Roy Miller Has “Worry” Practicing Against Bucs
August 17th, 2016
Ex-Buc Roy Miller will face his former team this morning.
Your Buccaneers are practicing against the Jaguars in Jacksonville today.
The pads will be on and bones will be cracking in the smothering heat.
Joe is pumped up for the late-morning, early-afternoon action. A sold out crowd will be on hand, and Joe will have all kinds of reports from the sidelines. Video, too.
One guy frowning upon these joint practices is Jags defensive tackle Roy Miller, the former Buccaneer taken by Tampa Bay in Round 3 of the 2009 draft. Miller, 29, has carved out a lucrative career for himself.
Joe attended Jags minicamp in June and talked to Miller about this week’s events.
“As an older guy I kind of worry about the intensity level that it brings,” Miller said. “You know, you don’t really know the guys across from you, and it’s not the same rules as a game. If anything happens or almost happens, you kind of look sideways at each other and try to play judge. ‘Is that right or wrong?’
“Each team has to do that for itself in training camp, not just against another team. I’m iffy about the whole thing, but it’s what we do. The competition will be exciting when it gets here.”
It’s hard to blame Miller for his attitude. He’ll be facing two Bucs centers, Joe Hawley and Evan Smith, fighting for a starting job. And Miller will have to tangle with left guards, Kevin Pamphile and Smith, and at right guard is Ali Marpet, who has a reputation for playing to and through the whistle.
The Bucs and Jags are two sad franchises yearning for a breakout season, both with lots of young guys battling for roster spots.
Dirk Koetter has said that he and Jags head coach Gus Bradley will have some rules in place to keep guys safe. But Joe suspects reality will rule the day. This will be angry, helmet-cracking football in the smothering Florida heat against a Jags team the Bucs rolled last year.
Stay safe, Roy.
August 17th, 2016 at 2:10 am
Bell Brigade reporting for duty. KB will be named scrimmage MVP by the end of Thursday’s practice. That is all for now, sir!
August 17th, 2016 at 5:04 am
Can appreciate Roy Miller’s concern, and I’d suspect that each experienced player is similarly concerned. But at the same time, ‘iron sharpens iron’ as we’ve heard before. There’s increased risk to some degree, but Coach Koetter and Coach Bradley will undoubtedly have some pretty tough rules in place to minimize the possibility of injuries. Those are a concern in every practice. If an increased ‘intensity level’ will get the Bucs (and Jags) more ready for the start of the season, then why wouldn’t it be a good thing?
August 17th, 2016 at 6:17 am
It’s not just the scrimmage, when it gets intense and something breaks out, there’s always “I’ll see you Saturday” attitude, if I can’t get you now, I will get you in the white lines
August 17th, 2016 at 6:54 am
If this is what the Patriots do every year I’m all for it. I not only look forward to the Buccs becoming a main stay in playoffs, I’m looking forward to the same with this franchise. Three Fla teams and none of which in the tourny every year. Bummer..
August 17th, 2016 at 7:25 am
So much for those who think Koetter is timid by not doing goal line practices like the Saints…..this is riskier but brings rewards.
Injuries happen…it’s just part of the process.
August 17th, 2016 at 7:43 am
Miller is going to get owned on the field Saturday, if he plays much.
August 17th, 2016 at 8:01 am
Very excited for the future of these two teams. Ofcourse I bleed pewter & red till I’m dead but wouldn’t mind seeing another FL team rise to the top with our bucs, there both to up n coming, young n Talented franchises that have been in the dumps for a while now. I remember when both these teams were on top of there game and making yearly trips to the playoffs, I wanna get back to those dayz.
August 17th, 2016 at 8:52 am
I think the Jags are becoming quite talented. Lots of good recent draft picks on the team. Should make some for some good but chippy practices.
August 17th, 2016 at 9:19 am
The next few days should be great development for our team… The jags have a WR group with unique skill, should help our young CB Mr. VH3. Just hoping that both teams get out injury free.
August 17th, 2016 at 9:31 am
ESPN and NFL networks giving alot of love to Tampa and Jac. 2 up and coming teams with 2 franchise QBs that easily become the next faces of the NFL
***NFL network Hard Knocks coming to Tampa Bay next year. Heard it hear first…Kobe radar