The Steelers dropped to 0-2 on the season with their 20-10 loss to the division rival Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football this week, and most of Yinzer Nation was sent into utter chaos and panic. This is the first time in Mike Tomlin’s seven year tenure that the black and gold have been two games under the .500 mark, and the first time in Big Ben’s career that the team has started the season with consecutive losses. While both of those are incredibly impressive statistics, they nonetheless will shed some light on the fact that the Steelers may simply be having a down year.
Much has been made of the offensive line, the running game (thanks to the latter), and the overall health of the offense, but one of the biggest contributors to the team’s downfall this year has been the absence of star tight end Heath Miller. Miller, who suffered a torn ACL during Week 16 against the Bengals last year, is and always has been Ben Roethlisberger’s security blanket and most reliable option since Hines Ward retired. He is not only one of the best blocking tight ends in the game, last season he established himself as a legitimate receiving threat out of the position, although he has always been able to come up with the big catch when the Steelers needed it. Miller set career highs with 816 receiving yards, 101 targets and 8 touchdowns to go along with his 71 receptions, which were good for fifth in the NFL among tight ends.
Those numbers may look pretty, but they don’t come close to showing just how valuable of a weapon Miller is to Big Ben and the Steelers offense. He is a phenomenal blocker, which shows in the running game, and during those tough third down or goal line situations when the Steelers need to make a play, he is consistently the one Roethlisberger looks to time and again. On more than a few occasions, chants of “Heeeeeeeeeeath” have rung throughout Heinz Field in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. Miller seems to have the innate ability, much like Anquan Boldin for the Ravens in last year’s playoffs, to get open when the game is on the line and a big play is needed.
For more insight into how much Miller’s absence from the lineup is hurting the team, look no further than what Roethlisberger had to say about good friend during the final week of the preseason.
“Heath is the best tight end in the game,” Roethlisberger said. “We definitely miss him and hope and wish him a speedy recovery.”
There you have it. Get well soon, Heath.
