Blake Miller already showing why Lions picked him in Round 1
· Yahoo Sports
Allen Park — Sweat dripped off Blake Miller’s face as he stepped off the practice field on Friday in Allen Park, where the Detroit Lions’ first-round draft choice is getting his first taste of life in the NFL.
Before even cracking the pads, he’s learning that each individual play, and his responsibilities before the play, are light-years different from college.
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“Obviously, the game’s a lot faster,” said Miller, a Clemson right tackle who was taken by Detroit with the No. 17 pick in April. “There’s a lot that goes on pre-snap and having to have your eyes on the right place, having a process before you walk up to the line.”
Miller has never shied away from the grind. He entered Clemson without any guarantees to start in his rookie season and was the team’s right tackle by Week 1. He never gave up the job, never missed a game, never even missed an in-season practice.
In Detroit, Miller will have the same hill to climb that he did in Clemson. He's being penciled in as the No. 1 on Detroit's depth chart by many, but make no mistake, he will not be handed a starting job. Lions coach Dan Campbell quipped to Fox 2 last month he told the Lions' new first-rounder that he has to "come in here and earn it."
Even without pads — a particularly difficult set of circumstances for incoming linemen — Miller is finding all sorts of ways to find his footing. He's worked hand-in-hand with veterans Penei Sewell and Larry Borom to learn about defensive line stunts (when two defensive linemen trade responsibilities and cross each other to confuse offensive linemen), how to read different defensive fronts, and the like.
"There's so much info that's given out, (I'm using) that to try to get better, not be afraid to ask questions, and these guys, like I said, are amazing," Miller said.
Campbell always somewhat bemoans this time of year, when players are in what he calls "pajamas" and, essentially, are not playing real football. But whereas players outside of the trenches are able to simulate their jobs in 7-on-7 matchups, offensive and defensive linemen don't get as much work with the rest of the team.
The Lions even canceled their rookie minicamp, with Campbell saying Friday it's "not worth it anymore" after last year's practices got too physical. Plus, Campbell feels as though the rookies need a break after spending fourth months of their offseason working out and preparing for the draft.
"They're not ready for football, not really, even on a limited basis," Campbell said.
He added, "The straw that broke the camel's back last year was, it was the first walkthrough, we had guys all over the ground, so the league didn't take too kindly to that, and it's not worth it," Campbell said.
Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, a former first-round defensive lineman (1990) who played 11 NFL seasons, shed some light on how rookies in the trenches can maximize their first few practices in the league.
"You make sure they're getting the mental reps, that's the main thing. They're learning the scheme ... and getting their technique right, proper footsteps, proper hand usage and things of that nature," Agnew said.
"Then you'll find out when you get the pads on what they truly are."
Miller is determined to show who he is in this environment, too.
"For me still, the work doesn't change," Miller said. "You can still go out there and be fast off the ball. It doesn't mean you have to kill people. Once you get into the fit, you can be fast to the fit. You can improve your technique.
"Technique's an ever — it's a mountain you're always climbing. No one's got perfect technique out here ... so just continuing to hone that and familiarity with the playbook. Like I said, looking at X's and O's can only help you so much, going out there and repping it, those reps are what build the best memory and then also too, you kind of learn how people are going to play things a little bit, you get that experience."
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Blake Miller, Detroit Lions' top pick, ready to earn starting job