Miller then hauled in the ensuing two-point conversion on a corner fade route often reserved for a team’s most athletic receiver.
• Finally, Miller had the key block on Chris Rainey’s decisive 11-yard touchdown run, pulling to fill a gap up the middle and taking out a linebacker to spring Rainey into the secondary.
None of that was out of the ordinary — Miller finished with six catches for 53 yards, and he had several solid blocks, including a punishing one on a wide receiver screen. Miller may be one of the most underappreciated players in the league, but he showed again Sunday why he’s still a sensational tight end.
read more.....http://nfl.si.com/2012/10/23/second-read-showing-heath-miller-some-love/