Bleacher Report - Articles by josh roland

2009 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Heath Miller

josh roland — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:45:40 -0400

Going into the 2009 season, Steelers tight end Heath Miller is 20th in fantasy football projections by ESPN.com. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that’s not a very high ranking. The question is, though, why is he projected so far down the list?

In just four seasons, Heath Miller has pulled in 168 catches for 1,932 yards and 21 touchdowns. Future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez racked up 261 catches for 3,041 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first four seasons.

Miller’s stats are comparable given the fact that the Steelers have relied heavily on the run for most of his career. Another thing to keep in mind is that Miller has only ever fumbled the ball once.

Consider this. Going into the 2009 season, Pittsburgh is looking at a semi-depleted receiving corps. As much as I hate to say this, Hines Ward isn’t getting any younger and Santonio Holmes still has some maturing to do off the field before he can step up and be a leader on the team.

There is also a void to fill with the loss of third string receiver Nate Washington to free agency. Given all of the above, it’s likely that Ben Roethlisberger will try to connect with Miller much more frequently during the 2009 season.

Last season, Big Ben signed an eight-year contract worth $102 million. The Steelers don’t pay that kind of money for a player that isn’t going to make an impact on a game-to-game basis.

With two Super Bowl victories under his belt, Roethlisberger is looking more and more like the elite quarterback that Pittsburgh imagined him as when they drafted him six years ago. Look for him to pick up a heavier workload in 2009.

With all of that in mind, I see no reason why Heath Miller shouldn’t be one of the top tight ends this upcoming season. He will most likely be available in the late rounds of most fantasy drafts and will be an asset to your team week in and week out.

Five Ways To Fix the NFL in 2009

josh roland — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:43:34 -0500

Though their effectiveness is a much debated matter of opinion, Roger Goodell has brought about many changes in the NFL since taking over in 2006. Examples include doing more to expand into foreign markets, changing the Personal Conduct Policy, increasing discipline for coaches and players who violate rules, and the list goes on. Even with all of these changes though, there is more that should be done and some things that should be changed back to how they were.

1. Fines, suspensions and punishments need to be given more logically.

Goodell has been criticized on many occasions due to his lack of fairness when it comes to handing out punishments and fines. In the past two years, Adam Jones has had 13 incidents involving police, been suspended twice, started a fight with an NFL employee and has been accused of arranging for a gunman to shoot at three men outside of a night club. He was still allowed to come back from a suspension and play the final four games of the season, even though he should have been banned from the NFL.

Ray Lewis was given a shocking fine of $50,000 for criticizing a referee who made a terrible call. Chances are great that I will be criticized for something that I have written in this article, but the person doing it will not be fined a cent as we are given the right to free speech in America.

Matt Jones was caught in a car with six grams of cocaine, charged with possession and intent to sell, yet he was never punished by the NFL.

Jared Allen was forced to shell out $75,000 for a “dirty hit” that was in no way dirty, but a textbook tackle.

Goodell's system of discipline is bogus and must be changed in the very near future.

2. Players need to stop being punished after making clean hits.

This season was full of huge hits. The majority of these plays were clean and legal, but to the shock of many, the players were given hefty fines and threatened with suspensions. Goodell's idea of a dirty hit is so much different from the actual definition that it has caused many to speak out.

The normally soft-spoken Troy Polamalu was one of the many players to spit criticism at Goodell, saying that the decision was more about the money than the players' safety and even went as far as accusing him of trying to turn professional football into a pansy game.

Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and head coach Mike Tomlin also joined the battle against Goodell after receiver Hines Ward was fined for a hit on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers that left him with a broken jaw. Goodell eventually dropped the fine, but not before much argument and criticism. Previous to this, Ward was given, and forced to pay, two fines he received after games against the Jaguars and Ravens. There is absolutely no reason an WR should be punished for hits on defensive players.

3. Referees should be punished for blowing game-changing calls.

It is understandable when a ref misses a hold or a face mask every now and again, but one of the biggest headlines of this season was the terrible officiating. These terrible calls victimized teams all season long, even as recently as last Sunday's NFC championship game between the Eagles and Cardinals.

On a key fourth down play, Eagles receiver Kevin Curtis was tripped up by a defender causing him to not be able to catch the ball. Had a referee called this blatant act of pass interference, the Eagles would have been given a first down and still had a chance. There is no guarantee that they would have won, but there is no reason anybody should have to wonder what would have happened had the call been made.

Roger Goodell needs to step it up and punish these officials for making these mistakes, especially when they effect the outcome of the game.

4. Players should have to finish out college eligibility before entering the draft.

Earlier I said that I would probably be criticized for something I wrote in this article. If anything this will probably be the reason, but I strongly believe college players should not be allowed to enter the NFL draft early and have to finish out their senior year.

Every year, players leave school early to enter the draft. Some of these players go on to find success. Those who don't either become third-string nobodies, completely go undrafted, or turn out to be huge busts (Ki-Jana Carter anybody?).

