Todd Bowles Special Teams’ Comments Seem To Support Scotty Miller Return
August 21st, 2022
Bucs WR Scotty Miller.
Joe will never forget what an NFL suit told Joe at the combine years ago. It was as true then as it is now.
“If you can’t start, you better be able to play special teams, otherwise, you are an endangered species.”
It isn’t just about playing offense or defense. And when you throw in what Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ mentor Bill Parcells says about backups and what Bowles said last night, it suggests reserve receiver Scotty Miller has job security.
Bowles was asked about the Bucs’ rookie punter and Bowles really never answered the question and instead explained the position the Bucs are looking for on the punt team.
“We’re looking for gunners,” Bowles said. “We’re looking for some consistent gunners and that’s what we’re really lacking at or that hasn’t shown up consistently.
“So, we’re really trying to find guys that can get down there and make plays.”
Well, Miller does just that. Last year as a gunner, Miller made two key plays in big games.
At Indianapolis, Miller had a key fumble recovery on a punt that led to three points in a one-score win for the Bucs. In the playoffs against Philadelphia, he forced a fumble with his footsteps on a punt.
August 21st, 2022 at 8:48 am
Devin !
August 21st, 2022 at 8:51 am
That punter outkicks the coverage a bunch.
It is all sexy to have a 60-yard punt, but a 60-yard punt has got to be 5 times as likely to allow a big gain than a 48-yard punt.
I wonder if someone has the actual stats on this.
August 21st, 2022 at 9:35 am
I’ll be the contrarian here….
I don’t think Scotty makes it…
Evans, Godwin, Gage, Jones, Johnson, Darden & Thompkins….
Perriman even with his guarantee either cut or traded……Scotty could be traded..
Don’t go nuts….just my opinion…..
August 21st, 2022 at 9:41 am
No way Brady will sign off on getting rid of Grayson.
August 21st, 2022 at 9:44 am
I don’t see it
I am pulling for the more natural receivers and football players
Thompkins and Stern
August 21st, 2022 at 9:48 am
Keyboard Coaches: it’s not what YOU think. Bowles is the decider. Joe is in the den talking to the Lion King. Read and process his words.
August 21st, 2022 at 9:49 am
As much as I like Scotty Miller, it is a numbers game and I don’t see him as the top 5 or 6th WR for the Bucs.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:20 am
Geno exactly! That’s why Bowles said what he said about the gunners. It always seems like other teams gunners run free range down to our returners. Titans didn’t have that problem. Their ROOKIE punter continuously put us in bad field position. When our “punt god” did their dude brought it back 20-30 yards each time. Man I miss Rich Bisaccia!
August 21st, 2022 at 10:20 am
If you want to know who’s going to make the final cuts, take a look next week at what players are on the field the first time the Bucs kickoff, kick return, punt and punt return. FG team (other than the kicker) is usually a pretty good indicator as well of which bubble guys are likely to make it.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:20 am
Darden is the expendable one. He caught one pass for a TD in soft zone that hit him right in the numbers. Scotty was wide open too, right next to him. Other than that, Darden has done his usual act of making you think he’s going to do something, then doesn’t. Last night he had a drop, a two yard punt return and was outgained by White on kickoff duty. Kid can’t block, can’t play special teams, and can’t catch in games, not more to say than that.
I know the insiders at OBP love him according to our secret reporter, but they loved Kenny Bell, too. No game production = CFL.
August 21st, 2022 at 10:30 am
I cannot imagine they keep Jaelon Darden anyone of the new guys could do that job better even Rachad white at KR/PR
August 21st, 2022 at 10:41 am
I think the special teams are going to be horrid with out without Scotty. He is not doing enough on offense to justify the cost.
Sterns and Tompkins are both showing more skills. Sterns should do returns and Darden can share Miller’s big yellow taxi.
August 21st, 2022 at 11:15 am
Always Doom and Gloom! it’s freaking preseason! Stop crying
August 21st, 2022 at 11:47 am
Joe freaking loves Scotty so much that he will even generate his special teams impact. Did Joe ever call Miller a great special teams player? No. The Bucs don’t really have any. –Joe
Scotty completely over ran a play last night as a gunner. He looked horrible on the play. McCollum is a sure fire gunner and already guaranteed a roster spot. Who’s the other, it won’t be Scotty. Not sure what McCollum, who injured his hamstring on Thursday, has to do with Miller. –Joe
Also, I really enjoy this website, even when I don’t agree with you. I even defend you on most articles. But these Scotty fan articles aren’t real articles, they’re 100% clickbait. First, they 100 percent are “articles.” This is a respected analyst (Charles Davis, previous story) talking about Miller after watching him all week. –Joe And it doesn’t show a guy who wants the Bucs to be good, it shows a guy who wants a team to keep their favorite player even if it makes the team worse. Sickeningly honestly. You have never read from Joe that Miller should be anything more than a No. 5 or 6 receiver on this 2022 team. And, Miller is not one of Joe’s favorite players.–Joe
August 21st, 2022 at 12:13 pm
This has become fanboyish and is based on no logic of football what so ever. Scotty was one of the gunners who looked terrible last night. So when Bowles made this statement, he was talking about non route running, 1 speed playing, no lateral movement having, teams 4th cornerback beating, straight line running, Kyle Trask deep ball dropping, always protected by Joe no matter how bad he looks, Scotty Miller…
August 21st, 2022 at 12:20 pm
1) Scotty has caught all of one pass for 15 yards and no TD, so that makes him more expandable by your logic
2) Scotty was not even remotely open on that play. Saying Scotty was open show who knows how to read zone coverage and who doesn’t. Throw that ball to Scotty, to no fault of his, it would have been a pick to any of the the three guys who playing zone in that area.
