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About the Author: Mark Cook
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The Bucs Training Camp Diaries are an annual training camp feature on PewterReport.com and we are fortunate to have two really good players to profile in veteran linebacker Kevin Minter, who will offer up his perspective of Todd Bowles’ defense, and wide receiver Scotty Miller, the Bucs’ sixth-round pick, who will take PewterReport.com readers through the trials and tribulations of rookie life in Bruce Arians’ first training camp in Tampa Bay. Look for Miller’s and Minter’s Bucs Training Camp Diaries twice a week throughout training camp and the preseason.
Miller is battling for a roster spot at wide receiver behind established veterans like Pro Bowler Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Breshad Perriman. The Bucs drafted the 5-foot-11, 174-pound Miller for his blazing 4.4 speed and production as a deep threat at Bowling Green where he caught 215 passes for 2,867 yards (13.3 avg.) and 23 touchdowns. Miller had a huge senior campaign for the Falcons where he caught 71 passes for a career-high 1,148 yards (16.2 avg.) and nine touchdowns.
Outside of Bobo Wilson and Justin Watson, Tampa Bay’s fifth-round pick from a year ago, there isn’t much established competition on the roster. The Bucs have six other receivers in the mix for the final two or three roster spots behind Evans, Godwin and Perriman that are either rookies or first-year players. Miller has a chance to shine in training camp and the preseason, but must be a factor on special teams if he is going to make the final 53-man roster in Tampa Bay. That means either winning the punt or kick return duties, and being willing and able to cover kicks and punts, too.
The CBs Feed Off Of Hargreaves’ Energy
By Scotty Miller as told to Mark Cook
On our first day off last Wednesday, it was actually my birthday, so that was interesting, but I pretty much just rested, slept, took it easy, and tried to get my legs back. It was a grind, those first eight practices or whatever it was, so I just tried to get healthy. I came in, got some treatment, went out to dinner with (fellow rookie) Mike Edwards, that’s my guy, my roommate from when I first got here, so we went to Outback. He bought dinner, he hooked me up. He was a little higher pick than me so he had a little more money (laughs). He got me right for my birthday, so that was nice.
WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Coming from college to there NFL, it’s a lot different. First of all the load – just being here all day every day. In college you got to go home, chill out with your buddies, here you’re literally at the facility from like 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. sometimes. It’s a grind mentally and physically, so I just have to make sure I stay in my playbook. It’s physically demanding but the mental side of it is so much too because they’re always installing new plays and making sure you know what you’re doing when you get out on the field. I think the biggest thing is getting through that first game because we’ve been going against each other so much. It’s kind of tough going against these same DBs, the same defense since the spring. It’ll be nice to change it up, get to go to Pittsburgh and play in a real game, so I don’t think I’ll hit a wall yet because I’m looking forward to putting on that uniform and playing in my first NFL game.
Over the first week of camp you can really tell Vernon Hargreaves is the veteran of the DB group. More so just with his leadership. He’s always talking, communicating with the defense and kind of how he gets the defense to rally around him when he makes plays. Everyone’s pumped up, so those types of things, the DBs feed off Hargreaves’ energy. The DBs are all doing a really good job. They’re all really talented and good at doing different things.
I had a couple drops last week and it’s tough. That’s why we’ve got the JUGGS machine out here after practice to work on it to make sure that doesn’t happen, but for everybody drops will happen occasionally. It’s just trying to eliminate them and focus that ball in every time. It’s tough but you’ve just got to let it go and move on and make up for it the next play. We do 10 push-ups after drops, but more so the biggest thing is if you’re dropping the ball you’re definitely getting on this JUGGS machine to try and make sure that doesn’t continue to happen.
WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
I don’t know really know what they will ask me to do in the game next Friday. I assume I’ll be returning punts and kicks, getting some good time at the receiver position but I don’t really know. They haven’t told us anything. There are a lot of emotions leading to this first game. I’m just so excited. I’ve watched NFL football on TV as long as I can remember so to get this opportunity to go out there in Pittsburgh in that beautiful stadium – I’m just so excited. I can’t wait. Like I said, to play against someone else is so exciting, so I’m just going to have fun with it. I always love when the lights turn on and it’s a game situation – I think I show up. I’m excited and I can’t wait for the opportunity.
Previous Miller’s Bucs Camp Diary Entries
Entry 1: Miller’s Camp Diary: Catching The Deep Ball
Entry 2: Miller’s Camp Diary: Rookie DBs Have Played Really Well
The next Miller’s Bucs Training Camp Diary entry will be published in a few days. Bucs fans and PewterReport.com readers are encouraged to leave their comments or questions for Miller below, and to follow him on social media.
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