Accounting for the Steelers' tight end in Philly game plan...
Our GateKeeper Emeritus Brizer is on record as warning the Eagles to keep a tight leash on the Steelers' veteran tight end Heath Miller this coming Sunday...
So much media talk is spent on the Steelers' wideouts Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace...but Heath Miller is Big Ben's not-so-secret weapon.
Heath Miller, TE, 6-5, 256, 8th year out of Virginia, was a first-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2005...
The Eagles know what they have to do on defense to force Big Ben's hand...integrity of gap coverage, check...disciplined open-field tackling, check...maintain close coverage on wide receivers when Ben does his roll-out right moving pocket, check...but the guy that Roethlisberger likes to go to when he needs to extend a drive is his veteran tight end.
The featured involvement of Heath Miller in the Steelers' game plan is a direct result of Todd Haley (former HC of Kansas City and former OC for Cardinals) coming in to Pittsburgh as their new offensive coordinator. Despite Haley's much publicized verbal volleys with Big Ben, the two have seemingly come to an agreement on the most efficient use of their tight end as an offensive weapon.
They used to call Heath Miller "underrated"... this is no longer the case. He will cause huge matchup challenges for the Eagles linebackers and safeties on Sunday.
“As long as we block stout, (passing) shouldn’t be an issue,” said Steelers left tackle Max Starks. “We have a great (corps) of receivers that can all get open and make plays. Plus, you add Heath Miller in the middle, and you don’t really have enough guys who can cover. I think it’s going to be a great matchup for us. Outside of Asomugha and Cromartie-Rodgers, their nickel is a rookie. You have some guys who are inexperienced in there. Hopefully, we can get into some sets and be successful in those things.”
Hmmmm...
Thus far, it’s worked out OK for the Eagles, who rank seventh in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 206.8 yards per game – though that number was somewhat skewed by a 118-yard passing game by Cleveland rookie Brandon Weeden in Week 1, his first career start.
Since then, the Eagles have given up 232 yards and a touchdown to Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, 222 and two scores to Arizona’s Kevin Kolb, and 309 yards and two touchdowns to the Giants’ Eli Manning.
The Steelers hope quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is second in the NFL with a 109.2 passer rating, can be the difference, identifying whom Boykin is matched up against and taking advantage of it.
“I know he’s a rookie. In these early games – that’s the only thing you can go by – and the film from the preseason, you can see his athletic ability,” said Steelers receiver Jerricho Cotchery of Boykin. “He’s getting some valuable experience on the inside right now. He has some great guys to learn from.”
The Steelers feel he still has a lot of learning to do.
“ He’s all right,” said Brown. “I should have kept my mouth shut about calling him the 'candy bar' in the Eagles' secondary. But he’s given up a lot of plays. Whoever gets that guy definitely has to take advantage.”
Wow. If that's not some kind of motivation for Boykin and the Eagles secondary to play lights out coverage on Sunday, I'll need to send the Birds a new bulletin board for their locker room. But in reality, this may be a calculated diversionary move by the Steelers to take the defensive focus off their real ace-in-the-hole threat---Heath Miller.
The Steelers should get Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and Rashard Mendenhall back as they look to avoid falling in a 1-3 hole Sunday against the visiting Eagles.
Philadelphia (3-1) has been outscored by 17 points through four games, but it has a pair of one-point wins and a two-point victory to thank for its winning record. It's trailed at the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter in all three wins.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have blown fourth-quarter leads in both of their defeats, watching a 10-point cushion disappear in a 34-31 overtime loss in Oakland on Sept. 23 before a bye week.
"There's no panic in here," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "It's still a marathon, but we need to get a win."
Having two former Defensive Players of the Year back should help, but to safety Ryan Clark, their additions mean little if the defense can't produce.
"I think it's more pressure, honestly," Clark said. "No more excuses."
The Steelers have surrendered an average of 31.3 points in losing three straight on the road dating to their playoff loss in Denver, but being home should help. Pittsburgh has allowed just 9.3 points per game in winning nine of its last 10 at Heinz Field.
It'll see an Eagles offense that's fifth in the league in total yards (417.8 per game) but 30th in scoring (16.5). A staggering 12 turnovers were the biggest culprit in the unit's struggles through three weeks, but Philadelphia didn't give it away once in last Sunday night's 19-17 win over the Giants.
"I'd like to keep winning. I'd like to keep winning by more than one or two points. I'd like that, but I like winning," coach Andy Reid said Monday. "I honestly don't feel like we've come close to playing our best football yet."
Michael Vick was much better against the Giants after throwing six interceptions and fumbling five times in his opening three games. He also made a difference with his legs, scrambling six times for a season-high 49 yards.
"I just played smarter," said Vick, who's been knocked down 44 times - 18 more than the next-most for a quarterback. "The thing is in this game you can't force opportunities against the defense, you have to let it come."
"I'll be honest, missing the preseason did affect me to a certain extent, but now I'm getting into my groove and seeing the field a little better. The guys around me are helping me and that's important."
Vick suffered a knee contusion late in last weekend's game but is expected to be at full strength Sunday.
