The Bears May Have Bigger Plans For Scotty Miller Than Anybody Realizes

The Chicago Bears had some veterans sprinkled in at their rookie minicamps this past week, giving them a tryout for a possible training camp invitation. By far the biggest name on the list was Scotty Miller, the former 6th round pick who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl in 2020. Yet after the team added Zavion Thomas in the 3rd round of the draft, some wondered if this was the team’s way of getting updated information on a player they might sign later if injuries struck.

That theory was put to bed when the Bears signed the 28-year-old right after minicamps ended. He’d been one of the biggest standouts in the two practices, showcasing his not inconsiderable speed and savvy as a route runner.

This gives the Bears some veteran depth at a position that has gotten really young over the past few months. The trade of D.J. Moore to Buffalo and the departure of Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency left Kalif Raymond as their only receiver on the roster with more than two years of experience. Miller’s arrival tilts that formula a little bit in the other direction.

Scotty Miller is not just a camp body.

It is easy to think this is the case. After all, he hasn’t really been a factor on offense for the past few years. He was buried on the Buccaneers’ depth chart after that 2020 season, and injuries hampered things even further. Signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t change those fortunes, even after they added Aaron Rodgers. That run of irrelevance has most assuming he is just here to fill a roster spot. That is to overlook his value to the two men in charge, head coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.

“I’ve talked to him a little bit,” Johnson said. “He’s got a history with Coach Randle El. Randle El was with him when he was a young buck there in Tampa.

So there is some shared experiences. Looking forward to seeing him run around and compete a little bit. From afar, I’ve been able to see the speed, the quickness and that is certainly very intriguing.”

We already know how much Johnson loves speed. He is always on the lookout for it. That is a big reason why the Bears drafted Thomas. That said, there is another less talked-about reason the Bears wanted Miller in the mix. He has extensive experience in the slot. Johnson stated last year that his offense tends to run through that spot.

“I don’t know if it’s my favorite position to scheme up, but for whatever reason, the slot receiver, everywhere I’ve been, the ball has always found the slot receiver. That’s a very important point of emphasis for us to get that spot right.”

It only makes sense that Miller would appeal to the Bears in that regard. He has the right mix of quickness and burst to create separation in the slot, which was often a problem last season.

The bizarre thing is that coaches never leaned into this.

By far the most slot snaps Scotty Miller played in any season of his career were in 2020, his best statistically by miles. Yet for whatever reason, neither the Buccaneers nor the Steelers bothered exploring that role even further. Part of the problem was his speed. They seemed so enamored with it that they constantly moved him outside to use him as a vertical threat. That can be difficult when you’re 5’9″ and 174 lbs. Once it became clear he wasn’t suited for that role, teams seemed to sour on him.

For a slot lover like Coach Johnson, that doesn’t seem like a probable outcome. The Bears already have two good outside receivers in Odunze and Burden. Raymond will likely be the primary slot option, but Miller gives them some much-needed insurance in case he gets hurt for whatever reason. That is why people would be wise not to dismiss this signing as a pure camp addition. The Bears’ vision for Miller may be more extensive than people realize.