Is Scotty Miller Up For The Physical Challenge?
September 24th, 2022
“Scooter, just squeeze the damn ball.”
A former Bucs receiver spoke about how Tom Brady probably got in the face of Scotty Miller this week and told him he had to play through physical coverage and succeed at all costs, whether the ball is low or high or wherever.
Yes, Miller made plays against the Saints last week, including one on the ground called back courtesy of a Jaelon Darden holding call. But at other times, Miller looked like he was overmatched in a playoff-style slugfest of a game permitted by game officials.
Miller was knocked off his route and didn’t squeeze a couple of catchable balls.
Former Bucs receiver Michael Clayton (2004-2010 preseason) told WDAE radio that Miller is a quality guy and player but he may still be shaking off rust that comes with being down on the depth chart.
Clayton suggested Brady got to Miller after the game and a revitalized Miller was ripe to emerge on Sunday against the Packers.
Todd Bowles called Miller “a gritty player” this week on his team-sponsored radio show and said Miller is morphing into a well-rounded receiver proving he can play underneath and not just outside. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich had similar sentiments and noted how much trust he has in Miller.
Of course, the Bucs ran out and signed Cole Beasley after Sunday’s game.
Regardless, with the Bucs likely missing Julio Jones, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans tomorrow against Green Bay, the game represents a potential career crossroads for Miller.
He will have opportunities, likely at least a few third-down targets, and he needs to find consistency to secure Tom Brady’s trust going forward.
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September 24th, 2022 at 2:41 pm
The only thing Dardung has contributed is penalties and timidness, why has Thompkins not get a shot? Dardung must have some dirt on Licht and/or Bowles, very confusing! I still believe in Scotty, but let’s not kid ourselves, he’s not a physical receiver. Beasley will show true toughness!
September 24th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
Dardung=a slower Dexter Jackson
September 24th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Short answer: no
September 24th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
I’ll take Miller over Darden any day of the week
September 24th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
It’s the same old story from Miller this year. He can’t separate at the top of the stem. He’s unable to pin defensive backs because of his size. The added weight hasn’t helped. I also think the bucs aren’t playing to his strengths. They need to get him into favorable splits pre snap. With his speed, they should be running jet ghost, almost every time he’s out there. Make teams respect his speed, and don’t ask him to what he can’t.
September 24th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Are they going to activate Rudolph? TB needs targets, and TEs have to produce. Beasley was returning punts at practice. Will he replace Darden? Mickens>Darden IMHO
September 24th, 2022 at 3:36 pm
I think Scotty has too small of a catch radius. If it isn’t perfect he will miss it.
He is still better at receiver than Darden.
September 24th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Leftwich, I know you’re going to spend 99% of your time gameplanning on if you should run up the middle on 1st down or not, but take that 1% that is left, and just remember, have Scotty Miller run in a straight line deep each time he’s in the game. Simple stuff. Miller lives in the heads of the Packers, they CAN NOT allow him to catch a deep ball, it would just be a media circus there if he did, so I believe the Packers are going to help on Miller if he’s just running deep routes. That should help open up things underneath. If I’m wrong, and they cover Miller one on one, if he gets any space at all, Brady will get him the ball. There’s literally no downside of having Miller run straight down the field like 40 times during the game. Just stop with the idiocy of having Miller stop and start, the guy is FAST not QUICK and anyone who watches football knows the difference. Miller is a one trick pony, but it’s a very important trick, so use it over and over and over again.
Also, I mentioned this yesterday, but I was listening to a Packers podcast and it was hilarious. They were talking about how, even with Evans, Godwin and Julio, the Bucs WRs are dangerous. They said Miller would be a #3 WR on any other team, and even a #2 WR on some teams. LOL!
September 24th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Bucanero Says:
September 24th, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Are they going to activate Rudolph?
———
If Otton is doubtful, which is the last I’ve seen, it’s likely Rudolph plays if he’s able to do so. But I doubt he does much more than block, probably the OJ role from last year. You figure Brate will be the primary pass catching TE, if he can actually hang onto passes and not drop them.
BTW, listening to a Cowboys podcast a couple of weeks ago, previewing the Bucs game, they said Brate was a backup for Gronk, but could start for most teams in the NFL. I literally did a spit take. The view other teams have of our players is always amazing. Brate can’t block, he’s old and slow, and he drops key passes. I doubt he’d even make the roster of a lot of teams, but he has a contract that has been rolled over and reworked so many times the point the Bucs can’t cut him because of the guaranteed money.
