New Lease On NFL Life For Scotty Miller
April 12th, 2022
Bucs WR Scotty Miller.
Last year at this time, then-Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians sang the song that his defending champions needed to beef up on special teams.
He wasn’t wrong but the special teams, particularly the return game with Arians’ hand-picked returner Jaelon Darden, stunk worse than fish left out in the sun.
There was an unexpected bright spot. That was Scotty Miller. The Bowling Green product and savior of the NFC Championship game against the Packers made two huge special teams plays on the punt team.
Miller recovered a fumble against the Colts in a one-score game that led to a field goal, and Miller also helped create a fumble in a playoff win against the Eagles that was recovered by Ross Cockrell.
For some reason, Miller, as a receiver, found himself in Arians’ (Tom Brady’s?) doghouse last season. He only played 22 percent of the offensive snaps and very rarely was targeted until the Rams playoff game, when injuries all but forced Miller to get more action.
Now that Arians is gone, does Miller get a new life? Many Bucs fans would not mind the Bucs drafting a receiver high in the draft, and this sort of makes sense because no one right now knows when Chris Godwin will return from knee surgery or what shape he will be in.
Oh yeah, and then there’s trying to make Brady happy.
If the Bucs do draft a receiver, then that pushes the bottom of the Bucs’ receiving depth chart farther down the totem pole. Would Miller survive that?
Joe thinks Miller gets a new lease with Todd Bowles. Miller made enough plays on special teams to warrant a roster spot, and special were sad last season. No need to dump a guy who was making key plays in important games.
Further, since Darden was a total waste of time last year, Miller should be given a test drive during training camp as a return man. He certainly has the wheels for it.
Lots of draft talk and more on Monday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
April 12th, 2022 at 6:12 am
With that speed he makes a great gunner if he doesn’t get muscled around. He should be fielding punts n kickoffs.
April 12th, 2022 at 6:13 am
Scotty Miller is a playmaker and needs to be kept for that reason alone. Falcons game2021 he scored on an end around after only a handfull of snaps. He needs to either play punt coverage or KR/PR and gimick plays like fleaflickers etc. Occasional use in certain defenses and to get behind the defense as much as possible.
April 12th, 2022 at 6:26 am
I’m all for Darden and Miller battling it out in training camp. Miller is probably #6 or 7 right now on the depth chart.
April 12th, 2022 at 7:01 am
Any of these guys trade bait? Darden, Miller, Johnson?
April 12th, 2022 at 7:25 am
I love Miller, but he is too small to return punts and kickoffs.
April 12th, 2022 at 7:31 am
“Bucs drafting a receiver high in the draft”. Yes please BUT only if he can return kicks.
April 12th, 2022 at 7:52 am
Unleash Miller. I didn’t get why he didn’t play more last season.
He’s more talented than Chris G. Prioritise Miller this season and you’ve got another ring.
April 12th, 2022 at 7:53 am
Reminds me of Russell Shephard. A wide receiver that did not see the field much on offense but was valueable as a gunner. Of course Scotty is much more explosive. Improving as a gunner only helps him keep a roster spot.
April 12th, 2022 at 7:56 am
Produce or sit
Sit too long and you will be walking out the door
April 12th, 2022 at 8:02 am
Scotty was on IR the entire from week 3/4 until to week 11 w/turf toe, let’s not misconstrue that as BA holding some type of grudge with him, its a ridiculous notion. Also, that end around he ran against the Panthers was arguably one of our most electrifying offensive plays of the entire 2021 campaign.
April 12th, 2022 at 8:04 am
“this sort of makes sense because no one right now knows when Chris Godwin will return from knee surgery or what shape he will be in.”
I take your point Joe and it’s indeed logical…except for…we’ve already made that gamble by spending the big dollars on him. We either sink or swim with the choice to spend the bucks…(something I agreed with btw). The die is cast.
That position has spent it’s budget. We need help in too many areas.
April 12th, 2022 at 8:08 am
I think Perriman may benefit the most from working with Brady for an entire year. Clean up his route running and a little softer hands and he could be special.
April 12th, 2022 at 8:34 am
I agree that Darden was a disappointment but I believe our punt & kick return blocking was horrible……it really wouldn’t matter who returned kicks…
Here’s a thought…..how about drafting a CB who can do returns?
