Jim Miller Talks To Joe
February 22nd, 2016
Former NFL quarterback Jim Miller of SiriusXM NFL Radio talks Bucs coaches, Jameis & more.
Two more interviews Joe will share from talking Bucs with NFL types during Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
One now, and one publishes tomorrow as Joe is in flight to wintry Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. Yes, Joe will have dozens of dispatches all week along and through the weekend from Indy.
Today, Joe brings you Bucs thoughts from half of the best NFL radio duo working, and that would be Jim Miller, co-host of “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Miller was a former Steelers and Bears quarterback, ending his career backing up Tom Brady in 2004. Along with his SiriusXM Radio duties, Miller works for Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the Big Ten Network and is the radio color man for Michigan State football broadcasts.
JoeBucsFan: The assistant coaches that Dirk Koetter hired seem very interesting. Lot of successful experienced coaches coming in on the defensive side.
Jim Miller: Well, Jay Hayes comes with a lot of experience coming from Cincinnati and that coaching staff of the Bengals got raided for a reason. They’ve been in the playoffs five years in a row. Mike Smith’s accomplishments speak for itself, not only as a head coach but as a defensive coordinator. Dirk Koetter is still going to have a lot of control over that offense. I really think [he was hired] by how he brought along all of those young players on the offensive line and the young quarterback. So I am sure he will be heavily involved on the offensive side of the ball.
Joe: When is the last time that you’ve seen an NFL offensive line start two rookies and perform OK?
Miller: Ali Marpet I thought played phenomenal. Donovan Smith out of Penn State, he was phenomenal as well. There is a reason they both got drafted high. They both played well at the Senior Bowl [in 2015] and I think they improved as the year went along. Think about it: At one point, [Doug] Martin could have been the leading rusher in the league. So, these guys are big, physical guys. They will continue to get better.
Joe: What does Jameis Winston need to work on to improve?
Miller: I think for him, getting through his reads and dealing with certain looks. He’s a great leader. The kid is fearless. I believe he [should have won] Offensive Rookie of the Year. The sky is the limit. It depends on how good he wants to be. It’s up to him. He is a very special player.
February 22nd, 2016 at 7:37 am
We still have a ways to go but we are clearly turning the corner…both with players and coaches.
We’re starting to get some national attention.
I can’t wait to see what the draft produces. After last year’s group there will be a lot of pressure on the new crop to produce and live up to their hype.
February 22nd, 2016 at 7:47 am
Joe,
It’s amazing that football people alike adore and love Big Donovan Smith and numbers guys hate him.
If you start a rookie LT in front of a rookie QB on a young OL in transition and you only talk about him maybe once or twice in a season, I’d call that a heck of a rookie campaign.
The mere fact that Miller mentioned him goes a long way to what kind of player he is and will be. Licht could be on his way to a Ted Thompson type of career if Tampa can sustain and build a winning culture moving forward.
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:54 am
Stop, you’re making me slobber at the prospects of the Bucs future.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:02 am
Architek Says:
Joe,
It’s amazing that football people alike adore and love Big Donovan Smith and numbers guys hate him.
——————–
Good. The hell with the stat geeks. I’ll just trust my eyes.
What a freaking draft, scoring both Smith and Marpett and letting them start together as rookies. This is how you build a real team folks.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:07 am
It is really amazing. Virtually every stat geek thinks Donovan Smith is a total bust. Yet every football person — including those who are employed in the NFL at player evaluation — Joe has spoken with over the past month thinks just the opposite.
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:26 am
Joe, fine. Let the stat fools feel otherwise about Smith. Our rookie QB kept a pretty damn clean uni last year and threw for 4,000+.
Two RB’s had stellar seasons too.
Gotta factor in the guy is a rookie and hit the very real wall called 16 games. At starting LT no less.
Imagine an off season where the Buc faithful/tormented, aren’t bitching about our OL? Can Biff get an amen here?
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:32 am
Thought Miller’s comment was interesting: He thought Koetter was hired not so much for Jameis but because of the play of Smith and Marpet — this coming from an ex-quarterback.
About halfway through the season, Joe heard from someone he trusts at One Buc was that Koetter really understands how offensive line techniques work. A lot of offensive coordinators, Joe was told, don’t.
Then six months later, Miller mentions o-line play crafted by Koetter. Makes you think, “Hhhhmmm?”
February 22nd, 2016 at 11:46 am
Lets all be careful thinking the O-line is “set” The Bucs played a very soft schedule!!! While they were much better than expected last year, Some of us will worry about the O-line!! Especially when the “leader” is likely to retire!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:54 pm
Joe can we make this a talking point on your weekly segment? Talk Koetter exceptional OL scheming knowledge and OL production below the surface of the numbers (Miller’s comments).
I’m curios to see how Steve responds and how it takes to threaten to throw one of you out LOL.
February 22nd, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Realist,
I see your point but you can only play the schedule that’s in front of you. Defensive alignments are pretty much a open book in the NFL it boils down to who executes better. I think it’s safe to project out next year a solid performance for this young line that will prob or eventually feature one new face.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Realist
I think the “soft schedule” stuff is overplayed. We did face a Super Bowl team twice this past year.
It is the NFL and nobody really knows what next year’s schedule might bring.
When I first saw this year’s schedule I thought Dallas and Philly and Indy in the middle of the year were three losses. They turned out to be two wins and if not for Lovie perhaps we could have won all three.
ON PAPER…the toughest team we’ll face is the same team we lost two twice last year.
February 22nd, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Architek:
Maybe down the road. No show this week as Joe will be in Indianapolis and next week, Joe is sure that The Big Dog will want to recount Joe’s combine trip.
February 22nd, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Yes, they only play the schedule in front of them! But we are grading the O-line here and what teams challenged them!! Both Panthers games were blowouts very early!! after that only Texans and Atlanta’s defenses were rated in the top 15!!!
One retirement, one injury and better defenses on the schedule can make the O-line look totally different!!!
February 22nd, 2016 at 9:17 pm
The OL was far from elite but was a hundred times better than the prior year. Maybe they were all not top 15 defenses but we faced some very strong defensive lines with players like JJ Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Bennie Logan, Aaron Donald, JPP and Cameron Jordon. Keep in mind we will lose Logan Mankins next year if not, this year. Also Demar Dotson, Gosder Cherilus and Joe Hawley are all UFA next year. We need to start looking at FA and the draft for replacements now, not next year.