Steelers' MVPs 2012: Heath Miller as quiet as the offense

On Thursday, the day after tight end Heath Miller and cornerback Ike Taylor were added to IR, it was announced that Steelers teammates named their Pro Bowl tight end as team MVP -- the same day Miller underwent knee surgery. Here is the Rapid Reports version of team MVPs.

His teammates picked TE Heath Miller as the team's MVP, and we at RapidReports followed suit. (US Presswire)

Befitting their banged-up but not bang-up year, a guy from the Steelers’ Injured Reserve list is the team's Most Valuable Player.

On Thursday, the day after tight end Heath Miller and cornerback Ike Taylor were added to IR, it was announced that Steelers teammates named their Pro Bowl tight end as their MVP -- the same day Miller underwent knee surgery. Here is the Rapid Reports version of team MVPs.

Offense – TE Miller: For a team that lost five of eight games decided by one score, you couldn’t exactly select quarterback and comeback artist Ben Roethlisberger as MVP. No, the steadiest, most productive player on an offense where only one starter survived all 16 games at the same position (left OT Max Starks), Miller made it through 15 games and contributed to Pro Bowl levels. His 71 receptions and eight touchdowns were enough to lead the team in both categories entering the season finale that he missed after knee surgery. More than that, he blocked adroitly, often staying in and helping to max protect Roethlisberger next to two rookie OTs -- Mike Adams and Kelvin Beachum -- forced into starting due to injuries. Maurkice Pouncey, who also started a game at guard and is 3-for-3 in career Pro Bowls as a center, deserves kudos, too…after all, he plans to fly his fellow Steelers linemen to Hawaii for the event.

Defense – ILB Lawrence Timmons: Remember, this was a unit that lost stars Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and Taylor to injuries for 20 games combined.  Timmons topped the team in interceptions (three), sacks (six) and solo tackles (75), and finished second in total tackles (106). There were games where Timmons dominated or made the critical play, such as the overtime interception that led to the Kansas City victory. That’s the $50 million man the Steelers expected when signing him to that deal last year.

Special teams – K Shaun Suisham: How can you pick against a guy who converted 28 of 31 field goals and was perfect from 49 yards or less? He missed only one attempt, from 50-plus, until a bad snap and a more-than-his-range, 56-yard try both came up muffs in the Cincinnati loss. Honorable mention goes to cornerback Curtis Brown, who had 18 special-teams tackles.

Newcomer – P Drew Butler: He was one of few rookies healthy enough to last all 16 games. Butler averaged 43.8 yards per punt and showed a strong leg for an undrafted free-agent rookie, finishing in the NFL’s top 10 for most fair catches and leading the league with a 79-yard long this season. Other key newcomers included first-round OG David DeCastro,who started the final three games after preseason surgery, and second-round OT Mike Adams started a handful before going on IR. RB Chris Rainey contributed 1,000-plus yards and a 26.5-yard average on kickoff returns, but didn’t do much on offense. 

Follow Steelers reporter Chuck Finder on Twitter @CBSSteelers and @cfinder.