Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Roster Analysis - The Tight Ends

by Michael Bean (Blitz) on Jun 24, 2009 8:59 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

We resume our tour of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and the positional battles that should delineate this year's training camp in Latrobe by discussing the situation at tight end. It's quite an interesting one actually, as at the present moment, it's not at all clear what the organization intends to do past this season. Let's take a closer look.

Many Steelers fans have wondered why Heath Miller has not been more prominently involved in the offense since being drafted out of the University of Virginia in the 1st Round of the 2005 Draft. Miller has certainly been featured more than his predecessors at the position in Pittsburgh, but for a guy with such good hands and solid route-running ability, it's sometimes frustrating and perplexing that he's yet to catch 50 balls in a single season. I suppose as Jim Wexell told me and the site here last summer, there's only so many balls to go around.

Here's the deal though with Miller - and really, it's quite a fascinating development that's very much worthy of keeping an eye on and discussing. As a result of the pending labor dispute in the National Football League between the owners and the Players Association, Miller's free agent status is suddenly in question. Prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players became unrestricted free agents after accruing four years of service. Miller, who is set to hit the market after the 2009 season, will have accrued five years of service by then. However, one of the provisions of the CBAs expiration is that players must not have six years of service before becoming unrestricted free agents. Thus, if no new deal is brokered in time, Miller would be a restricted free agent in 2010.

Not aware of that? Don't sweat it. Neither was Mr. Miller.

This is one of the reasons that a new CBA will probably be worked out sooner rather than later and why it's probably unlikely that there will be a strike - or that it will ever even get close to that, for that matter. Players don't want to have to wait six years to become unrestricted free agents for obvious reasons. On the other hand, owners do not want an uncapped NFL - at least most owners not named Jerry Jones.

Anyway, as it relates to Heath Miller - I think the possibility that he would be restricted rather than unrestricted is more than enough reason for the Steelers to wait things out and not extend Miller sooner than they have to. If I had to guess, I'd say it ain't happening this offseason.

That's just speculation from me of course, but the incentives seem to be there for the organization to sit on their hands and wait for the dust to settle a bit before deciding on what to do with Heath Miller in particular. Sorry folks who are eager to see him be the next guy re-upped.

Coincidentally, Pittsburgh's #2 tight end, Matt Spaeth, is also set to be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Fans here on BTSC have debated Spaeth's abilities as a blocking tight end; others, including Mike Tomlin himself in 2007, have questioned Spaeth's toughness. To his credit, Spaeth has done a fairly solid job as a pass-catching tight end when his number has been called. Not outstanding, but solid enough. Spaeth had consecutive games with 6 catches in relief of Miller during Weeks 10 and 11 last year.

It's hard to say with any sort of confidence what the future might hold for Spaeth here in Pittsburgh. For me, that's because Miller's situation is vastly more complicated than most might realize. If Miller were in fact extended before hitting the open market, perhaps it's possible that Spaeth too is re-signed after this coming season. Obviously teams around the league aren't going to be willing to part ways with draft picks to acquire Spaeth, so it's likely that he could be retained at a very reasonable price. It might not make sense though to even give him a tender offer if 7th round rookie TE David Johnson proves anything at all this year, even on the Practice Squad. Johnson will be competing with hybrid TE/H-Back Sean McHugh for a very specialized roster spot - one that requires more blocking in certain packages than anything else. McHugh was solid last season in limited duty from his H-Back role. I don't think it would take too much for Johnson to dethrone him however, be it in 2009 or 2010. Then again, if Spaeth or Miller aren't in the organization's plans past this year, and Johnson is instead the guy they've penciled in at the #2 TE position, then perhaps McHugh's job is in less jeopardy.

Whew. Deep breath. Who knows how it will shake out, but from where I'm sitting, the tight end situation in Pittsburgh is a classic example of how the economics and governance structure of the NFL has the potential to supersede cut-and-dry talent evaluation.

Thoughts?

-Blitz- (Michael B.)

