The Case For Heath Miller

It is almost here. The annual guessing game of who is going where and what last minute trades will happen by the end of the weekend. And it seems every year we discuss the draft ad nauseum, in particular our first round pick. Last year we had the luxury of actually having definitive sides to choose. You were either in the Sean Taylor camp as I was, or in the Kevin Winslow, II camp. The debate waged on right up until draft day and for a few days afterwards.

However this year we are not so lucky. Not only is our pick a few rungs lower then last year’s we are completely unsure of who is going to be left let alone who we are going to pick. And though I have my own favorite as the title of this article suggest I too would be truly happy with a number of players. If we pick at #9 I would have no argument with the selection of any of these players: Mike Williams (WR, USC), Braylon Edwards (WR, Michigan), Antrell Rolle (CB, Miami), Adam “Pac Man” Jones (CB, W. Virginia), Carlos Rogers (CB, Auburn) or Troy Williams (WR, South Carolina). And if we trade down I would be happy with any number of other players, including Shawn Merriman (DE Maryland), Fabian Washington (CB, Nebraska), Erasmus James (DE, Wisconsin), & Matt Jones (WR, Arkansas). Any of these ten players will be immediate upgrades at their positions and put us in a better position to win next year.

But there is only one choice in this writer’s mind that can immediately solidify a position where there is desperate need, and that is Heath Miller (TE, Virginia). Now I know my views on this are well known on this board. In fact many of you may be waiting for Draft Day just so I will shut up on this. And I promise you after draft day if the Redskins do not select Miller I will (unless he is offensive rookie of the year and then I may write a “told you so” article). When Gibbs makes his selection I will be behind it and look forward to the season.

However there are a few days left for me to convince you. So I will now lay out the case for Heath Miller and give you five reasons you should be clamoring for this pick.

#1 Importance of TE in the modern NFL

With the NFL cracking down on the 5 yard duck and chuck rules the TE has virtually exploded onto the NFL scene. A good receiving TE is now taking the place of the old Art Monk-type possession receivers. Why throw a lanky 6’ wide receiver over the middle when you can send a tank with soft hands there instead. Linebackers must now account for these behemoths before blitzing. CBs are overmatched by their power and if you assign a safety to them your wide outs can burn them for a TD.

TEs are also main run blockers, especially in the Gibbs offense. With the TE lining up next to Jon Jansen at Right Tackle and Randy Thomas at Right guard a majority of the time you can bet Gibbs is going to send a RB that way. The TE is one of the only positions on offense that participate directly in about every offensive play. Whether it is receiving, pass blocking, or run blocking the person playing it should be incredibly talented.

#2 The Redskins need an upgrade at TE.

This should not even be in dispute but yet it is. Part of that is that many Redskin fans don’t understand the Gibbs offense. The base formation of the Redskin offense are 5 down linemen, a QB under center, 2 Wide Outs, A TE lined up on the line, and an H-back that is often in motion lining upon on the line, in the backfield, and sometimes at WR. Many fans point immediately to Cooley as a reason we don’t need a TE, but Cooley plays the role of H-Back, and plays it well. Putting him on the line all the time would limit negate his speed.

That leaves us with Royal as our starting TE and that is not good enough. In the modern NFL your TE should not only be able to act like a 6th lineman but be able to separate and be a receiving threat as well. Royal is only an average receiver and is a below average blocker. Miller is an instant upgrade and will be a starter from day 1 of training camp.

#3 Miller is the Best TE in the draft

Not only is he the best, there is a large drop off after him. Miller led Virginia in receiving the last two years. He won the Mackey Award for best TE in the country in 2004. He was an All-American and All-Conference player each of the last two years. He has consistently played at a high level and is unanimously projected as a first round pick. His freshman year (2002) he had 33 catches for 327 yards (9.9 YPC) and 9 TDs. His sophomore year he had 70 catches for 835 yards (11.9 YPC) and 6 TDs. He dropped down a bit in 2004 but posted 41 catches for 541 yards (13.2 YPC) and 5 TDs but that could be because he had an inferior QB throwing to him. Regardless though his YPC increased each and every year.

Many people point to Heath’s injury as a possible reason not to take him. If it was not for his injury we would be easily talking about him in the top 15 of the draft. The injury is said to be healed by training camp. This is the same player who did not miss a game for his three active seasons, starting every game at TE from 2002-2004 for the Cavaliers. This injury is a fluke and not indicative of anything. He could be the most complete TE to come out in the last three years, blocking as well as receiving.

#4 Miller’s skills will immediately improve every phase of our beleaguered offense.

I truly think that offense is the number 1 priority for us this off-season. I know that we are lacking at CB but Springs, Harris, and Wilds are adequate corners in my opinion and can serve us well this year. Lemar Marshall will spend time learning the MLB position. Other then that we will be returning the same #3 defense in the league last year. Another year familiarity with the Williams D will far outweigh the lack of 2 minor players. Add to that the likely return of Lavar Arrington and Michael Barrow and the D can really be a force to reckon with.

So the question is how do we fix the offense. We went out and addressed the WR situation, we upgraded the Center position. Now we need to take care of TE. Miller’s receiving skills are superior to not only the TEs on our team but many of the receiver’s as well. ESPN has postulated that perhaps Miller has the best hands in the draft. That is saying something. With smurfs at our starting WR we need a big target to go over the middle. Cooley and Miller can serve those roles.

Miller’s technically sound blocking skills can be used as well in both the passing and running games. He won ACC lineman of the week 4 times last year and 13 times over his career. Not bad for a TE. He needs to bulk up but has the frame to do so. He can get to the LBs and create room for Portis to spring one to the house. He can also pick up blitzing LBs with Ramsey in their target sites. Goal line situation immediately improve as well with Portis or Betts running behind Cooley to the right with Jansen Thomas and Miller there.

#5 Miller’s versatility will confuse opposing defenses and create mismatches.

There is an argument out there that we could just supplement our TE needs with lower round picks. They suggest taking a slobber knocker in the lower rounds to act as a blocking TE and let Royal line up in passing situations. This is failed logic at best. First off if our slobber knocker was in the game the LB and safety could virtually ignore cover responsibilities on him and can guess that is a run play. When Royal is in they can slide coverage over to accommodate him and perhaps send blitzers assuming it is a pass play. Sure Gibbs will throw in a couple of misdirection plays but that is only a couple times a game and you are playing against the strength of your personnel on the field. A TE capable of doing all three options, run blocking, pass blocking, and receiving will never tip off the defense and constantly keep them guessing.

Miller as a receiver also poses multiple dilemmas. Most defenses only have one cover LB. With Cooley and Miller on the field together and many times on opposite sides the LB will have to choose. The other player will either be covered by the strong safety or a nickel back. Both Cooley and Miller can school 75% of the line backers in the league. And both can use their size on any nickel back to get the catch and move the chains. This will mean both safeties will either be occupied by the duo of Cooley or Miller and one of our Wide Receivers will be open or we can move the sticks by hitting underneath patterns to our wide bodies.

I have always advocated that Miller should be selected only after a trade down. I also have recently come to the conclusion that a trade down was preferable no matter what player was drafted. However if no adequate trade down partner can be found I would still be happy if the Redskins selected Miller at #9. Last year the argument against Taylor was that safety is not a position that should be chosen that high. Now I hear the same argument against Miller this year. I think Miller could be our final cog in the offensive machine as Taylor was to the defense last year.

But until then it is all a guessing game. And soon the guessing will be over and we will know who our first round pick is and what the rest of our roster will look like. But until then I am backing Heath Miller.