It was nice to see that Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller returned last year from a torn ACL suffered the season before.
However, something just wasn’t right with Miller, as he had a down year by his standards.
But the calendar has turned to 2014 and Miller could be in store for another big season. At least in his mind he thinks it will be different:
“I should be able to put more preparation in, should be able to work like I’m used to working,” Miller told ESPN’s Scott Brown following the Steelers’ final OTA of the week on Thursday. “Last year was about trying to find a new normal for myself and I’m a creature of habit, so that wasn’t easy for me. I’m fully confident by the time the season rolls around I’m going to be feeling much better than the start of last year just from a confidence perspective.”
Miller missed just two games in 2013 and returned to the playing field nine months after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.
He caught 58 passes for 593 yards and a touchdown, but Miller wasn’t the same player who established career highs in receiving yards (816) and touchdown catches (eight) in 2012.
All that says is not everyone can come back like a freak following ACL surgery, similar to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
This year Miller practiced all three days of OTAs. Last year he had to sit and watch. If Miller can get back to his old level of production, it will be huge for this Steelers’ offense, especially in the red zone.
As good as the Steelers offense was towards the end of the season last year, imagine how good it could be if all of the new parts such as Lance Moore, Darius Heyward-Bey, Martavis Bryant, LeGarrette Blount and Dri Archer can step in and contribute.
But don’t forget about Miller.
The good news is that all signs point to him being better.
“I expect to be better than last year,” Miller said.
That’s good enough for me and if he can come close to the production he had in 2012, it should be plenty good enough for the Steelers as well.