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Comments

Miller is such a beast with the ball, he’s a poor man’s Ditka. I think we keep him if he’s reasonable, and by reasonable I mean we can keep him and Holmes without overshooting the receiver share of the money.

the main reason I think he stays is we don’t have a starter behind him. Say what we will about the Steelers letting people go, they also pay some of their own, especially when they don’t have a replacement, and Spaeth or a rookie, neither of those are enough to warrant letting Miller walk.

Max Talbot is The Superstar.
Tikka da da, tikka da.

by Phantaskippy on Jun 25, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Miller is a great player

Miller is a great player and the Steelers know it. They will try to sign him to an extension because he is a difference maker on the field and a solid person off of it. Spaeth, on the other hand, is such a liability in the running game that he simply doesn’t belong in Pittsburgh. The day we cut him the running game improves 20% without taking a snap. He should be with a wussy team like Philly or Tampa Bay that never asks the TE to block and just lets him run around making catches.

Miller = BIG MONEY
Spaeth = GARBAGE

The reason it doesn’t make sense to tender Spaeth is he SUCKS. AUTOMATIC CUT IF ARIANS WAS NOT ON THE COACHING STAFF.

by Alegre_ on Jun 25, 2009 3:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's simplify things

I agree Blitz that the situation regarding TEs might seem complicated by a number of factors: 1. The CBA uncertainty regarding Miller; 2. Spaeth’s limitations; 3. Johnson’s unknown potential; 4. An offensive philosophy toward TEs that either doesn’t take advantage of their strengths or asks them to do things at which they’re not very effective.

Let’s try to simplify things. No. 1, identify Miller as one of the top 10 tight ends in the league, MUCH better than anyone else on the roster, and whose quality of character makes him a perfect Steeler. The fact he is unaware of the effects of a non-CBA environment on his free agent status suggests to me the club has already indicated it wants to re-sign him, and that he wants to stay,. making CBA considerations irrelevant. At this point the CBA is in effect. Therefore the proper course of action is to deal with him as you would any valuable young contributor entering his last contract season whose best years are ahead of him. I think he’ll get signed to a 4-5 year extension before the season begins. The Steelers can’t control what happens to the CBA but they can do something about keeping good young players, and the cost of keeping him now will be less than if they have to compete for him as a free agent, whether next year or the year after. The argument against signing him is that the TE position in the Steeler offense isn’t crucial enough from a reception standpoint to justify paying top dollars, but in Arians’ offense the TE position is extremely important and needs three players, so losing your best at that position would be a huge setback. The fact he doesn’t get enough looks is due to Arians being more interested in spreading the ball around and trying to look like a genius rather than sticking with what works.

Spaeth’s future with the Steelers rests almost solely on his ability to learn to block. He’s not athletic enough to be a No. 1 tight end. He’s going to have to muscle up a bit more to be an effective blocker and that will further hinder his mobility as a receiver. As a third-round pick he is going to make the team this year and be given a chance to show some improvement over the course of the season. He’s proved he can catch the ball if Miller is out and that alone is going to keep him on the roster. I can see him being re-signed to a one-year deal next spring as a restricted free agent, the same way the team dealt with under-performing Willie Colon. But if Johnson makes a good impression and Spaeth continues to struggle as a blocker, there’s a possibility they will let him walk next February just as they did with Anthony Smith. We have to see how things unfold this season.

McHugh is a stop-gap who might be cut this year. This is a guy who couldn’t make the Lions a year ago, but made a contribution because he was a better run-blocker as a FB than Carey Davis and the fact the Steelers needed a third TE on the active roster. Since then the Steelers have drafted another TE. The only way he makes the team this year is if Johnson is a bust or develops too slowly.

I’m optimistic about Johnson. He has specific attributes and versatility that fit Arians’ philosophy. He was an H-back in college who lined up frequently in the backfield as a lead blocker, and was also effective as an in-line blocker. He was a good receiver with above average quickness. He’s short for the NFL but that low center of gravity helps him as a blocker in both positions. It hinders him as a receiver but if he’s a good blocker, that should free Miller to some extent to do what he does best: get into his pattern and freelance when Ben starts running around to escape pressure.

