Tom Brady, Scotty Miller Channel NFC Championship
August 1st, 2022
“Scooter, we did it again!”
Bucs fans love to reminisce over the Tom Brady bomb to Scotty Miller to close the first half of the 2020 season’s NFC Championship game.
That play turned out to be the difference as the Bucs won by one score. The thrilling play is very much is a top-five play in Bucs history. Maybe second-best. It helped catapult the Bucs to their second Super Bowl win.
Well, fans at Bucs practice this morning for Veteran’s Day (to honor servicemen and women who either are currently serving or once served out nation) got a treat. It was a blast from the past.
Early in 11-on-11s, Brady went back to pass and heaved it to the left side. Miller got a step on a corner and came back for the ball just a little. He went low in double-coverage and caught Brady’s pass as he went to the ground.
It looked to Joe exactly like the play that Brady and Miller burned the Packers on. And there is a reason, Miller told Joe after practice, it was the same play.
“Same exact play call,” Miller said. “Same one.”
Despite being double-covered, Miller gave all the credit to Brady.
“He just lofted it up there perfectly for me,” Miller said. “I just had to run under it. I had a little bit of traffic with the safeties so I got down and made sure I got the catch.”
But it wasn’t just Brady who helped Miller haul the ball in, going low to secure it. Miller gave credit to Mike Evans, too. Miller said it was advice he got as a rookie from Evans go to focus on nothing but the ball. It has helped him with so many caught bombs.
“The biggest thing for me was when I first got here talking to Mike Evans,” Miller explained. “He is one of the best deep-ball catchers in the league. So I was asking what he does [to be so successful].
“He told me just to lock in on the ball. The ball is the only thing in the world you are worried about. Don’t worry about the safety or the corner.
“Don’t worry about the traffic. Just lock in on that ball and don’t think about anything else, clear your mind. So that’s what I do with every deep-ball now and it makes it so much easier.”
Miller got a lot of reps with the first team today. Probably more reps than any of the previous four practices. He made plays, too. It looked as if this was Miller’s best practice of the summer.
Miller seemed to agree.
“It was a good one,” Miller said. “I had a lot of opportunities. We have a lot of receivers so you have to take advantage of any opportunity you get.
“Wherever coach puts me I try to show what I can do and ball out every day.”
If Miller keeps making plays he did today, and continues his strong special teams play like he had late in the season, it’s going to be hard not to bring Miller back for the 2022 season.
August 1st, 2022 at 11:59 am
Love Scotty; wouldn’t even mind seeing TJ dropped so he could have a roster spot.
August 1st, 2022 at 12:02 pm
We are loaded at WR. Some really tough choices coming up.
August 1st, 2022 at 12:09 pm
Yes, we truly are loaded at wide receiver, but who does not cheer for Scotty Miller ?
August 1st, 2022 at 12:10 pm
All hands on deck! Keep ballin’! At some point we’re going to need you.
August 1st, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Gun bunch left, everyone’s got a go.
Immortal words…
August 1st, 2022 at 12:22 pm
All I’ll say about Miller, is he better have a fantastic camp, and remain healthy. He’s on the bubble in my opinion, especially with Jones in town. Miller has world class speed, but the rest of his game needs a lot of work.
August 1st, 2022 at 12:26 pm
GOB,
C’mon scooter, give some props to the other scooter buddy. I agree with you, but where are your pom-poms? LOL
GO BUCS!!!
August 1st, 2022 at 12:47 pm
Believe me D-Rok, I’d like nothing better than to be wrong about Miller. Then I’ll wave the pom poms right beside you my friend. I just think his game leaves a lot to be desired. I’d for one, love to see him returning punts and kickoffs.
August 1st, 2022 at 12:58 pm
You guys don’t understand we will carry extra receivers and coaches will have guys play injured to carry them on ir and activate them if we take a hit…I think perriman is a bubble guy..Miller n Grayson both been getting a lot of nods
August 1st, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Agree with Miller being the primary KR/PR – that is his true value on this team IMO, GOB. Not saying he is the next Devin Hester, but his blazing speed is highly desired returning kicks. Any catches he provides on O are a bonus. And I do agree, he was nowhere near being a complete WR. Let’s hope he adapts, improvises, and overcomes his lacking WR skills. That boy is fast, tho!
August 1st, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Tough to make this team with Johnson, Perriman, Scotty going for one spot.
August 1st, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Agree, GOB. Miller should be the primary PR/KR. I think his speed as a returner is more valuable, more a mismatch, than him as a WR. Let’s hope he polishes his skills as a WR, but like you, I’m not expecting a massive leap this year. Surprise us, Mr. Miller – surprise us all please! *WAVING POM-POMS* LOL
August 1st, 2022 at 1:10 pm
He is good on end arounds too, he should be kept for his special teams and WR plays have to replace darden at all costs so he needs tryout at KR/PR too
August 1st, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Perriman and Johnson should be planked–no team will pick them up either Scotty is money and he should be kept for his deep ball and special team plays
August 1st, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Maybe Miller should focus on ST’s and become the next Slater.
