Cannon Firing Line
Throw Heath The Ball
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

The national holiday known as the NFL Draft is behind us. Sadly, we must wait another year before we can again wrap our arms around the hype and madness. The only thing more sad will be if the Steelers don't take full advantage of top pick Heath Miller.

We appreciate the spin and the initial reaction after Miller's pick - he's going to be used in the passing game and become useful for Ben Roethlisberger.

That sounds good, but it's not good enough.

For Miller to truly have value, the Steelers must find ways to make him a threat. Not an option. Not a once-in-a-while guy. A THREAT.

He has that capability and one has to believe, despite years of making a mockery of the position or the position making a mockery of the Steelers, depending on whom you believe, the Steelers will make use of Miller. You also have to believe that if the Steelers wanted only a situational guy, they had other options available, at less money, later in the draft.

You have to assume the Steelers know what they have in Miller, and plan to change how the position is used.

But that's still not good enough.

Here's why. Changing how the position is used as compared to whom? Jerame Tuman? Jay Riemersma? Mark Bruener? Marco Battaglia? Just about any of the seemingly dozens of tight ends the club has used for years?

Of course each of those guys has contributed. But if you or the Steelers think the position is enhanced because Miller will catch the ball as frequently as those guys, then this pick is a waste.

The "chicken and egg" theory of what has caused the Steelers to avoid the tight end in the passing game is legendary. You can argue forever about whether that's been the case because the tight ends stink, or if the team's approach is flawed. You could probably win an argument if you voiced the idea that Kellen Winslow would merely be another Walter Rasby if he was a Steeler.

No, what we want to see is Miller used in a way comparable to the best receiving tight ends in the league. Okay, maybe Tony Gonzalez 100-catch territory is off limits, but what about likes of Antonio Gates' 81 or Jeremy Shockey's 61?

Do you wrinkle your nose at those numbers? Do you think it's ridiculous to suggest the top player at his position should be used like it? If it offends you at any level, then you believe the tight end is not necessary for the Steelers to succeed next season. You've bought into the "don't fix what ain't broken" theory.

Okay, here's the bare minimum: Atlanta's Alge Crumpler, who caught porkie 48 times last season. That's three catches a game.

If Heath Miller isn't being used next season to the tune of three catches a game, then he's either overrated or the Steelers are again avoiding the position.

It's that simple.

That simplicity may yield to the fact Bill Cowher loves running the ball 60% of the time, Ben kneeling at the end of games, and the defense kept fresh. And that's the identity we believe best fits Cowher and the Steelers.

But in his effort to return this season to what made the team so successful last year, Cowher can't confuse the two. Getting the ball to Miller three times a game isn't West Coast. It's not newfangled.

It's the least he can do.

We understand how Miller can work, conceptually, for the Steelers. We'd like to see it happen. If it does, the Steelers will be that much better.

In the meantime, forgive us for waiting until we see it first.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m. on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.