Overall I think the outlook at TE is pretty straightforward: Sign the best guy now and let competition and performance dictate how you approach the rest of them next spring. If we have to spend a few more bucks than desired to keep Miller, then make up the difference by having the cheapest possible players as the No. 2 and No. 3 tight ends for the duration of his career in Pittsburgh, which could be 7-8 more years. He’s been durable so far (two missed games in four years) and succeeds because of his work habits, tenacity and good hands. He won’t be affected by time and injury to the same extent as a TE who gets by strictly on athletlcism and speed.

I would rate Miller as a higher priority than Reed because of monetary considerations. There’s not much of a FA market for kickers, nor a very high ceiling, so there isn’t going to be much difference in what it will take to sign Reed now or eight months from now. There could be a tremendous difference for Miller. If he gets to the FA marketplace, whether next year or 2011, there’s a good chance he’ll be gone. He’ll be seen by some team as a TE who’s been under-utilized and a quality person who brings a championship ethic to the locker room and the community. Since both of those things are true, I expect the Steelers to sign him to a contract extension soon.

by steeler.lifer on Jun 25, 2009 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Epic as always, and little to disagree with.

I’m still crossing my fingers for davis heading out this year with either a combination of McHugh , maybe Johnson, and maybe Summers taking the 3rd TE slot and “AFB” (arians full back).

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 25, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Heath doesn’t get catches for the same reason great TE’s on teams with good receivers always get underutilized.

Ben is gonna look for Holmes, he’s gonna look for Sweed or Washington long. He’s gonna go to Hines for a sure catch. He goes to Heath when he can’t do the other, or when they directly game plan a pass to Heath that works.

I love Heath, but he isn’t gonna turn many 15 yard passes into 50 yard gains. He isn’t going to burn a DB for a quick 6, and frankly he isn’t Hines. He may not drop as many as Hines has started to, but he also won’t catch a bad throw like Hines, and he doesn’t create on a busted play like Homes or Hines.

Heath is a great weapon to have at TE. But he’s not as dangerous a threat to the other team as Homes or even Hines. Heath is one of the reasons I think we could run a West-Coast style of offense, he would tear up and get receptions like a WR. But we aren’t gonna do that, not with all the speed we are grabbing. Heath is a valuable player, and worth the money. But he doesn’t deserve all the looks we’d like him to get, because of the talent at WR, and the nature of those players.

by Phantaskippy on Jun 25, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know Washington is gone, before I get yelled at. I mentioned Sweed and Washington together because Washington got the looks that Sweed will get now (if he gets the job) and Ben always looked for Nate.

You never hear people complain on a near-hit for a TD that the TE was open at 7 yards. Reverse it and everyone complains.

And the last sentence should read “nature of those positions.”

by Phantaskippy on Jun 25, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re dead-on in your assessment.

The thing about Heath though is that he isn’t likely to get 27 yards. He doesn’t really have big-yards in him. Miller will go about as far as the first down marker come hell or high water, and that’s about it. But…that’s all you need.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 25, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heath could be a 60-70 catch guy easily

If by using multiple weapons the offense was productive, I’d agree that Heath is going to have limited production. But the offense hasn’t consistently sustained drives the last two years. Heath is often featured in early parts of games when plays are scripted, then disappears while the offense bogs down. When the team needs a late drive, Ben is looking down the field to make a big play and usually only looks for Heath when he has run out of other options.

Heath doesn’t have great speed but he could be a much bigger weapon in the intermediate range if he wasn’t counted on so often to help chip the OT before getting into his pattern. That’s something that a lot of the more productive TEs in the league are not asked to do. The blocking delay and quick pressure on Ben doesn’t give Heath time to be anything more than a safety valve within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. He also gets very few looks in the red zone which is a total mystery, especially with the O running fruitlessly between the tackles.

Anyway, regardless of whether you rank Heath No. 5 in the league or No. 15, his presence in the lineup as a quality receiver and decent blocker is extremely valuable. No one else on the roster can come close to doing what he does.

by steeler.lifer on Jun 25, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would argue that the TE’s who get good production are on teams without good WR, or are a pure pass catcher like Sharpe used to be or Winslow now. Heath is a real TE, so he’s not going to get looks over Homes or ward or even a go route 3rd reciever.

It’s the nature of the position. You throw to him early to make the Defense respect him and cover him, then when they do you don’t go back unless he’s all you got.

