Lamar Miller 2012 NFL Draft scouting report

Position Parameters:

· Height: 5’9” to 6’2”

· Weight: 190 – 230 pounds

· Speed: 40 yard dash—Faster than 4.6 seconds

Position Specifics:

· Run Instincts – Miller has exceptional run instincts and vision that he uses well to find the hole and burst thru with his quick feet and super speed.

· Elusiveness – He has plenty of juke and wiggle he uses very well to elude defenders on inside or outside runs. He has quick feet and very good athleticism and uses it to change directions quickly to make tacklers miss.

· Cutback Ability – He is an outstanding cutting back and follows his blockers well then bursts thru hole. His quickness and instincts helps him to make fast and decisive cuts. He will remind some of former Hurricanes running back Clinton Portis because of similar build and abilities.

· Inside Running – Miller is a very strong inside runner who gets pad level low and can deliver a blow to the tackler. He consistently gains yards after contact by keeping his strong lower body moving after initial hit. He can make sharp cuts in traffic and has the patience to follow blockers.

· Outside Running – He has exceptional speed and burst to get to the outside and then turn the corner. He has excellent agility, quickness, and playing strength he uses well in open space to make the defender miss tackles consistently.

· Receiving/Hands – Miller has good hands and catches the ball out of the backfield well. He did not get many opportunities to catch passes or run pass routes, but when he did Miller showed that he is capable of being an all-around back.

· Yards After Catch/Contact – He is dangerous in the open field with his foot quickness, agility, vision, and top notch speed. He had a lot of long scoring plays on runs between the guards. If the defenses middle linebacker and box safety not in position and he gets the good blocks inside from his offensive line, you can say “bye bye.” He has that Star Wars warp speed burst.

· Run Blocking – He was not asked to run block in games I reviewed. He has good playing strength and would be adequate if asked to run block.

· Pass Blocking – Miller gives good effort but needs to use better technique. He is adequate and has the abilities to slow the pass rusher.

· Durability – He is a tough runner who never quits and has shown the durability in his short career to be a very good running back in the NFL. He did not have any major injuries in his college career.

· Errors – He is not a fumbler and does not make many glaring mistakes.

v Strengths: Miller is a good instinctive runner who has the body build, playing strength, and athleticism to be a solid starting NFL running back. He has the quick feet to change directions on counter running plays and find the hole then get thru with a burst. He has a special gear he can reach instantly and very seldom gets caught from behind if he gets a step on the defender. He is a tough runner and has not had any major injuries. Though he was not used much as a receiver out of the backfield, he has good hands to pluck the ball out of the air and can make tacklers miss with good juke and wiggle.

v Weaknesses: Miller does not use good technique in pass protection consistently, which leads to his man pressuring the QB too often. He does not always run with good body lean which results in him sometimes not gaining yards after contact. I can’t say his pass receiving is a weakness yet because he did not get many opportunities to show that skill set often.

v Summary: Miller is leaving school as a redshirt sophomore and only has two years of strong play. The 2011 season was his first as the starting running back and he produced some big numbers. In three games against some high quality defenses he performed as a superstar amongst stars. He rushed for 184 yards against Ohio State, 166 yards against Virginia Tech, and 92 yards against Florida State. He has the playing strength, agility, vision, and competiveness to be a very good starting running back in the NFL. He is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball because of his speed and superior burst. He needs to use better technique in pass protection. He was not used a lot as a receiver in the Miami offense, but has the hands to catch and secure the ball well. He would be dynamic in a one back system or spread offense if a team would use his speed and burst to get him on the perimeter. Miller can also run with pad level low and get tough yards inside. He will remind some of past Hurricanes great Clinton Portis with his style of play.