Scotty Miller Appears On Thin Ice
August 27th, 2022
Rough first half.
The arrows do not appear to be pointing up for Scotty Miller.
The hero of the 2020 NFC Championship game has been somewhat of a ghost for the Bucs offense since. Yeah, he had a turf toe last year but even when he came back, he was known more for his plays on special teams than anything else.
Miller is in a battle with several receivers to keep a gig with the Bucs. He’s had a fairly decent training camp but that hasn’t carried over into preseason games. And it was very telling for Joe that Breshad Perriman and Jaelon Darden got time with the first-team offense early in the game before Miller did tonight.
Miller only came into the game when Blaine Gabbert was working behind center.
And when Miller did get on the field, he was wide @ss open and didn’t look quickly enough for the ball from Gabbert and it bounced off Miller’s shoulder pads.
Now a guy is not going to get cut for one dropped pass. But Miller is in such a tight race to keep his job, every play is magnified. With possibly the last chance for Miller to show he belongs, he dropped the ball.
Joe is not counting him out but the vibe sure seems like Miller’s job security is on thin ice.
August 27th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
No more Miller Time.
Back to Darden Light.
August 27th, 2022 at 9:33 pm
I will say this. Miller is the kind of teammate you want. He’s hard working, respectful, will do anything he’s asked to do to help the team. We all love Scotty the person. At the end of the day, it’s about talent in the NFL. Underdog stories are cool, but they don’t make for good football players in most cases. He’ll catch on somewhere, but even if he hangs around for a few more years, he’ll always be the back of the depth chart type who makes occasional splash plays. Good luck Scotty. He may have just played himself out of being claimed and back to the Bucs on the PS.
August 27th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
Hey, he had every chance to prove his value in this game and literally dropped the ball. His time with the Bucs is up. Sucks, but either you’re a value to the team or you’re not.
August 27th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
Sayonara Scooter!!!
August 27th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
. Last we and this week , dropped passes. He is gone.
August 27th, 2022 at 9:55 pm
Also telling is not showing what the 3 Thompkins, Sterns and the other guy
August 27th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
Scotty, you should have caught that ball…. i was hoping you will be our Edellman… anyways,,,, goodluck
August 27th, 2022 at 10:30 pm
What may save Scotty’s bacon is that we have no one whose shown they can cover a punt and Scotty can definitely do that. Darden cannot make this team over Thompkins IMO..
August 27th, 2022 at 10:35 pm
Evans
Godwin
Gage
Jones
Johnson
After those five I have no idea anymore.
Every time I think I have a figured out, I don’t.
I believe THompkins will be on the practice squad. I thought Perriman was going to be gone but maybe not.
I thought Miller was on the team because of speed and to play gunner but not so sure anymore
The reality is all the receivers 6-9 have flashed this preseason but no one seems to have really stepped up
August 27th, 2022 at 10:48 pm
If I had my way Tyler Johnson would be wearing a different jersey. Not because I don’t like him but Darden and Thompkins have a far higher ceiling. Tyler consistently runs routes that are 2 to 3 yards short. Mind numbing mistakes that cost teams when it matters. He’s a decent possession WR I guess but who the heck is excited about him. Nah. Let him go. Licht says one of the key things he learned from Tricky Bill is to move on from draft mistakes. Take your advice and sign Thompkins to the ACTIVE squad and wish Tyler the best of luck. Scottie is firmly on the bubble. I personally think of the fact that he has one of the 2 most significant plays in Bucs history. Ronde had the OG one. It’s hard to let Scottie go but not having his head turned around and catching that perfectly thrown ball is really rough. He’s not at all refined. One trick pony but he brings ST coverage and can return if necessary. He stays.
If Thompkins goes to practice squad, he is going to get plucked away.
August 27th, 2022 at 10:50 pm
Man I can only imagine how let down he must feel right now. He has to know it’s over. Feel badly for him
August 27th, 2022 at 10:54 pm
Scotty’s thru dealin
August 27th, 2022 at 11:02 pm
I don’t think he saw the ball because he got his hands up way too late, he might have lost it in the lights there. Regardless his issue wasn’t ever really catching the ball, it’s just getting open when he’s doing more than running in a straight line. Personally I’m still keeping him because of the deep ball timing he’s had with Brady, that’s very valuable, even if only works a few times a year, it’s still a huge play to have in your pocket since defenses will play you different if you have a guy with legit speed that can get behind safeties.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:03 pm
I am sure that Johnson makes the team before Miller.
August 27th, 2022 at 11:07 pm
The Bucs have the luxury of 4 top quality WR’s that barring injury will allow Licht and the coaches take a gamble on the potential of Thompkins, Stern and Geiger
August 27th, 2022 at 11:12 pm
That drop is as ugly as it gets. Problem is Thompkins didnt do much(unless i missed). They called a TD to Darden and he couldnt break it, and put the ball on the turf. Im not so sure we are keeping 7 WRs
August 28th, 2022 at 12:31 am
you keep him this year…he’s sort of like a back end brady guy…
like brady, one last season for scotty
August 28th, 2022 at 12:35 am
cmurda…it’s been awhile….wow where have you been dude?
