NFL News, Rumors and Musings

PHillisFan

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Some bad news. First round pick Jonah Williams tore his shoulder labrum. Will miss whole entire year.
 

Don Wassall

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Scotty Miller emerging as surprise starter for Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

by Cory Kinnan

While Scotty Miller was picked in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he is already proving that he belongs in the National Football League.

While Organized Team Activities and mandatory mini-camps are a time to learn a new system, get familiar with the playbook, and to mesh with teammates of new and old, it is also a time for youngsters and others to make a name for themselves. According to Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, rookie receiver Scotty Miller has gathered the attention of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Miller, the Buccaneers’ sixth round pick just a couple of months has already made his presence known among a wide receiver room that consists of veterans Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Breshad Perriman. Moton says Miller may push Perriman for reps, and could fill the void left by former slot receiver Adam Humphries.

“Quarterback Jameis Winston praised Scotty Miller for his spring performances…With Winston’s eye on him, Miller could impress and move into Humphries’ old role, providing a catch-and-run threat on short, quick throws” (Moton via Bleacher Report).

A speedster, Miller ran a sub-4.4 second 40 yard dash, but he also displayed his ability to get in and out of breaks with a sub-seven second 3-cone drill. A man with the combination of speed and agility that Miller has can become absolutely lethal in a vertical system such as Bruce Arians’.

View image on Twitter


Kent Lee Platte@MathBomb

https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1122240388910206977

With pick 208 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the #Buccaneers select Scott Miller, WR, Bowling Green.

Scott Miller posted a Good #RAS with V.Poor size, Elite speed, Good explosiveness, Good agility at the WR position.

With Godwin, Evans, Perriman, and tight end O.J. Howard taking the top off of the defense vertically, it could leave a ton of space underneath for a receiver such as Miller to exploit and eat up. Adding Miller to an aerial attack that was already potent in 2018 could lead the Buccaneers to even more offensive success this upcoming season.

The Buccaneers may have found a replacement for their undrafted gem in Humphries with another gem in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. As training camp rolls around, keep a close watch on Miller… if you can see his blur roaming the field.

https://thepewterplank.com/2019/06/26/devin-white-named-biggest-standout-tampa-bay-buccaneers/
 

Leonardfan

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Some bad news. First round pick Jonah Williams tore his shoulder labrum. Will miss whole entire year.

That is too bad. He was a solid pick by the Bengals - hopefully he comes back stronger in 2020.

I am looking forward to training camp and preseason - they are just a month away now. Hopefully when football returns we see some of the forum members return as well.
 

Leonardfan

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Scotty Miller emerging as surprise starter for Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

by Cory Kinnan

While Scotty Miller was picked in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he is already proving that he belongs in the National Football League.

While Organized Team Activities and mandatory mini-camps are a time to learn a new system, get familiar with the playbook, and to mesh with teammates of new and old, it is also a time for youngsters and others to make a name for themselves. According to Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, rookie receiver Scotty Miller has gathered the attention of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Miller, the Buccaneers’ sixth round pick just a couple of months has already made his presence known among a wide receiver room that consists of veterans Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Breshad Perriman. Moton says Miller may push Perriman for reps, and could fill the void left by former slot receiver Adam Humphries.

“Quarterback Jameis Winston praised Scotty Miller for his spring performances…With Winston’s eye on him, Miller could impress and move into Humphries’ old role, providing a catch-and-run threat on short, quick throws” (Moton via Bleacher Report).

A speedster, Miller ran a sub-4.4 second 40 yard dash, but he also displayed his ability to get in and out of breaks with a sub-seven second 3-cone drill. A man with the combination of speed and agility that Miller has can become absolutely lethal in a vertical system such as Bruce Arians’.

View image on Twitter


Kent Lee Platte@MathBomb


With pick 208 in the 2019 NFL Draft, the #Buccaneers select Scott Miller, WR, Bowling Green.

Scott Miller posted a Good #RAS with V.Poor size, Elite speed, Good explosiveness, Good agility at the WR position.

With Godwin, Evans, Perriman, and tight end O.J. Howard taking the top off of the defense vertically, it could leave a ton of space underneath for a receiver such as Miller to exploit and eat up. Adding Miller to an aerial attack that was already potent in 2018 could lead the Buccaneers to even more offensive success this upcoming season.

