Fans don’t often think about slot receivers facing physical coverage, but Chicago Bears rookie Anthony Miller demonstrates that it’s still part of the job—a job Miller performs well according to Matt Waldman’s RSP NFL Lens.
We often think about the slot receiver position as a less physical role. Slot receivers may take hits, but they don’t face a lot of physical coverage.
Tell that to Anthony Miller after his rookie year in Chicago. Miller demonstrated that he could perform inside or outside at Memphis, and he needed to draw on his knowledge of combating physical play while working the slot as a Bear.
Miller’s hand usage, body position, leverage, and ability to integrate these three skills in various ways made him a productive rookie despite playing through a shoulder injury for most of the season. Here are some of the more instructive plays from Miller’s rookie portfolio as a slot receiver handling physical coverage.
Miller also demonstrates strong work as a route runner in the middle of the field—an area where receivers must influence multiple defenders during a route.
Anthony Miller #Bears uses both arms to work past the initial coverage (good rip) and then still catches this target leading him into LB Eric Kendricks pic.twitter.com/53dUfu2wJm
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 18, 2019
We often underrate the skill to run routes that influence multiple defenders. This over route by #Bears WR Anthony Miller does the job on two (potentially three) defenders. pic.twitter.com/NO9sFCcA8n
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 18, 2019
Here's another nice route between the DB and LB that subtly influences both defenders.
I would like to see a better transition but worth considering he's playing with a bad shoulder that required offseason surgery. pic.twitter.com/pPu063mXiG
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) July 18, 2019
Although his production wasn’t as strong as his rookie cohorts at the position, Miller’s game belongs in the same tier as those many expect to emerge in 2019. Some will worry about the volume Miller earned last year, but when an injured player makes plays with a strong degree of difficulty it’s something fans and coaches should take into consideration.
Considering the production Matt Nagy schemed for his slot receiver in Kansas City, this past history bodes well for greater reliance on the now-healthy Miller this fall.
For the most in-depth analysis of offensive skill players available (QB, RB, WR, and TE), get the 2019 Rookie Scouting Portfolio. If you’re a fantasy owner the Post-Draft Add-on comes with the 2012 – 2018 RSPs at no additional charge.
Best, yet, 10 percent of every sale is donated to Darkness to Light to combat sexual abuse. You can purchase past editions of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio for just $9.95 each. You can pre-order the 2019 RSP now (available for download April 1).