August 1st, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Julio is in trouble . ME13 says TJ looking like the best. WOnder what Perriman’s injury is.
August 1st, 2022 at 1:44 pm
GF, agreed. Jones will need to impress in camp, or he’s a goner. Could he have a Randy Moss type rejuvenation, I guess, but I doubt it. Maybe he gets on the Alex Guerrero “program”
August 1st, 2022 at 2:00 pm
I noticed when we played the Rams in the playoffs last year, Scooter was open alot, and also had some big catches. He also had some huge specialty teams plays.
August 1st, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Joe-Interested in knowing if julio is seeing practice time with the starters and at what position? Is wr 1 wr 2 or slot?
Does he cone in when Mike comes out or are they both on the field at the time. Is he moving fast getting in out his cuts quick.
Just like to hear more on him and his role with the team.
Also like to hear about how Tryon n d Smith battle looks..
About whose been the starting te so far?
How the rbs look is Lenny moving?
Whose looks better white or Vaughn.
How’s white moving in coverage is he dropping back n reading better.
How the new safety Logan and Neal looking has Edward’s took the job or does it look like a competition.
Any chance the bucs are talking to jpp or suh?
Are we talkintrotter? Center tretter?
Do we think we have the depth a dline.
Do you know are current cap space we have to shop with?
Can we restructure anyone to make more money available?
August 1st, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Scotty is definitely underutilized and undervalued. Hope he gets more snaps this year and delivers more big plays. If so, opposing secondaries will really be on their heels come playoff time. Because we know Godwin, Evans, Gage and maybe Julio will have them sweating buckets. Then add Scotty and maybe Perriman into the mix and secondaries will be getting sliced apart. But we need to get them worrying about added threats early in the season. Would also love to see Cade, Ko and Rachaad catch a few TDs to REALLY get opposing Ds freaked out.
August 1st, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Scotty really ran his mouth after the SB year, talking about how he’s the fastest guy in the NFL, etc, then followed it up with a complete dud. BUT, if last years dud was in fact related to an injury, and he’s healthy now and playing at full speed, that would be a huge benefit as he’s your dedicated home run hitter.
Just don’t be an idiot Leftwich. Scotty is fast, NOT quick, so stop with running screens and other plays that rely on quickness.
August 1st, 2022 at 5:53 pm
Casual Observer … ‘We are loaded at WR. Some really tough choices coming up’.
Yea verily. Our WRs though are only as good as our QB, and our QB is only as good as our OLine. TEs & RBs round it all out, but the battle has to first be won in the trenches.
Right now we’ve got TWO interesting battles going on for starting OLine positions: Hainsey/Leverett and Stinnie/ Goedeke. All it takes is one weak link to break the chain. Here’s hoping that this year’s OLine, however it fleshes out, ends up being just as effective as what we’ve had in 2020 & 2021.
August 1st, 2022 at 6:17 pm
What happened to loaded afternoon of news???
August 1st, 2022 at 6:20 pm
Really haven’t see man enough of Julio to provide any reasonable intelligent insight. Not sure Bucs know how to use him yet.
Will try to get to your many questions later. Keep in mind this is Day 1 of pads. Way early.
August 1st, 2022 at 6:26 pm
Love Scotty….. Hope he sticks
August 1st, 2022 at 7:31 pm
Turned into a loaded morning and podcast recording.
August 2nd, 2022 at 2:15 am
Appreciate the hard work joe
August 2nd, 2022 at 8:38 am
Here are the answers to your questions. Keep in mind the Bucs just had their first padded practice. So it is way early for any firm decisions.
??? Donovan Smith vs. Joe Tryon??? Well, first, to give you Joe’s perspective, he often has his binoculars out and focuses on the football. Joe has to know who did what. If Joe focused on a certain player (non-QB) he misses everything else. So Joe has no idea if these two have a “battle.” Tryon has made some plays, do know that.
Right now it seems like it is Brate. Again, it is Aug. 2.
Lenny is fine. Vaughn and Bernard are OK (against second team defense). But it was underwear football until yesterday and even yesterday the defense wasn’t hitting. So it’s really unfair to make any sweeping observations on the running backs.
Depends. Running? Vaughn. Catching? White.
Have no idea how he is reading defenses. He’s getting a lot of targets if that helps answer your question.
Logan Ryan had two picks in the first three practices. Haven’t really noticed Neal. That doesn’t mean Neal is having a rough camp, just that he hasn’t made any splash plays to get noticed.
Licht said during the draft the door was open for Suh if there are injuries. JPP is still panhandling for work.
Unlikely. Once again, Bucs have every intention of giving Robert Hainsey a fair shot to win the job. Joe understands fans don’t want to hear this but the Bucs, from everyone Joe has spoken to, are willing to put trading for a center on the back burner until they are convinced Hainsey (or Leverett) cannot get the job done.
O-line? Would not be surprised if the Bucs closely monitor who gets cut in a month. D-line? Bucs think they are fine (for now).
No, but you can monitor various websites that try to track this. Joe’s not much of a salary cap guy.
Am sure there are players. One that springs to mind is Donovan Smith.
August 2nd, 2022 at 2:57 pm
I just got picked off during practice