Superior Tracking
December 23rd, 2020
Receiver Scotty Miller has taken just 52 snaps in the last five games.
He’s the Buccaneers’ most valuable invisible man.
Joe gets it. Antonio Brown is in the house and Miller went from being Tom Brady’s BFF to a guy figuring out how to stay sharp without reps.
Joe hopes Miller doesn’t turn to furniture-hurling, bicycle-throwing or woman-berating for attention. Of course, Joe highly doubts any decent person would do those things.
Miller’s drastic cut in playing time is not an ideal developmental situation for a second-year player whose confidence was steaming hot after early season success. But the Bucs are in Super Bowl mode and only care about the now. Joe gets that, too.
Last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network, assistant receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El, the former star college QB and Steelers wide receiver, talked about Miller and emphasized that Miller has truly refined ball-tracking skills and is the fastest man on the team.
Randle El even had no hesitation saying Miller is faster than he was in his prime.
Randle El seems like an extremely straight shooter, so Joe was very pleased to hear about his assessment of Miller’s deep ball skills. And Bucs fans have seen them play out, as Miller has caught two touchdown bombs from Tom Brady this season, among other deep shots.
The Bucs have been focusing on Miller’s precision in his shorter routes so he can be better trusted in those spots, per Randle El.
Joe appreciates Brown’s skills, and Joe wishes the Bucs set him up for more yards-after-catch opportunities, but Joe also wonders what the Bucs could do with Miller getting more time to establish himself — and experience — as a deep threat.
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:56 am
how long is Miller’s contract……if he’s available, someone will throw cash at him this offseason. Imagine him on the Saints with us biting on all those short routes…
December 23rd, 2020 at 11:59 am
Was not impressed with Scotty Miller last year. Heck of a 4th or 5th receiver. Go Scotty. Split reps between Miller, Johnson and Brown. Let them all play.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:21 pm
I like Scotty and I like AB so far too. Id give the edge to Scotty bc no ball ever seems to be “overthrown” for his wheels. I don’t like the force feeding of AB though. These 2 combined are quite a fine tandem for 3rd and 4th WR and example of the embarrassment of riches at WR (when all are healthy).
I’m not sure anyone is thinking longer term than this year or next. Pretty clear what that means for AB, but scotty’s book is still yet to be fully written.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:27 pm
The long pass to Tyler Johnson last week that was incomplete? That should’ve been “Miller Time”.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Hey maybe we could turn Scotty into the first
Two way player in quite some time get him to play some corner , heck with all that speed he can’t do much worse than what we have out their now (only written in half jest)
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:56 pm
I really like Miller for what he brings, but isn’t he somewhat of a one-trick pony?
He doesn’t seem to have a full route tree.
December 23rd, 2020 at 12:57 pm
@Robert: he’s a Buc for two more seasons.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Joe in Michigan don’t disagree but still think that was pass interference… Got turned around by his shoulder pretty good before it arrived if I recall
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 pm
Miller is a baller but he’s no AB. Bucs have best 3rd receiver in the league despite his past and possibly future antics. I think he should be used more going into the playoffs. He has the most playoff experience. His resume speaks for himself. Miller is a great deep threat/decoy, hate to say it but BL is utilizing him correctly.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Miller is a baller but he’s no AB. Bucs have best 3rd receiver in the league despite his past and possibly future antics. I think he should be used more going into the playoffs. He has the most playoff experience. His resume speaks for itself. Miller is a great deep threat/decoy, hate to say it but BL is utilizing him correctly.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Looks like Tommy finally got his spinner.
December 23rd, 2020 at 1:52 pm
Hopefully AB plays well enough to get a fat contract from someone else next year. Tha allows a 3rd round comp pick to be gained and a full offseason for scottie to learn and get reps as the #3 wr. I think he has shown enough to get that opportunity.
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:00 pm
Nice thought on the compensation, but no one is paying AB a fat contract anytime soon. It’s not bc of his performance within the gridiron but bc his best abilities are not his availability for discipline risk.
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:13 pm
I look at it this way……..AB replaced a receiver that is now off the roster….also squeezed Watson to ST…..WRTyler Johnson, Watson would have been gone anyway….
Scotty Miller will have no attitude problems & his development continues at a lessened pace…..
To insinuate or suggest or even hint that Scotty Miller should be playing more than AB is preposterous…..laughable….ignorant.
Think what you will about Antonio Brown’s character or lack thereof………but as a WR, he is outstanding.
The cost of Miller & AB is the biggest WR duo steal in the NFL
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:23 pm
AB signed for a million dollars this year, next year he’s going to be worth real money, and there’s no way the Bucs can pay it, so the glitch will fix itself
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:40 pm
He will get a big contract. My guess is 2 years 30 mil guaranteed with conduct stipulations on every penny.
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:52 pm
Pretty sure that we are going to see a whole lot of Miller next year since I see no way to pay Mike, Godwin, and Brown big money. Miller is fun as all hell to watch, but I get why Brown is starting ahead of him.
December 23rd, 2020 at 2:56 pm
I have a nagging feeling that the Bucs will keep AB in 2021 – he’s too much of a risk for other teams to throw big money at him. AB will take the TB12 discount.
Buc could well let Godwin walk to the highest bidder…the money will be too high for a #2 receiver here.
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Hoping Miller will be more involved but he’s currently at:
31 Catches
482 Yards
15.5/Catch
48 long
3 TDs
Not bad…
Certainly doing better than Adam Humphries.
