Miller makes a difference for Hawks

Don’t let the statistics of an NFL player measure his impact on the field.

Just ask the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off a year in which they won the Super Bowl and have Seattle riding high because of it. However, one player whose impact is felt on a much deeper level than his statistics show isn’t getting the attention he deserves. That player is Seahawks tight end Zach Miller.

Miller is currently sidelined after ankle surgery during the Seahawks’ bye week earlier this season. Miller has been the key to Seattle’s ability to run the football, and to the development of a young offensive line since his arrival in 2011.

After being selected in the second round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, Miller went on to total 2,712 yards on 226 catches with 12 touchdowns over 62 games for the Oakland Raiders.

Since arriving in Seattle in 2011, Miller has played 48 games totaling 1,092 yards on 102 catches for eight touchdowns. The initial reaction to any person seeing these numbers is the belief he was a better player in Oakland.

While that may be the case from a statistical standpoint, it isn’t the case when speaking about his impact. Miller’s impact on the development of this young Seahawks team has been immense for Pete Carroll and his staff.

When Miller arrived in 2011, the Seahawks’ offensive line was young and inexperienced. Russell Okung, now the Seahawks starting left tackle, was just entering his second year in the league and he is still developing as a player. Robert Gallery was the left guard at the time and is currently no longer in the league. While John Moffitt played the majority of games at right guard, and is now retired.

Russell Okung and center Max Unger are the only fixtures remaining from the line since Miller joined the team in 2011. Okung has played in 40 of 53 possible games for the Seahawks since Miller’s arrival. Unger has been consistent, playing in all but five possible games for Seattle.

Guard James Carpenter has battled injuries and weight issues since being drafted by the team and has had his struggles as a player. Tackle Breno Giacomini was a consistent at right tackle since 2012, but left via free agency this past offseason. The same is said for guard Paul McQuistan who left for Cleveland this past offseason after starting 40 games for the Seahawks during three seasons.

In summary, the Seahawks have struggled to find consistency on the offensive line over the last several years. The one constant has been the effective play of Miller. The Arizona native has adjusted his game from more of a receiving tight end in Oakland, to a blocking tight end in Seattle and has provided leadership to a young offensive line.

A large part of this can be credited to the relationship between Miller and offensive line coach Tom Cable. Cable was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders when Miller played there, and there relationship played a role in Miller signing with the Seahawks.

Cable’s push to sign Miller has paid immense dividends for Seattle as Miller and Unger have been the only true constants to an offensive line that, despite the inconsistency and different changes, has still been a force to be reckoned with for Lynch and the Seahawks’ running game.

However, Miller has also shown glimpses of his ability to catch the football when quarterback Russell Wilson and Carroll have needed him too. Last season, he caught five touchdown passes during the course of the year. Miller also is a go-to target for Wilson on third down where he caught 13 of his 33 passes on third down last season. This is the second most of any returning Seahawks receiver behind wide receiver Doug Baldwin’s 17 catches.

Miller has proved his desire to play for the Seahawks, agreeing to reduce his salary from 5.8 million, down to just a base salary of three million a year over the next two seasons.

His impact to the team may not be as visible from a fan’s perspective, but inside the Seahawks locker room, they know how truly valuable Miller is. Carroll said in an article with KOMO News last year how important Miller is.

“He’s a tremendous football player, he’s the kind of guy you can just count on every single time you go out whether it’s blocking, catching, or running, the whole thing,” Carroll said. “He’s a big factor for us, it’s kind of what we’ve come to count on from the guy, and we’re going to expect him to continue to do that.”

Based off those comments, it’s safe to say Carroll and the Seahawks are anxiously awaiting Miller’s return to the football field where his impact is discretely significant.