Please understand that what I am about to write about is a speculation on my part based on the strengths of this team. While I am very hopeful that something like this can happen, I will also explain why it is a long shot.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are only days away from kicking off the 2012 NFL season and it seems to me that this team has at least one secret weapon on the roster that could really make this team potent if they would only use them.
Everyone already knows about quarterback Ben Roethilsberger. He’s the undisputed leader of this offense, with two Super Bowl rings to show for it. With the new offense in place, more of this responsibility is going to fall on his shoulders–or should I say arm.
There’s no doubt Roethlisberger has weapons. The return of holdout wide receiver Mike Wallace, along with fellow pass catchers Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders, shows why this team should be able to move this ball with ease.
But what we saw last year was this group struggled in the red zone. I’d say the primary reason for that is the fact that you don’t have targets who are comfortable working in traffic, with a short field to run to, and with that extra defender in the back of the end zone.
The troubling thing for me is that it doesn’t need to be that way. This roster has ample red zone talent but it seems to be top secret to everyone, including the Steelers themselves.
Of course I am talking about the tight ends. Veteran starter Heath Miller has eight years in the league and has a 70+ catch season under his belt. He’s not as fast as Jimmy Graham, or as athletic as Aaron Hernandez, but he is a big target who’s got sure hands and isn’t afraid to go over the middle and fight for the football. In 2011, though, Miller ranked 20th among NFL tight ends in terms of targets.
If that weren’t enough, I give you exhibit B, Weslye Saunders. I realize he’ll miss the first four weeks of the season, but when he returns, he gives Roethlisberger a massive target at 6’5″ and 270lbs. He can play and he’s young. Get this kid on the field.
There is nothing that says this team can’t put Miller on one end of the line and Saunders on the other and use them both as receiving targets on passing downs, and extra blockers on run downs. It would give Roethlisberger big bodies right in his line of sight and in the red zone. Even if Saunders is released after his suspension, fellow tight end Leonard Pope can be that guy opposite Miller in this set up.
We’ve seen it work all around the league. The Steelers have more than enough quarterback for it to work and the weapons on the outside would give these big boys a wide path for work. This season, if the Steelers want to compete for another Super Bowl title, they need to dig deep in the playbook and use their secret weapons!
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