There's also a chance left tackle King Dunlap (hamstring) could return, though perhaps not at his original position. He took some snaps at right guard in practice Wednesday with Danny Watkins out, a sign the Eagles are pleased with Demetress Bell's job filling in for Dunlap.
Philadelphia's defense allows 6.16 yards per pass attempt - only San Francisco and Houston are better - but the Steelers should provide a formidable threat. Roethlisberger is the NFL's second highest-rated passer (109.2) and has thrown eight touchdowns to one interception.
He's been sacked nine times, though that seems like nothing compared to the last time he faced the Eagles. Philadelphia brought him down eight times in that 15-6 win Sept. 21, 2008.
"He's a big guy. You can't tackle him low. You've got to tackle him high," said defensive end Trent Cole, who had one of those sacks. "That's going to be one of our keys to getting him down."
The Steelers are 16-19 in the regular season when Roethlisberger is sacked four times or more, and 65-17 when he goes down three times or less.
Being able to hand the ball to Mendenhall could be big for Roethlisberger. The Steelers are averaging a league-low 2.6 yards per carry without the former first-round pick, who has missed the first three games after tearing his ACL in January.
Roethlisberger is 13-1 in home games against NFC opponents.
Welp, I just enjoyed a double-Stoli and Mango joo-uice.
And now,....I'm headin' for that smokehouse...............
and I'm ready to be warshed clean of my dirt.
Hey Beans, Gladly push you over 10K......but alas, the stupid Android don't let me "like". Oh, well, the LP's will be happy.
@dutchrubb 10k what?... Oh likes... Meh.... 'Fame...Fortune... I Jedi craves not these things'
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Hey Broz, I know cars, You know Corndogs, I don' t question your expertise in that field. I assure you I got my field covered like Brizer on a coffee pot. And You don't go to Sunnyo to learn how to spell the word "Ford", cause he will muck it up. YWIA
@dutchrubb I do still wonder tho Dutchie... If you couldn't make cash Exporting cars here...
The one thing about my Job now that bothers me.... Is just How much cash I gotta pay in Tax.... its Efffing ridiculous... BUT if I start a small business... I can use that Tax money to fund the business here and at least make some use of it...
One of those Ideas has always been Custom Rods for say, Weddings and what you call 'Proms'... The cash spent on the maintenance is a write off... Yet the income form them is....Erm...loose.... Plus you get a kick ass Vintage car to drive when you feel like it.....(But taxed on Re-sale..)
Soooo I hope to talk a bit of business in the future... The only adverse thing I can see at the moment is your on the Wrong side of America to make it convenient... So transport becomes more expensive... Hmm I will have to price up some containers
@dutchrubb @beanstalk When I get more settled... I will take it VERY serious... I think I will travel to Philly first tho and watch some footy.... I will catch you for a beer then I am sure
@beanstalk We have people who will take them across the country . It's the price you pay to find the right car. Can help if you get serious.
Phil of Kent..... I bean thinking... Are you familiar with how you just what game you wanna watch over to the viewing box? Hate to state the obvious... But I can't see how NFL.com can be blocked by Sky.. or Fox...etc... Basically, I can use it ANYWHERE in the country... So you should be able to be as well.. Yet some places might not have Cable TV...In England to I guess... So how can they discriminate?!?
A letter to the NFL about your problem might get your cash back, particularly if you point out you Only wanted it for the Eagles, and bought the total package any ways..
Bwah ha ha har!!!!!!!!!!
The PE.com Cartoon is Super again..... Reminds me of Ren and Stimpy days
I'm gonna retire from the computer for the night and hopefully watch them O's pull off some more magic
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My girlfriend and her sister are watching telemundo. I dont speak spanish, but i dont mind cause the girls are hot and i get the impression that if i knew wat was going on, it would be less interesting.
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@fieldsr69 Get naked, and go sit between them. That's a secret fantassy of almost all sisters.
It's a no loose.
This middle stretch of the season is important, but not critical. If we lose a game or two its not a bad thing, provided we look sharp. Coming into the 3rd half of the season the birds should be hitting theyr stride.
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@Brozer8 nope. Not against pit, in pit. If we win that game it would be a huge boost, but its the kind of loss that isnt a bad loss. Unless we lose bad.
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Broz you should crash and burn for making up lies about my boy Bri... He said no such thing about me... He said it about 3D... Ya jerk faced jerk!
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@atvcar I want credit for defending you nonetheless,.......
just like i've always done.........in the past.
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@atvcar Wow.....I'm tireder than i thought.
No joke, I read it as ATV.
I guess I'm just used to him calling you a wussbag, and my brain skimmed over 3D.
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@Brozer8 @fieldsr69 Ok that's twice you either mistake me for it compared me to 3D... I keel you!
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Look what I did to DDD, in half that many !
Normal, to highly agitated in 4 posts.
Highly agitated, to completely insane, in 8.
Banned for 3 months, by 10 posts.
Geez......another 5, and he woulda been on a water tower somewheres, whisperin' to himselfs, whilst watching people's head explode, through his rifle scope.
