Miller and Steelers: a perfect fit

To hear Heath Miller talk, his postseason record with the Pittsburgh Steelers is not the result of any particular talents he has. It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time with the right team and the right quarterback.

Of all the tight ends who have played in the postseason for the Steelers, none has been more effective than Miller. You can look it up.

Miller is from Honaker High School in Russell County in Southwest Virginia. He played as a collegian at the University of Virginia.

When he caught a 24-yard pass against the New York Jets in the AFC championship game, Miller moved into first place on the Steelers' all-time list for receiving yards by a tight end in the playoffs. That catch gave him 411 yards.

Then, on the Steelers' final possession, Miller caught a pass for fewer yards, 14, but of bigger importance.

The reception came on a second-and-9 play, caught the Jets off-guard, gave the Steelers a first down and kept the ball out of the Jets' hands in a 24-19 game. Miller's success helped the Steelers advance to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas on Sunday night where they will play the Green Bay Packers.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger called Miller's reception, "great."

Miller said, "It was a normal play. Ben threw the ball right where it needed to be. Fortunately, we were able to get the first down."

That's classic Miller. The former Cavaliers standout was a first-round draft choice of the Steelers in 2005. He blocks. He catches passes. He never complains that he should catch more passes.

Miller is only the sixth player in Steelers history to exceed 400 receiving yards in the playoffs. He is the 11th tight end in NFL history to pass the 400-yard mark in postseason receiving yards.

During the 2010 regular season, he caught 42 passes for 512 yards and two touchdowns. It was his least productive season for receptions and yards since 2006. But there's a reason, aside from missing two games with a concussion. The Steelers spent much of the season with an offensive line in flux. Miller was needed more as a blocker than receiver. So, he blocked.

Miller has been extremely effective over his career. He averages 11.3 yards per reception, even though he runs routes that average around six yards. He picks up the rest on his own with yards after the catch, one of the more important statistics for a receiver.

He has 29 touchdown receptions in six seasons and has lost just two fumbles amid his 286 career receptions.

He makes the Steelers better, whether he's receiving or blocking. All in all, he hasn't done badly for a high school quarterback who switched to tight end in college.

"You could see right away he had great potential," said former Virginia coach George Welsh, who signed Miller for the Cavaliers. "He was a heck of a good athlete, and he knew he was not coming in to play quarterback.

"You try to project where you're going to play somebody that big who could run. He'd probably be a pretty good defensive end as well."

Things have worked out OK for Miller as a tight end.

"I feel fortunate to be part of this organization, to have been drafted by Pittsburgh and to play in front of these fans," Miller said. "I've been pretty lucky to come to a good team and good organization. It's just a fortunate situation."

No doubt, the Steelers will say they feel fortunate to have a player such as Miller. The 6-5, 256-pound tight end gives an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, and then goes about the rest of his life.

Miller should have a chance to add to his postseason receiving statistics Sunday. The Packers played the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the 2009 season, and Miller caught seven passes for 118 yards, a single-game career best. The Steelers won 37-36, scoring a touchdown on the last play of the game.

"That was a crazy game," Miller said.

Miller is cordial and polite, but he is a man of few words, and whenever possible, he prefers those words to be about someone other than himself.

"Playing in this offense is really neat," Miller said. "We are asked to do a lot of things, which is fun. We're a tight-knit group. We don't flinch when we face adversity. We keep battling. It's a special group of guys."

And the Steelers have a special, unassuming, tight end.

pwoody@timesdispatch.com

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