When the Pittsburgh Steelers had star tight end Heath Miller on their roster, the NFL was a different place. Miller played in an era where major hits were often celebrated and were a big part of the game. Drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Miller was on a team that had a defense that was one of the scariest and hardest-hitting in the league.
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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller running with the ball.
In today's game, that defense would not have been as effective due to all the rule changes. At the very least, they would have incurred a lot of fines, as would all of the best defenses. The NFL has been actively trying to make the game safer. While it is an honorable stance to protect players' health, some traditionalists are upset with how the rules favor offensive players over defensive players.
Miller joined Steelers veteran Cam Heyward on his podcast, Not Just Football, to talk about his career, his new coaching role, and much more. During the podcast, Heyward asked Miller about the new ban on the hip-drop tackle.
"I actually side with the defense on the new rules. I do. It's hard. With every new rule, it becomes harder and harder to play defense I feel like. That could even be from the target area. I never liked guys being able to just, your target area is now waist down. As a receiver, that's probably the last part you want to be hit when you don't see it coming. So, I feel bad for you guys in that regard."
Heyward interrupted Miller, expressing his frustration with the league's lack of concern for defense. He emphasized that the league does not care about his side of the football. Miller then shared additional thoughts on how the NFL treats their quarterbacks.
"You have to lay the quarterbacks down nicely and all that stuff. I'm with you on this one."
According to the NFL, a hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender wraps up the player with the ball and then rotates or swivels their hips, causing the defender to drop onto the ball carrier's legs during the tackle. The league has observed an increase in injuries resulting from this type of tackle and has decided to ban it from the game after the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett sits with his head down after a play where he got hurt.
As a business, the NFL is focused on keeping their quarterbacks safe and in the game, which many understand and support. No one wants to see injuries. However, it seems the league has neglected the defenders. While running backs often lower their heads into defenders, defensive players have to be cautious about how they execute their tackles.
It's a game of inches, and having to think about how to tackle a player gently without getting flagged makes it more dangerous for defensive players. Miller argues that the restricted target area now makes it scarier for offensive players as well, because of the limited places defenders are allowed to tackle them.
Steelers' Damontae Kazee Was Scalded By His Suspension
Steelers fans saw this firsthand when Damontae Kazee made a frightening tackle on Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The quarterback threw what is known as a "hospital pass," and Kazee was simply trying to prevent a big play.
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Steelers safety Damontae Kazee gets ready to lay a hit on Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. during a regular season game in 2023.
He didn't intend to hurt Pittman; it was a bad throw that put the receiver in harm's way, and the defender was punished. Kazee was ejected from the game and suspended for the rest of the regular season. This has led Kazee to admit the league punishing him has scalded him. It has led to him being confused on how he is supposed to play the game. Had he just let Pittman catch the ball, the Colts easily make a great play. If he does his job to stop the defense, a scary hit happens and Kazee gets a severe punishment.
The game of football is dangerous and while making the effort to make the game safer is great. It has also made it more dangerous and difficult for defensive players. The league has struggled to find the balance between making the game safer and keeping it fair. Miller dislikes how aggressive the NFL has been with all of their changes.
