Perhaps he could be moved to safety one day. I've never liked him as an NFL cornerback. Too many penalties and bad decisions. Because it is a position that relies very much so on physical talent, most quality cornerbacks find success in their first or second season. Miller is entering his 4th season (if you want to say it's his 3rd or 3rd-and-a-half due to only appearing in 2 games in 2007, fine) and we are still waiting for him to be an asset from scrimmage. If Miller is to make the roster the Jets should not have him return kicks unless there are injuries to the returners (Leon Washington and Ahmad Carroll if he makes the team). He should focus exclusively on his CB duties in hopes he could do something positive for this team in that area. Can you name any cornerbacks who were very spotty early in their careers only to turn around and become very good cornerbacks after year 3? None come to mind for me. Certainly, there have been some good ones who were backups early in their careers, but played their role well and had to wait their turn because they were stuck behind quality veterans. Al Harris, Neal Colzie, and Rod Hood come to mind. Hood was a backup in Philadelphia in 2006. He moved on to Arizona in 2007 and had a better season than any of the Eagles corners. Colzie was a backup with the Raiders in the late 1970s. He later was voted to the 2nd team Associated Press All-Pro team as a strong safety for the Buccaneers.
If he has such great athletic ability and such poor cover skills then he should be moved as an experiment to the slot WR position like what was done with Devin Hester. I don't know how his hands are but I do know he has tremendous speed and his coverage skills are sub-par...
No, he's not what I'm looking for because he's never been bad. He was starting to play well in his second season in 2004. He played at a high level in 2005 and, of course, has been excellent the last two seasons.
damn Jet-O...I never saw you so much on the football board over at JN-there you are more of a Lounge Lizard-I likey
for the record, i'm a Miller supporter and agree with Kurt that he's a player who needs more time, but as fans, we lack patience. having said that, i feel like this year there's a lot of legitimate competition, i.e. WR and LB. guys like Murrell, Cummings, et al., are vying to make the team, and in a 3-4, having LB depth is essential. at WR, we have a bunch of young guys with a ton of potential who, in my opinion, are worth keeping for that reason, let alone others. so, if the injury is to extend into the regular season, perhaps Miller will get the pink slip because there are simply more guys who can contribute immediately. it sucks, and i hope that's not the case, because i'd like to see him get his chance as i believe he'll be good eventually; problem is, a major part of being good is staying healthy.
Miller was only good for KR duty and nickle/dime work, nothing more. He was maybe the 5th or 6th best CB on the roster. I think his sole saving grace was that he would have allowed the Jets to cut Barrett. But with the injury, who knows now.
You want to cut a lot of people don't you? How would it better the team to cut Barret? I know he's not a good corner, but he knows the system and gives us depth at CB and possibly S. Hell, maybe he'll even come through and be the starter at safety.
Miller got hurt on a play nearing the end of the half while making a tackle on Jacobs. I watched him hop off the field on one leg so he wouldn't cost the team a time-out since it was within the two minute warning. Don't know the extent of the injury yet, but it is being called an ankle injury thus far. Guess we'll see as the week progresses. My thoughts on him as a player are that he is an outstanding special teams player. Not bad in nickel and dime packages, but I'm not quite sold on him yet as an every play CB. Because he is still so young, I think he will improve greatly over the next few years. If the injury is serious, I don't think he will be released. I think the jets will wait out his contract and he will be given more opportunities with the team in the future.
I remember an awful lot of "who, what, where?" out of him in the defensive backfield in the ample opportunities he had to prove he was a decent corner in 2005. He was a very good return man and if the Jets didn't have that covered with Washington and Revis he'd be worth keeping around for that reason. As it is he really doesn't have enough defensive value to justify the roster spot. The injury may be a blessing in disguise because it likely gives a less heralded but more fundamentally sound player a shot to show his stuff in the defensive backfield.
Because fans, epsecially Jet fans, like to kick a person when he's down. Especially if that player hasn't fully met their expectations. I can only feel sympathy and best wishes for a speedy recovery. A career in the NFL can be so fleeting and those that are fortunate or have the opportunity to make something of it have to be commended. I don't understand the thought process of saying if a player is out because of an injury "it's a blessing in disguise". Epscially a one so young and with so much potential.
Originally Posted by KurtTheJetsFan He's a guy that still has a ton of potential. Is he perfect? No.Could he end up amounting to nothing?Sure. But I don't understand the immense hatred for the guy...and people basically rooting against him. Jet fans can't comprehend player development and think it's easier to call someone a bust. justin miller fell into that early in his career and it hasn't stopped. ---- I always took up for miller, and even thought that last year was going to be his breakout year, until he got hurt. He came into camp in 07 in great shape, I thought. But I didnt like what I saw from him in camp this summer- he was goofing around more than anyone else imo, and wasnt showing too much on the field in the KR or CB depts.
It's not even so much that I think Miller will one day be a great corner or anything like that. He's obviously reaching the tail end of his "window". I'm more just expressing frustration for the way Jet fans ROOT for players to be busts...and basically crucify them within 6 months of their rookie development. When you look at Miller...He's a great returner...NO ONE can argue that. Additionally...maybe he's not a top 2 or 3 corner for us...but w/ his natural ability we surely could do ALOT worse at say dime back.That makes him asset to this team. Not a shut down corner...but someone who can help the team win. Unfortunately..many just want him gone...and refuse to acknowledge this notion. It's easier to call a guy a bust.
The only thing more frustrating than a guy not meeting expectations is a guy that teases you with "raw talent," but never produces on the field. That is Miller. No one is rooting for him to bust (or any other players), but you can't blame fans for writing him off after three-plus years of nothing, save for a couple of kick returns. The Jets have been counting on him for two straight seasons and he has not been able to produce. Why is irrelevant at this level. As I stated earlier injuries and ineffectiveness are the same thing at the professional level. Could he be a dime back or safety...maybe, but right now he is just a wasted roster spot if he can't be on the field. Furthermore, he is a FA after this season, I believe, so regardless if he is sticks this season, I doubt he is on this team in a year. (EDIT: Kurt, I take a little back, Don is rooting for Gholston to bust, see the Calvin Pace thread.)
I just saw on ESPN that Justin Miller is going to be out 1-3 Weeks with a Foot injury. Doesn't seem that bad but for a guy who wanted to prove himself in the preseason it hasnt worked out so far. No doubt he will be blazing through the field returning kicks with leon soon enough.
For the 5th best CB on the team, a salary of 2.6M is too high. He should get the vet minimum. Also I don't like the 10 yard cushion he routinely gives opposing WR. Barrett would probably play better at Safety. But with E Smith & Elam I think the Jets have good enough players for the #2 S.
