Are Teams Waiting On Roy Miller?
June 11th, 2012
The Bucs have Brian Price, Gerald McCoy, Amobi Okoye, Gary Gibson, Frank Okam and Roy Miller on the roster.
More than likely the Bucs only will keep four of the defensive tackles. Five is a possibility given the fragility of Brian Price and Gerald McCoy.
So who goes?
Well, Pat Kirwan of NFL Radio, the former NFL scout, assistant coach and personnel executive, has many times said on the air recently that Miller is high on his list of players that will be targeted by other teams as September approaches.
In Kirwan’s mind, Miller has little chance now of landing a roster spot with the Bucs, barring an injury to someone else, and he’s got tremendous upside that could see the Bucs deal him for a late-round pick or have other teams pounce on Miller when he’s cut.
Of course, Bucs fans know Miller hasn’t done much, or been the player the team hoped it got in the third round of the 2009 draft. However, Miller was asked to fatten up in Jim Bates’ scheme, which didn’t work for him and other D-linemen. Then he did have an MCL tear last preseason that likely lingered for much of 2011. Also, former Bucs DE Steve White has shown Miller a little love in his regular breakdowns of Bucs defensive line play. So maybe Miller is primed to improve this season.
It’ll be interesting to see how Miller performs in his new longshot role, seemingly behind the more accomplished Okoye, and Gibson, Schiano’s old pal from Rutgers.
Joe would be very pleased to see rockstar general manager Mark Dominik score a sixth-round pick for Miller as final cuts loom in September.
June 11th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I will be very surprised if Roy Miller is still with Tampa this year.
The question is if we can get something for him ?
Remember, he was a part of the defense that is among the worst in recent memory.
I remember all too well watching as Tampa was gashed by average running backs.
I have been a Bucs fan since day one, but last year was very hard to watch.
June 11th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Given Price and McCoy’s injury histories, I don’t see why we’d deal Miller. We wouldn’t get that much for him. Seems more valuable on the bench as insurance to me.
June 11th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Drones.
Okam would be kept over Miller? yeeeeah…okay.
June 11th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Another Boy Band GM draft disappointment.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:17 am
very good point and question by “Meh” ~ if someone can counterpoint i’d like to hear it.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:20 am
I’ve always liked Roy Miller. He seems like he could provide quality depth and is a hard worker with a team player kind of mentality. I would hate to see him go.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:30 am
I agree with Meh, at this point we need all the depth we can get. Let it play out in training camp and the pre-season. We need some stout dt play this year in front of a very unproven lb core.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:38 am
I don’t consider him a disappointment really, he was drafted to play in a different style of defense and has carved out a role here while starting for most of the 2010 year when the defense wasnt as bad. He also was hurt for the start of the year last year and had to work back from that. I also like that he has a high motor and looks like he gives his all every play.
With the talent and need for extras on that line I think you’ll see GMC, Price, Okeye, Gibson, and Miller stay with the team. Okam may well be a good fit if there is some 3-4 in the defense, as he might have a chance to play some 1 technique. In that way I could see him beating out Miller, who will undoubtedly get a shot with a team like the Rams or the Bengals who seem to like high motor, nondescript tackles.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:39 am
IF he was hurt last year, consider keeping 5. I’m not a film expert, but surely Okam has as much responsibility for our poor run DEF. Why keep him over Miller? Also, a trade right before cuts is laughable, they know you’re about to cut him! Maybe, maybe you get a 7th, doubtful. Unless someone is desperate AND thinks he’ll be more expensive to sign as FA than his current contract which is not likely since he just got cut! If you trade him, it’s now or never, and still a just 6th, or 7th, or a similar guy who is surplus on another team at a different position.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:43 am
I found this great Roy Miller Story in the archives https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=49493
Good God, the man benches 540 lbs!
One has to wonder why he is so easily manhandled by other teams ?
I have seen him basically just shoved out of the way, with little resistance, leaving holes big enough for this old man to run through.
June 11th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Joe, the reason they have pre-season is to see who is who. Last year he was hurt and there was no pre-season, no one learned the system (ten losses), if there was one (keep thinking of Benn around), and so this year is the time to tell who is who. Nobody knows who is going to do what now except for effort. That shows now and it seems like everyone is making the effort or they think they will be cut (rightly so).
