Sperm Edwards Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/468443p-394214c.html Miller Jets into spotlight BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS WRITER Sunday, November 5th, 2006 What can be accomplished in 27 seconds? You can download a song to your MP3 player. You can reheat a small portion of leftovers in a microwave. Maybe you can withdraw cash from an ATM. If you're Justin Miller, you can rise to elite status in your profession. It took 27 seconds for him to score on two kickoff returns, 103 and 99 yards, putting the Jets' second-year player in select company. In a down year for kickoff returners - the Redskins' Rock Cartwright is the only other player with a touchdown - Miller has doubled the output from the rest of the NFL in 2006. "Sounds like a Pro Bowl season to me," said former Jet Bruce Harper, the most prolific kickoff returner in team history. A touchdown on a kickoff return is akin to a hole-in-one in golf: Even the best guys can go long stretches without hitting one. As dangerous as Harper was in his career, from 1977 to 1984, he never reached the end zone on 243 kickoffs. It's happened only 17 times in the Jets' 47-year history (the Bucs are oh-for-31 years), which makes it mind-boggling to consider that Miller has scored three times in the last nine games. He broke a 95-yard return in the 2005 finale against the Bills. Statistically, Miller is second in the league, trailing Patriots rookie Laurence Maroney by less than a yard (30.4 to 29.7), but he considers himself the best. "I always feel like that," said Miller, who will be matched against Maroney next Sunday when the Jets - off their bye week - play in New England. What makes Miller so good? Speed, of course. He can run the 40 in less than 4.4 seconds, but man does not score on speed alone. Harper, who lives in New Jersey and attends many games, has studied Miller and he believes the key to his success is his ability to hit a seam without hesitating. "You can't spend too much time being indecisive, shifting back and forth. You just gotta hit it," Harper said. "He's very decisive. Decisiveness and speed. Oh, man, that's a dangerous combination." With last week's 103-yard return in Cleveland, Miller joined Leon Burton (1960) and Chad Morton (2002) as the only players in Jets history to score twice in a season. The NFL mark is four, held by Travis Williams (Packers, 1967) and Cecil Turner (Bears, 1970). Only four players in the last 30 years have scored more than twice in a season. Miller, not lacking for confidence, predicted, "There's going to be more." Confidence is a prerequisite for a kickoff returner. When you're being hunted by 11 kamikazes, all of whom want to inflict pain, it takes a certain swagger to survive and thrive. "When he has the ball in his hands," coach Eric Mangini said, "he's fearless." Miller developed that mentality as a high-school running back in Owensboro, Ky., where he rushed for 21 touchdowns and scored on three kickoffs in his senior year. "My mind-set is to attack the attacker," said Miller, who returned five for touchdowns in three seasons at Clemson. Matt Chatham, one of the top blockers on the kickoff team, explained Miller's success this way: "There are guys in the league with comparable speed, and there are guys who read blocks comparably to him. But there aren't any guys as difficult to tackle as he is. He breaks tackles and runs through a lot of (crap)." In big moments, too. Two of Miller's touchdowns were go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter, including the 103-yarder last month that gave the Jets a temporary lead against the Colts. Miller also rises to the competition. His three career touchdowns came against the teams that boasted highly rated kickoff returners. With Maroney on the horizon, that bodes well for the Jets. Miller has been doing this since he was a 9-year-old in Pop Warner. Thirteen years later, he's still outrunning the field and chasing glory, 13 or 14 seconds at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/story/468443p-394214c.html Miller Jets into spotlight BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS WRITER Sunday, November 5th, 2006 What can be accomplished in 27 seconds? You can download a song to your MP3 player. You can reheat a small portion of leftovers in a microwave. Maybe you can withdraw cash from an ATM. If you're Justin Miller, you can rise to elite status in your profession. It took 27 seconds for him to score on two kickoff returns, 103 and 99 yards, putting the Jets' second-year player in select company. In a down year for kickoff returners - the Redskins' Rock Cartwright is the only other player with a touchdown - Miller has doubled the output from the rest of the NFL in 2006. "Sounds like a Pro Bowl season to me," said former Jet Bruce Harper, the most prolific kickoff returner in team history. A touchdown on a kickoff return is akin to a hole-in-one in golf: Even the best guys can go long stretches without hitting one. As dangerous as Harper was in his career, from 1977 to 1984, he never reached the end zone on 243 kickoffs. It's happened only 17 times in the Jets' 47-year history (the Bucs are oh-for-31 years), which makes it mind-boggling to consider that Miller has scored three times in the last nine games. He broke a 95-yard return in the 2005 finale against the Bills. Statistically, Miller is second in the league, trailing Patriots rookie Laurence Maroney by less than a yard (30.4 to 29.7), but he considers himself