Steelers tight end Miller excels at right time

By: Gary Mihoces,-USA Today

February 2, 2009

There is nothing flashy about tight end Heath Miller. But he plays a fundamental role in both the running game and the passing game of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are at their best when both are in balance.

Maybe he'd get more notice if he had a few wild tattoos.

"I don't have any. I couldn't think of anything that I would want for the rest of my life," says the 6-5, 256-pounder, a first-round draft pick from Virginia in 2005 and a starter since his rookie year.

Maybe if he had a nickname such as "The Hammer."

But he simply goes by Heath, though his full name is Earl Heath Miller.

"My dad's name is Earl … and picking between the two I was OK with Heath," he says.

Maybe if his life away from football included an exotic hobby like sky diving.

Instead, he likes to take long walks with his dogs, a Chocolate Lab (Charlie) and a Newfoundland (Marla). "I like to take them hiking, just to be outside," Miller says. "My wife (Katie) says I always tend to want to do something. It's hard for me to sit around."

The offense that has helped the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl titles in his four-year NFL career keeps Miller very active.

"In this offense, you have to be a tight end capable of doing a number of things," he says. "If you're one-dimensional, then you're probably not going to be very beneficial in this offense."

He was lauded for his blocking by John Madden in Sunday's 27-23 Super Bowl win vs. Arizona. And he made impact with his receiving. He had five catches for 57 yards including a pair of 11-yard grabs during a second-quarter drive that gave Pittsburgh a 10-0 lead.

"The opportunities were there and we were just able to take advantage of them," he said with characteristic understatement.

One of those 11-yard receptions came on third-and-10 when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scrambled, reversed direction and threw back across the field.

Miller welcomed the chance to go to Pittsburgh when he was drafted. "There's no great place to play than the city of Pittsburgh," he said Sunday. And he knew priority No. 1 was his run blocking.

"People made it known to me that they were a very run-first oriented offense," he says. "Rightfully, when I came in Jerome (Bettis) was the guy. He had a big year the year before, and Duce Staley was here. And Willie (Parker) was kind of becoming the main guy."

The Steelers lost Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca to free agency before the season started. Two offensive line starters were lost to injuries during the season. But except for missing two games with an ankle injury, Miller was a key blocker at the point of attack throughout the season.

He had 18 touchdown receptions his first three seasons. That dropped off to three touchdown catches this regular season. But in the Steelers' playoff opener against the San Diego Chargers, he had a pivotal 8-yard touchdown catch.

And now, due in no small part to his catching and blocking, the Steelers have a second Super Bowl trophy since he has been on the roster.

"This feeling never gets old," he said. "A lot of guys never get a shot at a ring and now we've got two.