If players were forced to finish their eligibility, who knows what could happen. Maybe they would have a breakout season their final year and increase their draft value. Even if they didn't become more of a value, they did gain experience which will help in the NFL and possibly lead to less busts.

5. The Pro Bowl needs to be moved back to after the Super Bowl.

I clearly remember the day it was announced that the Pro Bowl would be played the week before the Super Bowl and moved from Hawaii starting in 2010. I was standing in my kitchen watching ESPN and eating a bowl of Cheerios when I heard the news. It was so shocking that I dropped the bowl of cereal on the ground causing it to shatter and just stared at the TV in disbelief. After hearing it repeated, my mind was so overwhelmed trying to figure out why the NFL did this that I went into a convulsion and fell onto the pile of glass, milk, and cereal and lay there twitching.

Ok, that never happened at all. The only true part is that I was in a state of shock.

Moving the Pro Bowl is a terrible idea, especially to the week before the Super Bowl. The NFL says that this change is going to increase the dwindling popularity of the event. The fact of the matter is that they are just going to make it worse.

Any Pro Bowlers that are also playing in the Super Bowl are going to drop out to avoid injury. The other players whose season is already over are going to be turned off because of location. Half the fun of the Pro Bowl is going down to Hawaii and getting away on a little vacation. Now there really isn't much to look forward to.

Goodell needs to change the Pro Bowl back to how it was, or he might as well just name it the Rookie Bowl because they are the only players who are going to want to waste their time with it.

Nate Washington: Will He Stay or Will He Go

josh roland — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:01:05 -0500

The Pittsburgh Steelers have their work cut out for them this upcoming offseason. They need to find a way to fix their terrible offensive line, reconsider the position of Bruce Arians as offensive coordinator, and most importantly offer a new contract to will-be free agent Nate Washington.

In April, the Steelers gave fourth-year receiver Nate Washington a one-year contract worth $1.4 million. Ten days later, they picked Limas Sweed during the second round of the NFL draft and signed him to a $3.2 million contract that will lock him up for four years.

Most people had speculated that Sweed would be quickly worked into the offense and replace Washington as the third receiver. So far, that has not happened.

In 10 games, Sweed has six catches for 64 yards. Not very impressive for a second-round pick. Whether his lack of playing time is due to difficulty adapting to the NFL or a decision by coach Mike Tomlin is unknown.

It is know, though, that something needs to change. The Steelers do not draft players that high and give them million-dollar contracts to warm the bench.

Nate Washington is having a very good season with 39 catches for 618 yards and three touchdowns. His stats are close to those of the St. Louis Rams starting WR Torry Holt.

Given the above information, it is very obvious that Pittsburgh needs to offer Washington a new contract. The Steelers have passed the ball 479 times this year and ran 425 times. If this holds true next season, then Washington will be a very huge asset to the team.

Coach Mike Tomlin will turn 37 in March. The only gift he should be hoping for is that Washington will stay loyal to the team that drafted him and not sign with another franchise. For the sake of our offense, let's all hope.

Steelers-Titans Pre-Game Preview: Winner Takes All

josh roland — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:19:26 -0500

Q. Why is this game so important?

A. The Tennessee Titans (12-2) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) this Sunday in a battle for supremacy. By defeating the Titans, Pittsburgh would most likely clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs and take over as the top seed in the AFC.

Q. How well is each team playing this late into the season?

A. The Steelers are fresh off a 13-9 defeat of the Baltimore Ravens last week. By winning a game in which they did not take a lead until the final few minutes of play, Pittsburgh was able to clinch the AFC North for the second year in a row.

They also silenced the critics who thought the Ravens No. 2-ranked defense could out perform the Steelers No. 1 ranked.

The Titans are recovering from last weeks embarrassing 13-12 loss to their division rivals, the Houston Texans. With 1:55 left in the game, head coach Jeff Fisher made the questionable call to pass on 4th-down instead of kicking a field goal that was well in range for kicker Rob Bironas.

The loss dropped the Titans to a single game lead in the AFC standings.

Q. How will injury factor into the game for both teams?

A. Going into the game Pittsburgh appears to be fortunate injury wise. Though it is not reflected in their performance, the Steelers defense is sore and tired. As of Thursday, all defensive players were listed as probable. Offensive tackle Marvel Smith did not practice and it's once again doubtful he'll play Sunday.

Tennessee will suffer a blow to their defensive front after loosing Pro Bowl nose tackle Albert Haynesworth for the remainder of the regular season due to a knee injury last week. Also ruled out of the game is defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch who is bothered by a groin injury.

Q. What does each team need to do to win?

A.

The Pittsburgh Steelers:

If the Steelers are to walk away with a victory, they are going to need to beat a Titans defense ranked fifth against the pass and ninth against the rush. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians needs to take advantage of the Titans injury plagued defensive line, and establish a strong running game.

Arians has a lot of depth at RB, so hopefully he will use it. He should splits carries with Mewelde Moore and Willie Parker, while giving short-yardage situations to full back Carey Davis.

