In Part Five of our Anthony Miller 2017 season breakdown series, Anthony Miller squares off with a ranked Navy team in Week 6
Our season-long breakdown of Anthony Miller’s 2017 has revealed a lot about his well-rounded skill set. In part one, he showed his ability to get separation against UCLA. After slower performances in part two and three against Southern Illinois and Central Florida respectively, Miller burst out of his shell in part four against UConn. Now, Miller takes on the Naval Academy at home.
Week Six
Anthony Miller put in work against Navy, hauling in 10 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Early in the game we finally saw Memphis complete a pass with Miller flexed as a tight end and flaring out to the flats. The team has tried this three times now with their first success going for nine yards.
His two touchdowns were somewhat similar but also showed differing skills. Both were crossing routes from inside of ten yards. However, in his first touchdown, you can see how he is able to win with instant separation off of the line of scrimmage.
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Watch the hesitation as he leaves the cornerback in his dust and camps out in space while he waits for his quarterback to find him.
The second touchdown was a crossing route, but he was motioning from the outside. Memphis was able to get him moving in that direction and caught the defense off guard. Still, the ability to turn on the jets after the catch with the presence he has for the end zone is fun to see. Three of his nine touchdowns so far this season saw him finishing runs near the goal line.
The highlight of the day was likely a run after the catch by Miller as well. Below, Miller adds a 29-yard reception with 24 coming after the catch on a crossing route. 81 of his 90 yards came after the catch.
Riley Ferguson was 3-3 for 43 yards and 2 TDs targeting him on crossers in week 6. He was 6-6 for 39 yards on screens as well.
Overall, Ferguson has been lowering the number of deep attempts to Miller in the past two games and in return has been much more accurate. In weeks 3 and 4 Ferguson was 9-21 targeting Miller.
In weeks 5 and 6 he was 25-30 targeting Miller. The craziest part is that Miller cannot be credited with a single incompletion over this two-week run. Most of them incompletions were like the play below.
We talked about his frustration against Southern Illinois. A second poor game in a row against their top competition in UCF is not a good look. Still, the bounce back over the past two weeks has proven that most of his two-week slump was out of his control. Otherwise, Miller is having an outstanding season and consistently gets separation down the field.
Routes:
Screens: 22-26, 176 yards
Curls: 2-4, 17 yards
Post: 5-8, 146 yards 1 TD
Go: 5-12, 97 yards, 5 TDs
In: 2-2, 24 yards, 1 TD
Cross: 5-7, 60 yards 2 TD
Slant: 2-6, 57 yards
Comeback: 1-2 10 yards
Out: 1-3 9 yards
249 yards after the catch