April 12th, 2022 at 8:36 am
miller isn’t built for the direct contact off punts and kickoffs…
but he is good at a lot of other stuff, if they run his plays…
he should make the squad as a back end receiver and gunner…
daren and johnson are in deep doo…especially if johnson comes in all fat and slow to camp…
he went from “kinda like a godwin” to kinda like nothing…last year was a disappointment – hopefully he is still hungry
April 12th, 2022 at 8:37 am
darden*
April 12th, 2022 at 8:41 am
my question is why did it seem like darden was slipping and sliding on a freshly mopped linoleum floor on every punt and kick off he took…
the slipping and sliding thing is something i’ve never seen before in the nfl on a regular basis on a grass field or turf…
i bet he can moonwalk like a mofo 🙂
#BillieJeanDarden
April 12th, 2022 at 9:49 am
Jaelen Darden first year reminded me a lot of Rojo first year for some reason… Scotty Miller should definitely be used more at least as a gadget player, all he does is make plays and he’s not been given many.
Imagine of Scotty touched he ball like Humphries when he was here
April 12th, 2022 at 10:20 am
People forget Darden was Brady’s hand picked selection but of course because he was so timid so many call him a bust. Remember a guy by the name of Matt Gay??? How’d he work out for the Rams last year? Give the young man a couple of years to grow into an NFL receiver because that’s all it took for Gay to become a world champion kicker
April 12th, 2022 at 10:21 am
I thought he played well in the playoff game vs the Rams, he was open lots of times, Brady just didnt see him.
April 12th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Hehe what are you smoking, drinking or taking??? Scooter more talented than Godwin??? What universe do you live in??? You must be posting for the YIKES because you definitely won’t get any likes with a statement like that! Godwin’s shadow has more talent than Scooter. You deserve a timeout on that one! Go sit in the corner young man!
April 12th, 2022 at 10:44 am
Lol like I say they always let the good one’s go he is pretty good think next year nomatter where he is he’ll do good
April 12th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Always looked for him outthere he could do something
April 12th, 2022 at 10:51 am
He was a weapon always looked for him out there
April 12th, 2022 at 11:19 am
i agree with DavidBigBucsFan99. Comparing CG to Scooter is like comparing Superman to Jimmy Olsen.
April 12th, 2022 at 11:20 am
ONE TRICK PONY!!! I don’t understand you people. He’s a good one trick pony, but that’s it. I watch him in the games and I’ve watched his highlights. Nothing but downfield or trying to distract teams.
April 12th, 2022 at 11:21 am
As far as Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles getting a WR early, that’s a hoot.
April 12th, 2022 at 11:26 am
I knew Darden would suck after seeing him once in training camp.
April 12th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Chargers game 2020. Miller had 7 snags for over 100 yards and many of them were possession catches. He’s an excellent #4 receiver, and showed production when given the chance. Scotty needs to crawl up TB12’s favorites list, regain his trust, and ball put. Give the man a chance.
April 12th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
I swear if they do him like Adam humphries….I will be disappointed….
April 12th, 2022 at 2:53 pm
Should have got something for Godwin and let him go. A torn ACL in the NFL means the best you’ll come back is 70%.
April 12th, 2022 at 3:39 pm
Scotty is a great ball player. I am so surprised that they never utilized Scotty in the slot with the Brady Offense. He’s built just like Edelman and Welker were at New England. He’s got the speed, he can catch, and he can do it across the middle. No linebacker can stick with him. Perfect fit…..
April 12th, 2022 at 5:14 pm
@Bucsd4life: Just because a receiver is small and white doesn’t mean he’s Edelman or Welker. First off, neither of those guys were burners. They were quick-twitch, outstanding route runners who excelled in the slot.
Miller is a speedster, and quite honestly, has never show that much talent at anything else. His rookie year, holy sh1t, his routes were terrible. I remember him attempting to run a drag route in the end zone and didn’t realize he wandered out the back of the end zone.
Hopefully, he can learn route running, because he definitely has elite speed.
April 12th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Play Scotty four or five plays a game on offense and as a gunner on special teams. Off a play action, or to stretch the field for Cris Godwin. He doesn’t need any more tricks. One good to one is good enough! He has good hands.. hopefully his toe is healed!!
April 12th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Personally I don’t think they have used him correctly, his speed is an asset that should be used often I think him on the slot would be unstoppable, no LB can cover him. Keep and find ways t?o use him.
April 13th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
When Miller is in the lineup he’s dangerous. I believe he’s a better WR than Johnson and should of played more. Johnson had easy drops and gave up on routes.
April 13th, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Scotty Miller deserves playing time because Jaelon Darden is not ready yet