Chances are the Steelers will have a rough time on offense based on past performances. The offensive line needs to step it up and open holes for the ball carriers and protect Ben Roethlisberger.

If given the time, Big Ben should be able to pick apart the Titans secondary and produce decent numbers through the air. Nate Washington will be a great target given his incredible speed and ability to make big plays.

The Tennessee Titans

The Titans have enjoyed a stellar run game all season. Chris Johnson has used his outstanding speed and quick moves to make huge gains and score points. Lendale White handles the short yardage and red zone duties with ease.

They do face one problem though. They have not faced a defense as stingy as the Steelers. Pittsburgh has done a swell job against every running attack it has defended. Tennessee needs to try to establish their running game early and keep it going.

If they are unable to make progress running, then they need to develop a passing game. In the past few weeks veteran QB Kerry Collins performance has began to decline.

This is also the case with some of their receivers. If they want to be productive through the air, Collins needs to step up and complete passes. WR Justin Gage and TE Alge Crumpler are both threats to make big plays and will if given the opportunity.

Q. Based on both teams' performances in past games this season, what kind of game should be expected?

A. This game will be a defensive battle between two top-ranked teams. Chances are that neither the Steelers nor Titans will produce much on offense. Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed and Tennessee Kicker Kris Brown will both be called upon frequently.

Both kickers need to be accurate and make the kicks if they want to win. Its going to be a close game but the team who can defend the best and find a way to score will come out on top.

My Prediction:

I think that Pittsburgh will come out with the victory. They will do a top-notch job at shutting down the offense, which is why they are going to win. Pittsburgh is going to struggle offensively the whole game but will find a way to score points.

As was the case during the last two games the Steelers have played, it will be a low-scoring game won with defense. It most likely will also be won with a late-game surge from Big Ben and crew.

Pittsburgh 12, Titans 10

Steelers Depend Too Much on Running Game: It's a Family Tradition

josh roland — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:44:02 -0500

Most families have certain traditions or customs that they pass down from generation to generation. This holds true with the Rooney family and the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise.

If you were to look back through the team's history, from its start in 1933 all the way to present day, you would notice that some things have never changed. Pittsburgh is known for producing stellar defenses, finishing with winning records, never ever having cheerleaders, and running the football.

Pittsburgh has always terrorized opposing defenses with a strong running attack. This attack featured current and future Hall of Fame players such as Bill Dudley, Franco Harris, John Johnson, Johnny McNally, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, and possibly even the recently discovered big playmaker Mewelde Moore.

The Steelers have always had success running the ball the majority of the time, and only passing if absolutely necessary. That is why they always draft RBs early in the draft and dig deep into their normally stingy wallet to keep or acquire players in free agency.

The current run/pass philosophy has been working for over 75 years. It is a Steelers family tradition that will be around forever. Right?

We can only hope not. Our offense is currently ranked 21st in the NFL, and anybody who has watched them play can understand why.

The offensive line is just terrible. Its inability to open holes is the lone reason for such a depleted running game. This would not be the case if Bruce Arians had any idea what he was doing. He has been given every single weapon he needs, but is unable to figure out how to use them.

If Arians were smart, he would depend less on the run and more on the pass. We have a QB who lost his first start, but went on to win his next 14 to cap off his rookie season. He is the youngest QB ever to win a Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger is as elite as they come.

We also have a tremendous receiving corps. Hines Ward has earned three team MVP selections and four Pro Bowl selections in his career. He can catch just about any ball thrown his way and he is one of the only receivers in NFL history that some defensive players are afraid to hit.

The Steelers also have depth in Santonio Holmes' playmaking ability. He is a consistent go-to guy and has won games for us before. Holmes is also someone who could be used for trick plays.

Nate Washington is another solid option at receiver. He is enjoying a breakout season, which includes a couple of 50-plus-yards catches and three TD receptions.

The passing game is topped off by the Dynamic Duo of Heath Miller and Matt Spathe. Both are solid options with good hands and both are good at blocking.

The only flaw of the Steelers offense is the line. If they were able to protect Big Ben and buy him some time to find an open receiver, our passing game would be outstanding.

This is clear if you look at the stars at QB, WR, and TE. If the offensive line was able to open holes and block, then our running game would dominate most others in the league.

Moore and Parker should split carries, with short-yardage situations being handled by Carey Davis. Or maybe Najeh Davenport should be brought back for short yardage.

The main point is that Bruce Arians is an idiot.

He has done nothing to improve an offensive line that has about as much talent as that of a youth football league. He does not use his players to their full potential, either.

Bruce Arians is like a carpenter, and his players are his tools. What he needs to do is figure out how to use his tools to perfect his finished product, which is his offense. If he does not start using his tools, it must be because he isn't a carpenter. If he isn't a carpenter, then he shouldn't pretend to be one.

In other words, if Bruce Arians does not improve this offseason, he needs to be replaced.