3) How many returns has Scotty had?
4) Scotty looked terrible as a gunner.
5) Contracts and financial decision go into these choices also, which has been my point all along. They’re not cutting Darden with two years of control after this year over Scotty who has no control when neither has honestly separated themselves from each.
6) If Darden is cut, it’ll be for Thompkins, not Scotty. We are only keeping 6 receivers. They’ll keep Evans, Godwin, Gage, Jones, Johnson and Darden. So if Thompkins makes the team, which is more likely than Scotty, it will then be at the expense of Darden.
August 21st, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Hhhmm. Well, at least Joe has seen with his own eyes Scotty Miller make big plays (plural) in big games (plural). Joe is still waiting for Jaelon Darden — who the team talks up like’s he’s the next Andre Reed — do something, anything in any game.
(Well, honestly, Joe is overstating this. Joe thinks he saw Darden make one play all last year. One!)
If you are asking Joe who he would keep, Miller or Darden, it’s absolutely laughable that question would even be asked.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:15 pm
I REALLY agree with Joe’s last comment.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:20 pm
If he’s not returning punts or kicks. I love Scotty Miller but hey his window is closing.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Of all the players on the team during that superbowl run. When Scotty Miller was on the field I felt like a big play was possible. It was exciting. I would yell at my tv SCOTTY!! I haven’t felt that way since Alstott.
August 21st, 2022 at 1:45 pm
I’m afraid Arians and Licht, having traded up in the 4th round for Darden, will be too embarassed to cut him–but they should, since Miller has proved himself (as Joe points out), and Thompkins flashes real talent. Maybe Sterns and Darden get through waivers to the practice squad.
August 21st, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Essentially, what you continue to do is say Joe is throwing around a bunch of BS that Joe doesn’t believe. Nothing could be further from the truth. Neither you nor Joe know what the health of other teams’ receivers will be in 2 or 3 weeks, and certainly the Bucs don’t know the health of theirs. Please stop ascribing motives to Joe’s opinions and work. It’s not cool, especially when it’s inaccurate. Thank you. –Joe
August 21st, 2022 at 5:04 pm
I agree with geno711 Camarda was out kicking the coverage. He need to work on his hangtime and directional punting.
August 21st, 2022 at 5:10 pm
These guys are locks-
Gage
Jones
Johnson
If they keep 7 that means picking 2 from—
Miller
Darden
Thompkins
Perriman
Grayson
Geiger (too much competition)
Sterns (too much competition)
I initially thought Perriman was a lock but I think Johnson’s the lock which frees them up to take 2 smaller dynamic fast guys out of Miller, Darden, Thompkins, Grayson.
I think Perriman is going to be the big name left out. Maybe they can get a fifth rounder for him
August 21st, 2022 at 5:36 pm
I would take the two that looked best ALL camp and the two with the most upside.
Sterns and Thompkins
August 21st, 2022 at 5:45 pm
SB~
They do look like they have the most upside being rookies but Grayson came on strong at the end of the year. We know what Miller can do and Darden has put on a little weight and seems to be looking pretty good as well.
The two you name have a better chance of being hidden on the practice squad.
Miller has no chance at that, he’ll be scooped up by another team.
Regardless, it’s a great problem to have. Is there a team out there that needs a receiver that has an extra guard?
August 21st, 2022 at 6:11 pm
I would love for them to have a year on the PS, Need someone with that skill set
Brady has not had that type of weapon with the Bucs, other than a bit of AB
August 21st, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Unfortunately one of the teams that needs receivers badly is the Packers. We are playing them early in the season, so I doubt we make a trade with them.
August 22nd, 2022 at 6:56 pm
Miller will do a nice job. I know players have to do the work and make the plays but the Bucs have sucked at special teams for the past 3 or 4 years soaybe the coaching scheme needs tweeked. Or coaches