the best. "I always feel like that," said Miller, who will be matched against Maroney next Sunday when the Jets - off their bye week - play in New England. What makes Miller so good? Speed, of course. He can run the 40 in less than 4.4 seconds, but man does not score on speed alone. Harper, who lives in New Jersey and attends many games, has studied Miller and he believes the key to his success is his ability to hit a seam without hesitating. "You can't spend too much time being indecisive, shifting back and forth. You just gotta hit it," Harper said. "He's very decisive. Decisiveness and speed. Oh, man, that's a dangerous combination." With last week's 103-yard return in Cleveland, Miller joined Leon Burton (1960) and Chad Morton (2002) as the only players in Jets history to score twice in a season. The NFL mark is four, held by Travis Williams (Packers, 1967) and Cecil Turner (Bears, 1970). Only four players in the last 30 years have scored more than twice in a season. Miller, not lacking for confidence, predicted, "There's going to be more." Confidence is a prerequisite for a kickoff returner. When you're being hunted by 11 kamikazes, all of whom want to inflict pain, it takes a certain swagger to survive and thrive. "When he has the ball in his hands," coach Eric Mangini said, "he's fearless." Miller developed that mentality as a high-school running back in Owensboro, Ky., where he rushed for 21 touchdowns and scored on three kickoffs in his senior year. "My mind-set is to attack the attacker," said Miller, who returned five for touchdowns in three seasons at Clemson. Matt Chatham, one of the top blockers on the kickoff team, explained Miller's success this way: "There are guys in the league with comparable speed, and there are guys who read blocks comparably to him. But there aren't any guys as difficult to tackle as he is. He breaks tackles and runs through a lot of (crap)." In big moments, too. Two of Miller's touchdowns were go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter, including the 103-yarder last month that gave the Jets a temporary lead against the Colts. Miller also rises to the competition. His three career touchdowns came against the teams that boasted highly rated kickoff returners. With Maroney on the horizon, that bodes well for the Jets. Miller has been doing this since he was a 9-year-old in Pop Warner. Thirteen years later, he's still outrunning the field and chasing glory, 13 or 14 seconds at a time. Isn't a 2nd round draft pick a little steep for a kick returner? If Miller is so fast, why can't he stay with WR's when he's playing CB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Green Douche Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 I think fast and smart are two different attributes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 We need him to start showing improvement on pass coverage-the main reason he was brought in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 We need him to start showing improvement on pass coverage-the main reason he was brought in here. Really? So the Jets didn't waste a 2nd round pick on just a kick returner? So faba, what other position will Nugent play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Really? So the Jets didn't waste a 2nd round pick on just a kick returner? So faba, what other position will Nugent play? I do not think many can argue that Nugent was picked way too high no matter what- for a kicker there was more pressing needs- Doug Brien we hate you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GimmeShelter Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 I do not think many can argue that Nugent was picked way too high no matter what- for a kicker there was more pressing needs- Doug Brien we hate you. Correct this current FO would never have drafted a kicker in the 2nd rd...old news. That said they wouldn't have drafted busts like Bethel Johnson, Marquise Hill or Ellis Hobbs either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 or Ellis Hobbs either. Ellis Hobbs a bust? You really are a dumbass, aren't you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutout Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 At least we know after next Sunday Miller will be the league leader in yards per return too. Maroney will not have any big returns next Sunday...unless they're now counting how far a return man has to run up to catch a Nugent kick as part of his return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
124 Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Isn't a 2nd round draft pick a little steep for a kick returner? If Miller is so fast, why can't he stay with WR's when he's playing CB? He can stay with WR's...the problem is he is over-agressive and bites on play fakes and certain routes way too often and slips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DireJet38 Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Miller puts us in a position every weekend to win ball games.. He is def. worth his draft pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonysxl1200c Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 It turns out that as a cornerback, he's a pretty good return man. I agree that he has all the physical skills, but being a good CB involves anticipation of your opponent and tons of studying film. It takes time, hopefully we'll see a quantum leap in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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