Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said this week that he wants to see the team’s young receivers “take the next step” while Martavis Bryant serves his year-long suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Bryant isn’t the only major offensive piece from last season who will be missing in 2016. Tight end Heath Miller decided to hang up the cleats after 11 seasons in Pittsburgh.
Miller was a reliable target for Roethlisberger through the air and his long stay in Pittsburgh also made him a go-to player when teammates had questions about the offense. Wide receiver Markus Wheaton told Alex Marvez and Phil Savage on Sirius XM NFL Radio that Miller helped him out when he was “unsure” about anything on the field and that he’ll miss the longtime Steeler even while he tries to play the same role for new tight end Ladarius Green.
“Not having him there scares me a little bit,” Wheaton said. “That’s really what’s motivated me to really pick up the offensive protections and really know the playbook in and out. I won’t have Heath there anymore. I’ll have a new guy that’s new to our system that I’ll probably be helping out the way Heath helped me out.”
Wheaton is heading into his fourth year with the Steelers, so he should have a good enough grasp of the offense to know his role and enough about the overall plan to give Green any pointers that the veteran might need. The Steelers will likely still miss Miller because 11 years and nearly 600 catches have a way of leaving a big impression on an offense.