The Buccaneers may have found a replacement for their undrafted gem in Humphries with another gem in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. As training camp rolls around, keep a close watch on Miller… if you can see his blur roaming the field.

https://thepewterplank.com/2019/06/26/devin-white-named-biggest-standout-tampa-bay-buccaneers/


Great news on Scott Miller. He has almost the exact same numbers as Desean Jackson. Let's hope Miller is able to be allowed to beat defenses over the top rather than play the inside Slot WR role.
 

The Hock

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I recall a couple posters here really talking Miller up pre-draft when the mainstream draftniks either didn't have him on their radar or were meh on him.
 

Rocky B

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upload_2019-7-5_9-51-22.jpeg

Good Morning Football

Kyle Brandt
Three year starter, running back for Princeton....
Never knew dude was a player....
 

white lightning

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Gronkowski is saying he might get the itch to play football this year. I sure hope so. Pats are not as fun without him!
 

FootballDad

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Don Wassall

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Is Austin Hooper the NFL’s Next Great Tight End?

by D. Orlando Ledbetter

Former Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a three-time NFL head coach, is back with the team coaching the tight end position.

Mularkey played tight end in the league for nine years with the Vikings and Steelers (1983-91). He inherited tight end Austin Hooper, who went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after catching 71 passes for 660 yards and four touchdown, all career-highs, in his third season.

“He is a threat in this offense,” Mularkey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Hooper caught 71 of 88 targets last season for an 80.7 percent catch-ratio. The great Tony Gonzalez’s best catch-ratio season was 75 percent (93-of-124) in 2012.

The Falcons are pleased with Hooper’s career arc thus far.

hooper2.jpg


“Hooper, the improvement just keeps getting better,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “Now, he’s ready to go to another level, and I’m looking forward to seeing him make that growth. The addition of having Mike here, he’s done everything that Mike has asked in terms of getting him ready. That connection has been good.”

Now, the challenge for Hooper is to keep developing as he strives to become one of the elite tight ends in the NFL.

“I think he can be that way if he continues on the path that he’s taken since his rookie year,” Mularkey said.

Hooper, who was taken in the third round (81st overall) of the 2016 draft out of Stanford, is fine with the expectations. Hooper looks forward to working with his new position coach.

“He kind of outlined his expectations for me, individually, and our tight end group, collectively,” Hooper said. “I’m just excited to learn from him. He brings two, three decades worth of experience in the National Football League as a player and a coach.”

Mularkey has been a head coach for Buffalo, Jacksonville and Tennessee. He was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator from 2008-11.

“I’m just going to try to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can,” Hooper said.

In addition to Hooper, the Falcons brought back tight end Logan Paulsen and signed blocking tight end Luke Stocker in free agency.

“Logan and Luke are like Year 9,” Hooper said. “They both bring experience and veteran savvy to the room. They are a great resource for myself and some of the younger tight ends who have questions on how to approach or do certain things.”

Like the 2018 offseason, Hooper planned to put in some extra work with quarterback Matt Ryan.

full article: https://www.ajc.com/sports/football...-next-great-tight-end/bPhJV8KdF38BdxQAXzxF0N/
 

FootballDad

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FootballDad

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It will be interesting to see how the NFLs DWFs react when he is back on the field. My hope is that some decide to antagonize him from the stands so we can see his lack of impulse control in action. It would be a terrible look for the Chiefs and the NFL.
You’re dreaming LF. DWF’s will cheer loudly for their hero.
 

Leonardfan

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You’re dreaming LF. DWF’s will cheer loudly for their hero.

I don't know. Most comments on the Tyreek Hill articles I read are resoundingly negative in terms of the lack of any punishment. Most of the NFL/sports media also seem to be shocked that nothing has happened to Hill especially when comparing against other cases where players were caught in a similar situation.
 

Don Wassall

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I did some background on Cole Holcomb and didn't realize how athletic he is. He ran a 4.48 40 at his Pro Day, exceptional speed for a linebacker, and otherwise blew it up, in addition to being a tackling machine the past three years for North Carolina. Of course he began as a walk-on.

I was wondering why he wasn't drafted until the fifth round. One "scouting" site claims Holcomb "lacks foot speed, which will cause mismatches against faster tight ends." Uh, no.

