Route Running
Miller is at his best when he is able to get a clean release from the line of scrimmage and can then use his ability to change speeds and direction in order to create separation:
Plays like this are almost impossible to stop, even for an NFL corner, as Miller’s slow speed forces the defender to remain in their backpedal and so limits their change of direction. Where he does struggle at times, however, is when he is asked to make more subtle changes of direction at high speed, most notably on routes such as slants and posts. Here, he has a tendency to round off the route head, which reduces the pressure on the defensive back in terms of having to break out of their stance – Miller is still able to come down with the catch on the following play, but had he made a sharper cut, it likely wouldn’t have even been contested:
He is far stronger, however, when asked to make extreme cuts at lower speeds. Here he shows a natural understanding of leverage and does a good job of freezing the defender at the route head before breaking away to create separation at the catch point:
This is very useful in combination with his deep speed, where he is able to use the threat of the deeper route in order to create separation underneath; this is most evident on comeback routes where he waits for the defensive back to turn his head before breaking back to the ball for the easy reception:
While this is the most obvious application of the threat of his deep speed, it does have relevance to other routes where he can use his speed to force the defender up the field before coming back to the ball:
For Miller, the big challenge will be the ability to get into routes against press coverage, as while he showed the ability to deal with contact on the fades shown above, he didn’t demonstrate the ability on tape to get early release against press, something that will be important should he be asked to play on the outside in the NFL. Some of this might be due to that fact that he wasn’t asked to face press very often at Memphis, but with players of his size, whether he has the physicality to play outside will always be something of a concern.
The final aspect of route running, which he showed the ability to be at least competent at, was the ability to work against zone coverage. While this is not the most taxing route running skill for a receiver, he did show an awareness for where the gaps in zone coverage are and was effective as a sit-down option against these types of coverage at Memphis:
Miller is a good route runner rather than a great one, and there are questions about his physicality against press and his ability to make sharp cuts at high speed, but he does offer the ability to work underneath effectively against zone and off-man and could offer teams a possession-type value should they want to use him in that way. One other skill he does offer, and one which is always useful in possession receivers, is the ability to add yards after the catch.
Miller runs with a low center of gravity which allows him to be effective against light contact and his subtle changes of direction can be effective at making tacklers miss. This opens things up both in terms of the screen game as well as adding a big-play possibility to short routes.
Best Case NFL Comparison: Brandin Cooks
Worst Case NFL Comparison: Willie Snead
One Sentence To Use On Draft Night: “Miller has the speed to stretch the field at times and excellent hands and combined with decent route running and some ability after the catch he offer the ability to be a well-rounded second receiver early on.”
Grade: B-
