Scotty Miller Seems To Be Saying To The Bucs: “Put Me In, Coach”
July 11th, 2022
Scotty Miller
When Joe spoke with Scotty Miller earlier this summer during underwear football season, he was very open about why he hit the weights big time this offseason.
Miller put on 15 pounds of muscle — his choice; the Bucs did not ask him — for one simple reason: He wants to be on the field more.
Miller seemed to suggest he’s been pigeonholed as just an outside receiver who can take the top off. He wants to be a more complete receiver which means more snaps and more opportunities.
(And let’s be blunt, though Miller never told Joe this, more snaps means more money from someone and Miller is in a contract year. Joe has no issue with that.)
“In college, I did a lot of option routes, that sort of stuff,” Miller explained to Joe. “I’ve been more [of an] outside [receiver] here. I want to show the coaches that I can go inside and take hits, protect the football and stuff like that.
“So if it is special teams or option routes, stuff over the middle, anything, just trying to be the best player I can be.”
One way to make yourself valuable to the team is to be a good special teams player. Miler demonstrated that as a gunner on the punt team when he had two big plays in two big games.
He recovered a key fumble on a fourth quarter punt in a 38-31 win over the Colts that resulted in a field goal. Miller also forced a third quarter fumble on a Bradley Pinion punt that was recovered by Ross Cockrell which led to a Tom Brady-to-foot-rubbing-Rob Gronkowski touchdown in the 31-15 win over the Eagles in the playoffs.
Joe hopes Miller rocking up turns into more takeaways for the Bucs’ special teams and touchdowns for the offense.
With the turmoil at receiver this offseason, Miller ought to get more snaps, at least until Chris Godwin returns to full strength.
July 11th, 2022 at 4:20 am
We need this kid to play his butt off and hope that he does even if we can’t afford him next year.
July 11th, 2022 at 4:55 am
Rooting for this guy.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Sh!t or get off the pot time for Scotty.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:23 am
Why is he never in the mix for kick off / punt returner. That would make Scotty way more valueable. Seems like there’s always an opening for those positions.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:25 am
I’m a big Miller fan! He’s made some great catches for the Bucs during his time here and when he gets in open space, look out! Let’s see how versatile he can be.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:41 am
Joe. its blocking. the wr in the slot has to be a willing and able blocker in the scheme we run.
Scotty may be willing, but able???
remember this is why OJ got shipped out. he was able, but not willing.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:47 am
Catch and YAC !
July 11th, 2022 at 7:54 am
Beam me up, Scotty!!!
July 11th, 2022 at 7:55 am
Totally agree. But Joe didn’t get the sense Scotty Miller was lobbying for snaps at slot. BHe seemed to suggest he wanted to be used in a more diversified route tree than just go-routes. “Slot” never came up in the conversation.
July 11th, 2022 at 8:37 am
It comes down to 1 thing, can scotty withstand the weekly beatings he will take. Last year he was not available because his body would not let him. The greatest ability, is availability, does not matter how great you are, if you are not available. So Ok Scotty what you got. The legendary TD catch against GB is a long way back in the rearview mirror. What do you got now. I hope he can stay healthy, but we will see.
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!
July 11th, 2022 at 8:45 am
Definitely a big fan of his. HOPE TB and the coaches give him a big opportunity to shine this season and he comes up super heroic. No reason he can’t be TB’s new Edelman.
July 11th, 2022 at 8:46 am
I hope he has fully recovered from that nasty foot injury he had last year. If he can’t stay healthy this season than it’s adios Scoot…
July 11th, 2022 at 8:49 am
Let’s see what he can do with an additional 15 lbs. Is he implying that he wants the role of a Debo Samuel. If so, n he maintains his speed, has the heart n confidence, n can stay healthy, then why not, let him do his thing. Who knows, this may be his year to blowup
July 11th, 2022 at 8:53 am
All Miller has to do is stay healthy as possible
July 11th, 2022 at 8:59 am
The more he can contribute, the better. There WILL be injuries which means that there WILL be opportunities.
July 11th, 2022 at 8:59 am
Put me in, coach… I’m ready to play.. todaaaay!
Puy me in, coach… I’m ready to play.. todaaay
July 11th, 2022 at 9:26 am
Watch the 2020 Chargers game. Watch the Rams Todd Bowles Bowl where Scotty really shined in the passing game in the second half and made McVee so nervous he rotated coverage to Scotty’s side leaving Mike one on one with Ramsey.
He can and does more than just go routes, but some of the knuckleheads around here love sticking to the narrative that he’s a one trick pony.
Scotty ready to shine!
July 11th, 2022 at 9:30 am
Yeah I agree it’s more the blocking than anything else as the reason for him not seeing more playing time.