The always reliable Caste Clown Lance Zierlein does mention Holcomb's speed and production but decides the best he can be is a back-up and "core special teamer."

But Jay Gruden is really high on Holcomb: "Washington Redskins rookie linebacker Cole Holcomb already has the attention of veteran leaders like Mason Foster. It turns out Jay Gruden is the one who initially saw something in Holcomb. Eric Shaffer, senior vice president of football operations, revealed the bit of background info, per Redskins.com: “Jay Gruden does the work, he watches the tape. He’ll have strong opinions [on the players]. He was very instrumental in the Redskins drafting [Matt] Ioannidis and had some really strong opinions on guys this year. I think Cole Holcomb out of North Carolina was one of those guys that Jay really stood up for.” Holcomb, a fifth-round rookie, impressed in workouts ahead of training camp. Call it a good sign, as he might be asked to play a bigger role than originally expected in the wake of the Reuben Foster injury. Gruden has been adamant since the draft that it is all about coverage ability for linebackers. Holcomb can certainly do that, so it isn’t too surprising to learn he was one of the guys in the draft room pounding the table for him."

What's even more encouraging is that the Redskins released Mason Foster today, who along with Reuben Foster had been the two incumbent starters at inside linebacker. So both of last year's starters won't be around this season, which really opens the door for Holcomb to play semi-regularly or regularly as a rookie. I thought at first he would get the Tyler Matakevich treatment from the NFL, being given no opportunity to start despite great college production because he didn't run a fast 40. But Holcomb is really fast, so let's hope for the best for him.
 
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I'm hoping Holcomb can get himself into a Josey Jewell type situation.
 

Shadowlight

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I did some background on Cole Holcomb and didn't realize how athletic he is. He ran a 4.48 40 at his Pro Day, exceptional speed for a linebacker, and otherwise blew it up, in addition to being a tackling machine the past three years for North Carolina. Of course he began as a walk-on.

Holcomb was part of my holy four of great athletes/good players who were being ignored in the draft process. That list included S Chris Johnson, KR/WR Michael Walker ( recent post elsewhere on him) and WR Scott Miller ( see above). Miller along with Holcomb were the only two that were drafted.

Even though nothing has come to fruition yet the hope is things fall in place this season for the great white athletes Jay Gruden has stuck his neck out for the past few seasons. S Troy Apke, who was basically sidelined the entire season with an injury and WR Trey Quinn, ditto with the injury bug, are two diamond selections. Add Holcomb to the list of stellar white athletes the Redskins are accumulating.

They already have underrated edge star Ryan Kerrigan. If things fall into place for the players I mentioned above Washington and Jay Gruden will be a team to root for this season and beyond.
 
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Shadowlight

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The other day on ESPN they mentioned Andy Isabella raced Kyler Murray. The female on the Get Up show said Isabella won by a hair. I decided to research it. Isabella had been leaving everyone else in the dust ( no surprise) so this race idea came up.

Then a few sites claimed Murray won.

In reality it wasn't really a race. There were several players lined up it and it didn't seem like it was a full forty yards either. The whole thing seemed half ass. Then tellingly Isabella was twisting his head looking at Murray during most of the race. Everyone knows that you can't run your fastest looking around. Just ask baseball players when they steal bases and how it slows them down when they look over at the catcher.

In other words Isabella was enabling Murray to look good. Taking a page out of the Edelman playbook Isabella is trying to get on the good side of the QB who in this case is Murray.

Since Murray is a trickster it looks like Isabella is catching on a little. Playing the game goosing up players he will have to rely on to make a splash.

The bottom line of course is for Isabella to have a great rookie season. If Murray gets ( and probably will) most of the credit so be it. What matters to me most is that Andy succeeds.

I have mentioned this elsewhere but my posts will be limited due to internet issues I am having. Hopefully in a few weeks I can get the problems resolved. Everything is up in the air at the moment.
 

Extra Point

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The Pats are converting QB Danny Etling to Wr.

Maybe they think they can get a guy who can be the 3rd string emergency quarterback as well as be a deep backup at WR. I assume he'll play special teams too.

This is probably a good development for Etling and will help his chances of sticking with the team.
 
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