September 24th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
I think this can be a good game for 8, maybe he can catch a TD
September 24th, 2022 at 3:51 pm
The only reason Darden is still on this team is because Jason Licht doesn’t want to look foolish for trading up to take him in the draft.
The guy literally has done absolutely nothing since he’s been here.
For him to claim a spot on the active roster is a sin.
September 24th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Yeah Rod Munch that is hilarious! At this point I would take OJ Howard over Brate. And I don’t feel great saying that. When I saw Brate catch that crosser for a chance at the 1st down I knew he wasn’t going to make it. The Brate of 2 years ago would’ve.
September 24th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
That being said little Scottie better step it up and fast.
Good chance next week Chris n Julio will be back along w Mr WR1 Mike Evans.
He does something big tmorro or he may not see the field again other than ST.
September 24th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Yes and No… Scotty was injured most of last year but he has been somewhat healthy before that bad foot injury… He caught a very nice 23 yard pass last week then he dropped two passes that IMO were tough catches to make.
He also had a nice run on a reverse that was called back for a holding penalty…
If he continues to make at least one big play per game I would be thrilled to death with SM…
September 24th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
He’s just not that good. Rust my arse.
September 24th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
It is funny to me how hateful you lot can be to players on the team you say you root for. 2 games into the season and everyone is garbage and the coaches don’t know jack… you know better, with all your experience coaching these players every day and making your livelihood on the product. Naw. Sad. Classless, really. Go Bucs!
September 24th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Asking Scotty to get physical is like asking TBBF to run a marathon.
September 24th, 2022 at 5:14 pm
question is why is jaelon darden on the field blocking and holding?
September 24th, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Give me a second to think about this…No.
September 24th, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Miller and Beasley running routes at the same time interests me.
September 24th, 2022 at 6:10 pm
I have no doubt the Packers are well aware of who Miller is.
September 24th, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Reach87,
It’s possible to dislike or even hate players on your favorite team.
I’ve been doing it since 1976.
Sometimes people get overly agitated with certain players and can be pretty brutal.
We can’t all keep our emotions in check like Tom Brady or Mike Evans……
September 24th, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Too short. Same with Darden. Why they want short stuff receivers?
September 24th, 2022 at 6:46 pm
@NCBucfan – Dexter Jackson was the Bucs Super Bowl MVP Safety back in 2002 ! Don’t see how you could compare the 2 players 20 years apart and played not only different positions , but one was on Defense and Dardumb plays,,,,, S.T. ? I refuse to call him a WR , he might be a Receiver but not on a NFL offense. Maybe we can trade him to the Packers , I see their entire WR group is banged up too and their number 1 WR Sammy Watkins is out for the year. Everything is saying how the Bucs are doomed against the Cheese Packers , but first of all our Defense owns Rogers like he owns the Bears. And Aaron Crybaby Rodgers has no WR to throw to AT ALL ! Go Bucs
September 24th, 2022 at 6:48 pm
Wow, this site gives 5th and 6th round picks a lot of crap. The average 6th round WR plays a total of 24 games in their career.
Scotty may not make it past this season or all the way through this season. As Munch has said, he is a small speed guy. He helped us one time in a big game so really has done his part for Buccaneer history every bit as much as Joe Jurevicius did in the 2002 season for the Bucs.
September 24th, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Rod, this isn’t track. Miller or any other reciever cant simply run go routes all day. One, the player would be gassed by halftime. Two, it would be very easy to defend once the defensive coordinator realized what they were doing. Third, it’s low percentage football. You can’t waste a viable passing option to simply be a decoy. Tyreek Hill is by all accounts the fastest reciever in the league. He’s also a complete reciever, Miller isn’t. They still don’t run 9 routes with Hil all day for the same reasons. The bucs could utilize miller’s speed better than they are. On that we agree.
September 24th, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Scotty is overdue to bring in one of those big plays!! Will it be Sunday,? I sure hope so!!! LFG!!!
September 24th, 2022 at 7:11 pm
i agree with rod about scotty…packers fans and players have nightmares about him…so having him go deep all day can’t hurt…
and yeah brate hasn’t played good football really since about midway through last season – or even longer…hopefully he can shine soon because it’s been a while and he’s starting to look washed out
September 24th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
scotty and darden…
one or both could get squeezed out by like week 6…
the receiver room is starting to round out a bit – and once all the main gizanes are healthy – dudes like darden, and maybe scotty will be catching cabs to the airport
September 24th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Who is this Dungdung guy? If Brady get his azz out of his head over wifey problems, we might have a chance to win. The D and ST will show up as well the OL.