July 11th, 2022 at 9:40 am
Goatfarmer……He can and does more than just go routes, but some of the knuckleheads around here love sticking to the narrative that he’s a one trick pony.
lololol I like Scotty like anyone else, but Scottys issue is injury, not ability. So far he has only proven to be 1 trick pony. I say more power to Scotty, I hope he can prove he is more, the Bucs need that from him. But if and buts and candies and nuts lol time will tell. Go Scotty, I hope he does well.
GO BUCS!!!!
July 11th, 2022 at 9:52 am
The thing with options routes is that the receiver has to have a high football IQ because they have to read coverages like a QB. I don’t believe Miller is that guy. Also, Miller is not suited for the slot as he is not quick and doesn’t work well in short areas. Don’t confuse speed with quickness. Welker, Amendola, and Edelman all had great short area quickness. This was a major problem with the offense when CG went out because the other slot receivers couldn’t gain consistent separation. This is why I like Gage. He has excellent short area quickness and can beat man coverage. He really reminds me of Deion Branch. BA benched Miller because he didn’t run his route correctly against Indy and it resulted in a pick. Give up the ghost with Miller. He’s still living off the GB game.
July 11th, 2022 at 10:05 am
August, Scotty had a turf toe. That’s not being injury prone, it’s a common injury that a lot of players get and it takes rest to heal. It’s not like he’s popping hammies every four weeks or ripping his biceps muscles.
Watch the games I mentioned.
July 11th, 2022 at 10:49 am
It’s strange that when BA was running his offense, guys like Miller would be on the outside. Due to Miller being under six feet and less than 200lbs one expect to be a slot receiver. Hopefully Byron Leftwich will adjust and put Miller in the slot.
July 11th, 2022 at 11:37 am
Miller and Johnson are in the same boat. Got to prove yourself this year or your a bust. They both have shown potential, nows the year to put it all together. GOBUCS! PS Darden is years away.
July 11th, 2022 at 11:41 am
Goatfarm… Scotty being injured is why he was not playing so much last year last year. BTW turf toe caused HOF LB Jack Lambert of the steelers to retire. It is a nasty injury to have actually. Scotty has had jis moments but not consistently, enough anyways to shed the 1 trick pony label. I thought last year Scotty would take off, but his body betrayed him. Again as I stated before, it comes down to how his body handles the weekly beatings that come with playing WR in the NFL. As someone else here stated about JTS coming in stronger this year.. If you are not physically ready, the NFL will eat you alive. That is really the bottom line for guys get hit every week.
July 11th, 2022 at 11:56 am
Hope not. The key in Arians/Leftwich offense is for the slot guy to block. Joe has seen his fair amount of practices with Miller. He would get destroyed if he tried to block out of slot.
July 11th, 2022 at 4:09 pm
Miller has one huge thing going for him. Brady loves him. If Miller stays healthy I think he has a great year for himself and the Bucs. I mean who doesn’t like Scotty Miller. Name the biggest offensive play in our playoff run to the Super Bowl. Brady to Miller at the end of the first half of the NFC Championship game. This kid is fearless and if he has added some strength he may be better this year than during our Super Bowl run. Go Bucs!
July 11th, 2022 at 6:52 pm
@ Jie
That’s why it’s imperative for Byron to adjust the offense. The slot receiver don’t have to block at all, or if he does make it a rare occurrence. Miller is a shifty guy, to take advantage of that Miller needs to be in the slot where he can run multiple routes.
July 11th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
People forget he was injured most of last year. He certainly gave the Rams trouble in the playoffs. Healthy he’s a legit weapon.
July 11th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Good observations, BucsFan13. Yes, Scotty may have the same stature as Edelman/Welker, but he has not shown that short area quickness to be a good slot. But that Edelman type is exactly what TB12 needs.
July 11th, 2022 at 9:10 pm
Scotty is better than everyone at wideout except for chris and mike. I have not seen anything exciting from our kick returners give him a shot.
July 12th, 2022 at 12:11 am
The guy knows how to get under deep balls and hold on to them!
July 12th, 2022 at 12:17 am
Scotty Miller can be a huge asset for the Bucs, if used properly. For starters, go back and pull up a video entitled Tom Brady’s Top Throws of 2020, it’s easy to find. Scotty was on the receiving end of a big chunk of those throws, and they weren’t all Go routes. Also, as far far as toughness, In last year’s heartbreaking loss to the Rams in the Title game, when they finally put him in, he was a big part of the comeback, catching contested balls w. the defender mugging him. I can’t believe how little he’s used on end-arounds, and fake end-arounds..just to freeze the D, & give Brady an Xtra sec. He’s valuable on special teams because of his speed, & I would prefer him fielding kicks over Darden, who seems like he’s on a slip & slide, and “runs scared”
July 12th, 2022 at 12:30 am
Wes Welker…Slot receiver… Under 200lbs. Julian Edelman… Slot receiver…under 200lbs. Joe, when did you see Scotty blocking in the slot? Was it prior to the weight gain?