This applies to all the new guys from the last couple of years.
June 11th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Let’s say he DOES get traded. It would be hilarious if we got a 6th for Miller, a complete upset so far in his career, vs the 7th we got for Kellen, an incredibly productive player (albeit on the decline).
Would be hilarious
June 11th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Roy Miller tremendous upside???? Uhhhh no after watching team after team gash us up the middle the entirety of last year I can honestly say that Roy Miller does not have tremendous upside. Not sure what Kirwin is smoking to come up with that gem.
June 11th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
With porecelain dolls, McCoy and Price as your hopeful starting duo, I can’t imagine the Bucs keeping only two back-ups. I think you need at least 4 for proper rotation and at least a fifth for injury insurance/depth.
June 11th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
No one can be evaluated – it was all coaching.
The last three seasons do not exist, except for 2010.
Toes on the line gentleman.
June 11th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Really? Out of those 6 listed I would much rather keep miller around than Okam…While Okam seems to be a great preseason warrior, when matched against real competition he fails in every aspect to make a difference.
June 11th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Eric, you are mindlessly ranting yet again. You are not funny or insightful, only negative as usual. Cheer for someone else and save your unnecessary continued a hole comments for some other blog. I, for one, believe the Bucs nailed down the perfect coach in Schiano. Drink the Koolaid bro and enjoy life or go ahead and jump. I don’t care what you say or think. Go Bucs!
June 11th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Why is everyone so high on Gibson? Last year dude was playing for the only defense that was worse against the run then the Bucs. DGAF that he went to Rutgers. I’ll take a proven (but average player) in Roy Miller over Gibson who we don’t know much about.
June 11th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
KH, good point. His best stat is he played in all 16 games the last two years. He has been around the league for a while, so that is something. I see him as a back up role.
June 11th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
We will keep plenty of D-line depth. If last year taught any lessons it’s that Raheem was a poor DC and our D-line needs all the depth we can get. I don’t see Miller going anywhere if he has a good preseason.
June 11th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Nick2 Says:
June 11th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Roy Miller tremendous upside???? Uhhhh no after watching team after team gash us up the middle the entirety of last year I can honestly say that Roy Miller does not have tremendous upside. Not sure what Kirwin is smoking to come up with that gem.
.
Actually, Miller did okay. Considering Price was next to him and we had not defensive scheme to talk about.
June 11th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Miller is garbage
June 11th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Why would teams want a backup from the worst defensive line in the league???
June 15th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Miller was drafted as a run stopper one who could occupy a double team allowing good down linebackers to do their jobs and does hold at the point of attack when he is healthy and has intangibles that dont always make their way to the surface, like keeping the assignment and doing what the team asked of him. when both highly scouted 1st and 2nd round guys couldnt go who was the mainstay….miller.
June 15th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Lets take a closer look at miller stats he ranks 16th, tied with Suh among DT, for the combined total tackles in 2011, of course there was the suspension with Sue, miller played injured. He is ranked 6th among NT with 2 more tackles that Terrance Cody who had no sacks at in the 2011 season. Okoye, Amobi is ranked 31st amongst DT’s, was he an upgrade to replace miller…. thing not
June 15th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Just a few stats for you statistics type of guys in 2010 miller ranked 5th overall among DT and tied for 5th amongst NT’s and had 5 more solo tackles than Okoye that season. this is a significant drop off from 2010 to the 2011 season but for fighting injuries thats still not a bad 2011 season
July 31st, 2012 at 2:41 pm
“drbinshore” You are a Beast of a blogger doing your homework
Very well spoken- these guys couldn’t find a football with both of their hands even if it were shoved up their A$$. I believe Joe has issue with the kid and does not give him the kind of ink he deserves. In the league it’s all about stats (numbers) and willingness to be coached and put in the work.
Rumors have it that miller also had cortisone shots for a injured back l, due to over compensating for lost lower body strength and mobility. He says he is 100% so let’s see where he goes from here. There is no doubt if the Bucs release him and he is healthy, his Texas mental tenacity, high threshold for pain, coach ability, and “LUNCH PAIL WORK ETHICS” will land him on a team who just may esteem him much higher