Also Heath is not as good after a play breaks down as Holmes or Ward. No knock on Heath, those two are phenomenal, especially Ward.

I would rate Heath easily top 5 TE’s, top ten on pure pass catching. He doesn’t get chances because he is slower than Hines or Homes and less likely to break a big play. He’s reliable, so you throw to him when you need to. You don’t game plan an offense around the reliable guy, you plan it around the stars. TE’s are only stars when there aren’t better receivers on the team.

by Phantaskippy on Jun 27, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heath is phenomenal when plays breaks down. He is always, always standing around the 3rd down marker. He isn’t as good as Holmes/Ward with the ball after that, but when Ben needs just the 3rd down, he looked for Heath.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 27, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Er, 1st down marker, whatever.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 27, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again I’m not saying he is bad, he’s good, just not as good as Ward or Homes. Holmes has gotten really good at getting open when the play runs out and Ben is scrambling, Ward is one of the best in the league at it.

Heath is good, the success Ben has is reliant on how well his recievers do when he scrambles. It’s just Heath is not as good as Hines or Holmes, he’s better than many WR, just not ours.

That’s my point if Heath had different WR’s around him he’d put up much better numbers, but the nature of the position and the players he competes for passes with limit him.

by Phantaskippy on Jun 28, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly? I think Heath is just as good as Holmes/Hines at his role once the play breaks down, but Ben is going to be looking for Ward/Holmes because they can take the play deeper. Heath is usually the last look before Ben knows he is going to go down…the problem is Ben often times when he is going down a bit wrong.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 28, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree, Heath is good, but he isn’t as fast as Holmes, who can take a defender and burn them switching directions, or Ward who seriously has a psychic link to Ben on broken plays.

Heath can be zoned out of the play, you cant do that to Hines or Homes. You can do that to heath because he’s not as fast and isn’t as good with balls away from his body. Heath has to be open to get the ball to him, and he’s easier to cover.

by Phantaskippy on Jun 29, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, now we’re just going round and round. You make some good points and I see where you’re coming from. See you in round 2!

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 29, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice analysis Lifer

As I was reading your observations about Spaeth a crazy thought came over me. Perhaps its unreasonable because he’s not a particularly good blocker as it is, but if Spaeth bulks up he’ll probably will have no utility left as a receiver. Maybe he should go the route Larry Brown took in the 70’s, bulk up to O-line size (remaining as a TE in name only) and giving the Steelers a 6th O-lineman in three tight end situations. If that works then maybe Spaeth has a future as a tackle (Larry Brown went from a so-so tight end to a Pro Bowl caliber tackle). Probably a million reasons why this is a bad idea, they just don’t come immediately to mind.

by RickVa on Jun 25, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same thought has crossed my mind Rick

So much has changed in the 35 years since Brown converted from TE to OT. OTs in those days could get by at 265-270 pounds, so he didn’t have to put on much weight. And of course there’s a possibility that steroids were part of his weight gain, though he never looked like Mr. Universe so perhaps that’s unfair speculation. Spaeth would have to put on 40 pounds and his footwork looks clumsy at his current weight .

But you also touched on what is a pet peeve of mine in that the Steelers rarely use an extra OT on running plays except when they only need inches. The Ravens used an extra OT very effectively last year. Maybe a more athletic OT like Tony Hills, a TE when he went to Texas, could be used in place of a TE in some situations.

by steeler.lifer on Jun 25, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The 70s wasn’t the last time a TE has been converted to a successful OT, a UDFA one at that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Peters

Matt Spaeth would need to bulk up to at least 330 probably to be a legit OT though and that’s a lot of weight. It sure would be quite the project. I think Spaeth’s problems with blocking have more to do with just physique…they also have to do with willingness and technique, a little too much to surmount.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 26, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heath

The guy would put up Gonzo #s if he were in an offense that featured him. Soft hands, good speed, and decent ability with the ball after the catch. IMO Heath’s lack of a role in our O is one of Arians’ greatest failures. You have to be able to recognize and utilize the talent on your roster, and BA sucks at both.