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:26 pm
That would be a travesty if they keep ab and let godwin walk.
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:55 pm
Godlovesbucs. Please no!
December 23rd, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I love me some Scotty Miller, but his skill level is no where close to what AB provided once the ball is in his hands. The ability to make defenders miss and work through tackle attempts puts AB above Miller on the depth chart.
Still have to find a way to get all your playmakers involved on a consistent basis, though.
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:11 pm
I wish that said “Superior Tackling”
December 23rd, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Sorry those comparing Miller to Brown are probably the same soccer players comparing Brady to Winston. Cause they sure as heck don’t know football.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:01 pm
There is no way we should let Godwin walk…….we would be better off keeping him and trading Evans……we’d get a high pick for Evans and nothing for Godwin.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Miller is being used exactly how he should be used – he’s not an NFL 3rd WR and shouldn’t be in that role. He’s a guy who you send in to take deep shots or have run deep to keep the safeties back – or if they single him, and he’s open, you have Brady launch the ball to him. Miller, consistently, when he plays underneath doesn’t get much yardage, he’s fast but not quick, and if it’s 3rd and 9, he’s sure to get you 8. You should use players to the best of their ability, and Miller is your deep shot guy – it’s a good role for him. Brown, meanwhile, is a dramatically better all around player who can get open vs more than 4th string corners and backup safeties. That’s the entire point of depth, so you can use guys in spots where they can have success. Same issue when Hump was here, morons thought he was a great #3 WR, and he wasn’t – he was a great #4 WR where he could get mismatches. As a #3 WR, he was mediocre, and as a #2 WR, he killed the offense since he couldn’t get open. Same thing with Brate. As a #2 or #3 TE, he’s great (so long as the game isn’t on the line), but as a starter, he kills your offense since he can’t get open if he’s the focus of the defense.
Meanwhile the Bucs need to get the ball to Brown a lot more, and it should be on crossing routes. Same with Godwin, run some crossing routes and let him make some moves after he catches the ball. That is also how you take pressure off Brady when teams are blitzing. Why the Bucs don’t adjust early in games when they know what the defenses are going to do is beyond me, and that’s why the offense has been so slow to start. You know you’re getting a run up the gut on 1st down, a shot to Gronk for about 20 on 2nd down, then it’s 3rd and 9 already.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:20 pm
@TBBF I absolutely agree. I think that they can keep 2 of the 3 big time wr on the team next year. IMO the priority should be Godwin, evans, then AB. The choice wont be AB over scottie, it will be AB over Evans or Godwin. If you choose AB over one of the other, trade Evans for a 1st or 2nd minimum. I dont agree with that move, but it is better than letting Godwin walk with nothing in return.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:25 pm
@rod. AB is only a #3 due to his pay/situation. If by some miracle they can keep him over scottie as a #3 next year at the same 1 mil price then obviously thats an easy decision. But if he jumps up to 10 mil or so, he is now in #2 money range, and the decision becomes AB for either evans or Godwin.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:39 pm
Godlovesbucs – I’m not keeping this AB over Godwin or Evans, and it’s not even close due to his age, and he’s not the guy he was a couple of years ago, but he’s still a solid #2, which is why him being #3 is a mismatch. Godwin and Evans are #1s, which is why having two of them – if healthy – is a huge deal. They need to get AB the ball more, in space, and lets see what he can do. But instead of slants the team runs stick routes over and over and over again, where they go 7-10 yards, turn around, catch the ball and are tackled immediately with no chance of making a move since their back is to the defender. If they just ran some slants they’d still get the 7-10 yards but would have a chance to catch the ball while in motion and make guys miss. Those stick routes are useful to have certainly, it opens up the deep game since if the corner plays up you can stutter and go deep, but I don’t understand why they don’t just mix it up more. Its like Leftwich thinks he has a rookie QB in there who can only run 9 plays per game… or maybe it’s Leftwich just isn’t very creative.
December 23rd, 2020 at 5:54 pm
LMAO @DoooshLaRue
December 23rd, 2020 at 6:25 pm
I would prefer that somehow the entire WR band is kept together for 2021.
December 23rd, 2020 at 6:43 pm
I agree rod, i wouldnt keep ab over either of them. I think the best option is to let AB walk and hope he signs a big deal somewhere else.
December 23rd, 2020 at 7:03 pm
If miller ends up on a team like green bay, the cheifs or the sains he will be a game wrecker.Coukd you imagine him getting 2 or 3 cross routes a game witha chance to get yac and just burn guys?
Too bad our coaches dont think about that.Miller has the biggest heart on the ofdensive side of the ball and I hate not seeing him on the field almost every snap.
December 23rd, 2020 at 8:13 pm
Cobra
Exactly. We have three #1 WR’s and a very talented deep threat in Scottie and a potential find in Tyler Johnson who provides solid depth.
I’m with you I hope we can get creative enough to keep them all. In fact I want to keep this entire team…and simply draft the BPA through every round. I do not feel any desperation at any position…love to have another pass rusher and a cover DB.
December 23rd, 2020 at 9:57 pm
This team needs a veteran presence in the secondary. Gilmore is too expensive but someone along those lines. The rest of the team needs to be kept intact if possible. Bucs are way ahead of the curve in Brady year one. Look at the browns last year. Put all that talent together and went nowhere. Now they are in year 2 and looking good with half the QB. A lot of similarities there
December 24th, 2020 at 6:08 am
Should try him as a situational blitz rusher