TAMPA, Fla. – Bucs head coach Todd Bowles didn’t hesitate when asked what was the toughest group of position players to cut.
“Wide receiver”, Bowles said, without hesitation. In what seemed like a surprise, Scotty Miller made the 53-man roster and Tyler Johnson didn’t. Miller was aware going into camp how tough the odds were for him.
“Obviously it was gonna be a fight for a roster spot,” Miller said. “We had a deep receiver room so it was a battle. and just fortunate to be on the team right now, It’s never gonna stop being a fight, you gotta keep grinding.”
Miller 2 seasons ago came up with a big catch for a touchdown in the NFC Championship game at Green Bay. Miller thinks it certainly didn’t hurt that Brady is comfortable throwing to Miller in crucial situations.
“It’s a big thing with Tom (Brady)”, Miller said. You just gotta be in the right spot. Got to catch the ball when it’s thrown to you and stuff like that. So it probably played a part, but like I said the guys that didn’t make the team were really good players too. It was just a really tough room to get in and be a part of.”
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Ironically, Miller had some uncharacteristic drops from Tom Brady in last Saturday’s preseason game at Indianapolis.
Bowles says the main reason Tyler Johnson didn’t beat out Miller for that last wide receiver spot was that Johnson didn’t play special teams.
“No it’s the more they can do,” Bowles said. “It’s always good to have trust in the quarterback, but at the same time you have to do more to fill up those back-end receiver spots. Bowles mentioned Jaelon Darden and Miller both are returners and Johnson doesn’t do that. Johnson meanwhile was picked up by the Houston Texans within 24 hours after being put on waivers.
Miller is looking forward to another season with Tom Brady as his quarterback. Miller says the Bucs were thrilled to have Brady back after his 11-day pre-planned absence.
“I thought he looked great before he left and I thought he looked great when he came back as far as his play on the field, “Miller said. Refreshed, ready to go. The same Tom. Competitive spirit, fiery. We’re all thrilled to have him back here. He brings a whole nother level of competition to practice, So it’s just been great.”
So now the focus for the Bucs is their opening day opponent the Dallas Cowboys. Miller appreciates the short time off Bowles gave them after training camp ended.
“Yeah it’s really nice”, Miller said. “We’ve been going at each other for over a month now, so to shift the focus now going against scout cards and start focusing on what they (Cowboys) do as a defense instead of what our guys do.”
Bowles also admitted that it doesn’t appear likely that Chris Godwin will be ready to play opening day, Bowles said Godwin is progressing nicely, rehabbing from his knee surgery but that he’s just running around right now.
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