September 24th, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Scotty Miller is nearly the same size and weight of Tyreek Hill. Whatever his issues, size isn’t among them
September 24th, 2022 at 7:53 pm
Djbaint,
I’m talking sbout a different dexter Jackson, he was a receiver we drafted outta app st in 2008. He ran like a 4 2, but played like he lived in a shell.
September 24th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
We traded Grant Stuard when he was pretty good and if ANYONE can use Dardone we should trade him now before they find out about him. I noticed that Scotty was on the injury report again. I like him a lot but he just doesn’t hold up. I also REALLY think we should eat crow and get Hicks an injury settlement and outta here.
September 24th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
Interesting that the resident slurped of The DardOn isn’t in guaranteeing Darden succeeds and has a big game because….inside information!
He sucks. I am waiting to prove me wrong
September 24th, 2022 at 9:52 pm
This is the reason we got beasley. Small but physical
September 24th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Miller is and always has been a limited receiver reliable only on a few routes, and everyone knows it, but they keep waiting for him to do the things he will never do. Why are these limited players on the roster at all? Do you keep Scotty for the one big play, even though he adds nothing the rest of the time?
September 24th, 2022 at 10:02 pm
orlbucfan “Get his azz out of his head.” I guarantee the GOAT’S passer rating will be higher than your I.Q.
September 24th, 2022 at 10:08 pm
That’s not accurate.
Miller plays a fair amount of special teams and if you recall, Miller had key roles in turnovers on the punt team. Yes, the coaches claim they value special teams. They dumped a receiver a few weeks ago they dearly could use now because he didn’t play special teams well.
If you are angry at a receiver, how about turning your disgust to a guy who has never contributed to the offense?
September 24th, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Mike Titan Says:
September 24th, 2022 at 10:02 pm
orlbucfan “Get his azz out of his head.” I guarantee the GOAT’S passer rating will be higher than your I.Q.
Holy heck! you nailed it… no matter how low really!
September 24th, 2022 at 11:52 pm
The DardOn’s next positive offensive contribution will be his first.
September 25th, 2022 at 2:47 am
BucU Says
“The only reason Darden is still on this team is because Jason Licht doesn’t want to look foolish for trading up to take him in the draft.”
Not really accurate. Jason Licht had had enough success that he doesn’t care if he had to admit he made a mistake.
And he had shown it over and over by cutting draft picks that fail to produce.
September 25th, 2022 at 2:51 am
I honestly don’t understand why Miller isn’t the primary returner when the other WRs are healthy. He’s come close to breaking on a couple times on returns…and that’s more than anyone else has shown.
I hope he does well in the game.
More importantly, I hope the offensive line does enough to protect Brady. Give him time, and he’ll win.
September 25th, 2022 at 7:39 am
Bonz – spot on.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Where the hell is Gage. Everyone focuses on Miller but Gage is making $10m and hasn’t done anything. We got Beasley for the slot. That’s where Gage was supposed to shine. How about it Joe. Feels like a Where’s Waldo moment for Russell Gage.
September 25th, 2022 at 8:37 am
How serious is Gage’s hamstring? Are they limiting him doing certain things?
September 25th, 2022 at 9:31 am
Miller isn’t returning kicks because Darden is better. I know the Scooter crowd doesn’t want to hear that but them’s the facts.
September 25th, 2022 at 10:00 am
Should have never cut Tyler Johnson!
September 25th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Scotty isn’t a physical receiver. GB doesn’t “fear him” either. He had that huge TD reception in the NFC champ game because the GB defense was asleep and confused (like the Bucs were with Cupp and the Rams last year).
He’s valuable.on ST and might find a way to get open once in a while and actually catch a ball (insert blind squirrel analogy here) but he’s not a “weapon” that teams game plan to stop. It takes more than raw speed to be an NFL receiver. If that was all it took, Usain Bolt would be in the NFL making mega-millions.
He does have a skill set and like any “average, non-star caliber player” the coaches need to exploit what he does well and stop asking him to do what he can’t. Being tough and physical ain’t gonna happen.
Belive me, I’d love to see Scooter pop up after a big hit from a linebacker, get in his face and ask “Is that all ya got?” But that’s not him. You can’t teach “alpha dog” mentality.