August 28th, 2022 at 12:53 am
Darden is a boy among men. GHTFO. Keep Scooter
August 28th, 2022 at 1:26 am
Turf toe is far more serious than people understand!! Look at Justin Evans and that lineman the bucs used to have! I forget his name but it ended his career! It takes years to recover! They should at least keep him in the practice squad! He’s a big time play maker and has proven that! Injuries happen and some need more time to heal than one may think
August 28th, 2022 at 1:27 am
darden is the annointed one …..
August 28th, 2022 at 5:17 am
If Darden or Perriman make the final cut it’d be a mistake that’d be fixed within a couple of weeks. They’re both very fast, but unacceptably low percentage when it comes to catching the ball (both 50%). Scotty isn’t THAT much better (at 58%), but I’d take him over those two.
Watching Camarda boom several great kicks from deep in Bucs territory last night, it was obvious that Bucs desperately need to improve our punt coverage. Gunners were way too slow getting down-field, allowing for some very good returns. One of these speedy bubble WRs needs to take the bull by the horns & start there showing up.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:07 am
It was only a few weeks ago some goof was comparing Scoot to Tyreek Hill. I’ll say again what I said to that clown a few weeks ago: Some players have one or two memorable splash plays that turns a game and a season around but just cannot do it consistently to stick. Dan Johnson of the Rays had two of the most important homeruns in Rays history but he couldn’t really stick with the team long term. We’ll always remember and appreciate the 2020 NFC Championship game catch but it’s really time to move on.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:10 am
Should be interesting to see which receivers make it! I lean towards Tompkins. Not sure what to make of Darden! Scotty hasn’t been the sure hands he was in the past. We’ll see soon!!
August 28th, 2022 at 9:24 am
Thanks Scotty, good luck with your new team.
August 28th, 2022 at 9:50 am
Watch the Saints pick him up now
August 28th, 2022 at 10:15 am
Would be stupid to keep Darden over him
August 28th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Darden isn’t an NFL player. Perryman has no special teams value. Neither should be kept over Miller.
August 28th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
After the top 5 the bucs have a bunch of maybe, wanna be , and sometimes good receivers but not consistently good receivers. The only real burner is Scotty and he is decent on special teams as well. That gives him a good chance at sticking. Johnson can make tough catches in traffic but has average speed. None of the other receivers have made a big impression in any way. I think Scotty makes it because of his deep threat speed, his chemistry with Brady and his ability as a gunner. None of the other back up receivers can do what he does. Johnson is reasonably tough over the middle, sort of Godwin light. Nobody else of the remaining group stands out in my opinion. Some are too new to know for sure especially the undrafted, and worth the practice squad if they clear waivers. Darden has had enough time to show but just doesn’t anywhere they put him. So I pick Scotty for multiple roles and Johnson for toughness over the middle. And one other the coaches like for reasons I am not aware of.
August 28th, 2022 at 7:27 pm
It’s a shame the Bucs never figured out a way to use Scotty like Edelman. Quick screens, quick slants, etc.
It seems Scotty was mostly ever used on fly routes.
I guess this is because Godwin became a dominant slot receiver in our offense.
August 29th, 2022 at 10:52 am
From Bowles’ presser after the Colts game, it seems that a special teams gunner is on his mind and that could be what saves Scooter’s bacon.
Week 1 vs. the Cowboys will be a test for ST players and coaches. That new returner for Dallas (Turpin) is no joke. 2 kicks returned for TDs (one ko and one punt), even though it’s “only preseason games”, etc. he looks dangerous with speed, quickness and vision.
The Cowboys offense doesn’t particularly scare me, their pass rush and secondary are excellent though. Playing the “field position” game and giving the Cowboys offense short fields with big returns could be key to their success over the Bucs. Hopefully our Bucs can neutralize their pass rush with a punishing running attack.
If the O line can’t hold up on pass plays and the Bucs have too many 3 and outs, Dallas could end up with starting field position in Bucs territory way too often with decent kick returns. I’m not a big fan of Scooter as a WR but he’s proven more consistent on ST and hopefully he wins a spot there (but Bowles said nobody has shown him consistency there yet).
Scooter seems like a great guy and teammate so it’s natural to pull for a guy like that. He worked hard in the off season, packed on a little extra beef but he may have missed his opportunity to prove himself. If Bowles does keep him for ST coverage, I think it will be a short leash if he doesn’t produce big results and his roster spot might go to another OLineman or other position player.
Pure speculation on my part of course. On to the Cowgirls!!! LFG!
August 29th, 2022 at 11:02 am
@Trask to the Future
“It’s a shame the Bucs never figured out a way to use Scotty like Edelman. Quick screens, quick slants, etc.”
Edelman is a rare cat. Scooter doesn’t have his grit or toughness to do what Edelman did. He played with the mindset of a nasty middle LB. He played with a huge chip on his shoulder (don’t tell ME I’m too small and slow for the NFL) which TB12 admired and could relate to. He’d take a massive, bone-crushing hit over the middle, pop up in the defender’s face and say “Is that all you got?” I don’t see Scooter doing that. Maybe he’s too nice? Lol
August 29th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
I hope not. We can use his speed.