I don’t want to say let him walk because he’s such a great character guy. I think you keep him and get a new OC that knows how to feature a TE in the passing game. And I don’t want to hear “there are only so many balls to be caught.” That’s BS. Jay Novacek used to consistently catch around 60 balls a year with Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper on the outside and Emmitt Smith gobbling up 25+ carries a game. There would be more balls to go around if the O could sustain more drives and get more plays on the field. Both of which would happen if our OC could draw up some plays that feature our Top 5 TE as the primary option.

My TE rank (receiving ability only):
1. T Gonz – best receiving TE ever stuck on a shitty team
2. Gates – production has not matched ability lately because of injury
3. Winslow – production has not matched ability lately because his QB had head up ass
4. Witten – #1 overall TE because of blocking ability
5. Miller – smooth as silk when the ball’s coming his way; better hands than Hines Ward; a pleasure to watch and a frustration that he seems to be an afterthought in this offense.

by JHolmes on Jun 25, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Do you remember when Heath missed one pass last year? I do, because it was so out of the norm that it stuck out.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 25, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might rank Chris Cooley ahead of him in terms of a pure pass-catching receiver, but other than that I agree with your list pretty much.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Jun 25, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also what about Dallas Clark? Not a great blocker but hes who Peyton looks to for clutch plays on 3rd down. Plus he has the speed to legitmately play slot reciever and great hands to boot. Him and Miller are both over Winslow in my book

by blueverinefan on Jun 25, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Both Spaeth and McHugh played too slow and too tall....

…and were submarined time after time on short yardage plays. Quick and fast linebackers and strong safeties at them alive.

How many times did we see Gary Russell of FWP grabbed by the ankles four yards deep in the backfield just as Ben handed off???

Maybe Summers is the answer. Maybe Johnson. But there is no question in my mind that Tomlin will address this obvious weakness. One key reason this team couldn’t convert on short yard situations was the blocking failures of its tight ends.

by Homer J. on Jun 25, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And miller for that matter…but Miller makes up for his at times poor blocking by peeling off his blocks or getting open for the TDs.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Jun 25, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two things .. .. ..

.. .. .. immediately come to mind when I think about the (under) utilization of Big Money:

The way WHIZ went to Heath early and often in the 2005 AFC Divisional game v. Colts. Before anyone could sneeze, the Steelers built a 14-0 lead thanks largely to several completions and a touchdown by Miller in the FIRST QUARTER. Then, Heath all but disappeared – WTF WHY?

How Heath has a knack for staying in and feigning a brief block then releasing off left end, getting wide open, catching the ball effortlessly with his velcro hands and then absolutely BLASTING any defender that gets in his way for big gains.

Now, I may be a South Jersey hick but given these two examples, don’t you think that things would open up even more for the WRs & run game if they actually game planned more for Heath?!?! I suppose that is a rhetorical question, I am just agreeing with everyone else. IMO, Heath would unquestionably be mentioned as the #1 or #2 TE in the league if someone in the coaching staff could only figure this out.

There is no spoon

by chewiesteeler on Jun 25, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

Tried to say #1 and #2, don’t know what happened there but you catch my drift

There is no spoon

by chewiesteeler on Jun 25, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Road to XL

I too think of that game and other key plays on the route to Detroit. HE was the primary reason IMO for having “control” of that game vs the Colts.

by jharmon64 on Jun 25, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

When the game plan centered around Heath…the Steelers moved the ball downfield. At times there were some large chunks of field that got eaten up. The only Steeler TE that I can remember that was used consistently was Eric Greene and he tore it up!

by steelersrock08 on Jun 25, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what the steelers need is a good blocking TE to go with heath, have him do a majority of the pass blocking helping the O-Line and allowing heath to get out into the flat and run short yardage plays catch the ball turn up-field and start laying guys out that try to tackle him on his way to a first down. I say that because Spath can’t block to save his life so Heath has to stay in and block so ben can stay on his feet long enough to complete passes to Hines and Santonio so if we can find a guy to block at the TE position we can in fact give heath the ball more which in turn allows us to take more shots down field because the safties have to move up to keep heath from turning a 3 yard catch into a 15 yard run after the catch.

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 25, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs