Stay Healthy, Scotty!
May 26th, 2022
Contract year.
Last year, aside from two key special teams plays and a Benn’d Around for a touchdown (!) , Scotty Miller’s 2021 season was pretty much a waste.
Miller got hurt early and suffered a turf toe. That thing hobbled him so much he didn’t get many reps on offense — a grand total of five receptions in 2021.
This year seems to be a fresh start for Miller. He’s healthy, for one. And knowing he’s entering a contract year, he is apparently in very good shape, enough that Bucs coach Todd Bowles gave him fitness props yesterday.
So it seems there is a sense of urgency with Miller to have a nice year, which will result in nice zeroes on his checks next season, wherever that may be.
“He looks good – he’s in shape,” Bowles said of Miller. “He’s running fast. He’s doing all the right things right now, so we’ll just knock on wood.
“Hopefully, that transfers to training camp and he doesn’t get hurt again.”
Miller gave Bucs fans a glimpse of what he could be when he became one of Tom Brady’s favorite home run threats. He certainly demonstrated he had the wheels to get behind a defense.
If you think about it, with the immortal Cyril Grayson and Miller as backups, the Bucs have serious speed they can bring in to spark an offense.
The last big play Joe remembered Miller making in the passing game was that tremendous 39-yard touchdown from Tom Brady in the final seconds of the first half of the NFC Championship game in Green Bay.
Let’s hope that is not the last big catch Miller makes for the Bucs.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:09 am
If you think about it, with the immortal Cyril Grayson and Miller as backups, the Bucs have serious speed they can bring in to spark an offense.
Why do we continue to exclude Brashad Perriman from this list especially when speed it the subject…….He only ran a 4.19.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:09 am
Miller is very fast, but so is Perriman, and Perriman is bigger. Miller seems to struggle against press coverage, but some of that could be injury related.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:20 am
I believe Perriman ran 4.29 not 4.19. As for Miller, he was effective on the end around at the end of the season. I expected to see some of those type of plays in the post season but they didn’t try it. If they could incorporate those plays into his game he wouldn’t be so predictable.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:30 am
4.19 Seconds
But that Perriman speed is one of the charms of his very interesting game. How Fast? 4.19 Seconds Fast?? That was the 40-yard dash time that has been trumpeted for Perriman, according to one scout’s stopwatch at his 2015 Central Florida pro
May 26th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Miller has been showing he can take the top off defenses w/his speed since he was drafted to be honest. Remember Evans getting single covered and beating Jalen Ramsey for a 77 Yard TD in that playoff loss? Evans being single covered was made possible by the Rams safeties shading to Scotty Millers side to keep him and his speed contained. Also Joe, the last big play Miller made was that end around against Carolina in garbage time and that was after coming back from being on IR w/turf toe for 7 games.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:36 am
I hope he is healthy and steps it up. So far I have not seen anything from him except straight line speed. That’s why I have high hopes for Grayson and Darden, they have better quickness in and out of cuts.
Rooting for all of them!
May 26th, 2022 at 9:52 am
I have my doubts, but I wish this kid the best and I hope that he earns bigtime loot for his and our sakes.
May 26th, 2022 at 9:55 am
the next wes welker this year.
May 26th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Robert Says:
May 26th, 2022 at 9:55 am
the next wes welker this year.
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Scotty and Welker have literally nothing in common but skin color. Anybody comparing the two know absolutely nothing about football. 🤦🏿♂️
May 26th, 2022 at 10:17 am
Honestly, Welker is going to have a hard time cracking this roster, even without Godwin ready. Evans, Gage, Perriman, Johnson are locks. That leaves 2 or 3 spots. The Bucs are not going to cut Darden in his 2nd year when they still have 3 years of control in favor of a guy with 1 year of control. I also feel a guy like Grayson is a lock. Miller is in comp with the rest, and from I’ve seen from Stearns, he’s probably better than Scotty right now. Add in Godwin, and we have no room for Scotty. Maybe we can get a 7th round pick on his way out.
May 26th, 2022 at 10:20 am
The Bucs have to get Scotty Miller producing on the field again. Hopefully hes not just gonna be a 1 hit wonder
May 26th, 2022 at 10:47 am
I remember a couple of years ago when Scotty claimed he was the fastest player in the NFL. I think he was looking for a race with Cheetah. That catch in GB was iconic. What Buc fan didn’t launch out of their chair when he reeled in that ball? Unbelievable! They need to try some long balls to Miller again this year.
May 26th, 2022 at 10:58 am
I see 4.26 handtimed at his pro day for Perriman on draftscout website. Either way… he runs very fast in a straight line. Occasionally he has played to his speed in the NFL but generally speaking, he isn’t sudden enough to be a true homerun threat. He’s straight line fast.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:06 am
Occasionally run a Trips-right with Miller, Grayson, Perriman. What defense can defend that speed? Geez the Free Safety would have to line up 40 yards deep before snap, LOL.
I’m not confusing any of these 3 burners for the production offered by Godwin and Evans…but like they say, speed kills.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Scottie is small and a one trick pony. He needs to diversify his route tree. If you press him at the line, he becomes a liability. BA benched him when he ran the wrong route against Indy that resulted in a pick. Give up the ghost on Scottie and Perriman
May 26th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
D-Rok, speed is the easiest thing to defend in the NFL. The saying speed kills could be anymore wrong. What kills is quickness. If you lined Miller, Perriman and Grayson on the same side of the field, especially with Grayson being the most talented right now, the defense would have an easy day cover those 3 mostly straight line guys on the same side of the field.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Man, Gronk looks tiny in that pic.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Miller struggles to get off the line, because he has too much wasted motion in his release. He’s also very inefficient at the top of routes. Speed doesn’t do you much good if you can’t stay healthy and beat guys off the line. Like many here, I had high hopes for the kid. His catch radius is simply to small, coupled by the fact that DBs just work through him. I hope I’m wrong and he has a fantastic season, but a speedster that can’t stay healthy is like having a dragster with a blown tire. He needs to work on his deficiencies and above all stay healthy.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:52 pm
@joe
Benn’d around…nice.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Perriman vs Miller I’d say Millers hands are much more trustworthy. Miller catches in traffic well and when targeted, he comes down with it most times. Perriman never stuck on teams because he can’t catch.
May 26th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Maniac:
Trips right. One route is to L flag. Middle route is to post. Far right route is either R flag or 15-yard drag over middle. When receivers are bunched like this, the defense cannot press at the line all 3. There are endless route combinations off this formation. Then, when you clear out space deep with these 3, either a 4th WR or a back or a TE will be open. My thinking is that if the defense does not play off these 3 speedsters, at least 1 will get open, and hopefully, take the top off the D. Also, don’t forget PA out of this, and also don’t forget a draw. Defense will have to be in a nickel to defend 4 WR’s and this much speed.
I do get what you are saying with quickness, and it’s true, one cannot get up to top speed if they can’t get off LOS. I just like envisioning different scenarios and mismatches in concept. Training camp will reveal what formations and players gives us the best edge.
GO BUCS!!!
May 26th, 2022 at 1:20 pm
PS Maniac:
Edelman made a living in NE with Brady simply being quick, and also tough as nails. I think Welker paved the way for a super quick, small, slot receiver, and Edelman followed the trend.
This quickness factor is why I had high hopes for Darden in the slot. There’s still time for Darden as it’s only his 2nd year – but when Darden got drafted, I thought to myself: “Possibly another Edelman-type?” Time will tell with Darden.
May 26th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
By far the best predictor of of recievers ability to get open quickly, is the three cone drill. Edelman’s time was 6.62 Dardens was 6.67. Jules wasn’t very impressive his first few years with the Patriots. He was oft injured and was transitioning from QB. Darden has all the ability to be a welker/ Edelman type. Like D-Rok said, time will tell
May 26th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
Emphatically agree, GOB. (Hey that rhymed!) 3-cone drill is how to determine “quickness.” I am still curious what the 3-cone drill times are for all our receivers…but I’m not sure where to find that info – NFL.com, perhaps?
May 26th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Here’s what I could find for 3-cone drill. Less than 7 seconds is elite.
Edelman: 6.62
Darden: 6.67
Geiger: 6.77
Sterns: 6.80
Miller: 6.97
A Brown: 6.98
Godwin: 7.01
Grayson: 7.02
Gage: 7.03
Julio Jones: 6.66
Fastest ever: 2018 OK DB Jordan Thomas: 6.28
May 26th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
If Miller makes the team he will get limited offensive snaps. Grayson will get a high spot because he is not only fast, he is a ferocious downfield blocker.
Miller should get things like the last play before the half, or first play after, when no one is looking at him. He is too easily thrown off his route for Brady to throw it his way often.
May 26th, 2022 at 5:21 pm
Nice work D-Rok
May 26th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Thanks, GOB. So maybe we should be looking at Sterns and Geiger as potential slot WR’s until Godwin gets back? Will be looking to see how these guys perform in camp – who knows, maybe they could surprise some people?
May 27th, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“Why do we continue to exclude Brashad Perriman from this list especially when speed it the subject…….He only ran a 4.19.”
That was a long time ago and he isn’t nearly as fast now…but I agree…he should be included.
May 27th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
D-Rok, I would argue that even though that may be the test for the determination, many of the players don’t actually carry it into the NFL.
May 27th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
Bonzai,
Of course the metrics only measure max potential and only applies if a player goes 100%. With time and age of a player, naturally those times will degrade. I was actually thinking about this recently, and I was wondering:
Recently, rumors had Julio coming to the Bucs. Most people think he is in decline and perhaps even washed up. So at his combine, Julio did 3-cone in 6.66. I wonder if teams that are working him out would/will actually test that time (and perhaps 40 time) before signing him? What if his time is more like 7.05 now?
I mean, if I was coach, I’d WANT to know a player’s current times and measurables, but I wonder if NFL teams even bother with testing prior to signing, or would they just do the eye-ball test to see how he run routes and if he looks fast or not? In my theoretical example with Julio, coach would be like, “You only ran a 7.05. We can’t give you the $10m per year, but we can offer $3mill.” Something like that?
Just something I’ve always pondered…