Ricardo Miller at TE: the why and the wherefore?
I was wondering if anyone had any insight into the move of Ricardo Miller to tight end? I had him pegged as a likely starting wide receiver in 2012. Is there a sense that this move in 2011 is only temporary, to get him on the field while JH, DS, and MO are all still around and also to fill a need behind Koger (not sure how Moore fits into this) until Barnett and the 2012 recruits are ready? Might Ricardo move back to wide receiver after the three seniors graduate this year?
NOTE: Excellent, concise disquisition on the set phrase "why and wherefore" here:
As I recall, this was a move that was mentioned by scouts when he committed...hes probably a guy that will play TE and get split out wide on a regular basis. Funchess/Williams/?Thompson? are likely 2 years away, so even with Barnett coming in, it seems like a solid idea.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
Miller is pretty dang slow to play wide receiver. You could see that in his film. He was either going to be a slow WR or a small TE. They've essentially moved him to H-back, which isn't exactly a TE. If/when he plays, they're probably going to put him in the slot, at fullback, off the line of scrimmage, etc. I don't think the coaches want him trying to drive block a 265-lb. defensive end.
April 24th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
I spoke to Coach Ferrigno at the coach's clinic a couple weeks ago. He told me they LOVE ricardo and are doing anything they can to find ANYTHING for him to do. Ferrigno explained that while Ricardo does not have great speed, he is an outstanding route runner and they feel that he has the skills to get open against any linebacker. Obviously, everything is written in pencil in the spring but they are experimenting getting him across the formation in motion and letting him work 1 on 1 with a Will backer
EDIT: Everything he said was directed at the passing game. Im sure any success blocking would be gravy
i don't recall riemersma being a very good "drive blocker" of DEs, yet he turned out to be a very good TE.
i'm no coach, but i remember reimersma just doing his best at getting good position on the DE; ie. slowing him down.
maybe miller could have similar results, assuming he can approach the surehandedness of riemersma.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^
What was your reasoning for settling him in as a starter exactly?
April 24th, 2011 at 10:45 AM ^
wishful thinking? Just that he was always listed as a WR and I seemed to recall he was pretty fast, which appears to be wrong. Plus, he is for-sure smart, decisive, and charismatic -- likely to be a team leader regardless of how much he sees the field during games.
I still think he can be very useful if they can find him a role.
April 24th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^
I see. I agree he could be very useful I didn't mean that post to insult you or Ricardo. He looks like he could fit the H-back description very well (read magnus post up top for perfect explanation). Also, he fits the personality model you said. I remember during recruiting he was always calling other recruits to come look at Michigan.
I think everyone started out with higher expectations for RM due to his very lofty start to recruiting (then he moved to MI and rankings submarined). I just remember practice reports and considerable reviews looking at his average speed and body type projecting a possible TE move.
You can especially tell in this video Tim took of Ricardo's senior year - he's got a hitch in his giddyup. There's just not much there even when he gets to full speed.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
I think it was Magnus the Great who has said there is a strong possibility of "pass catching" tight end and "blocking tight end"
Miller would be more versatile as a tight end who can catch and run--while being able to block LBs on blitzes and such. A Secret Weapon, if you will.
And while you have that, and if Brady Hoke has his way, you have true burners at wideout who can stretch field. Miller is not, as others have said, noted for speed.
April 24th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
April 24th, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
"A-Tank" was always one of my favorite players
April 24th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Not close yet. Shea was one of the most physical players I've ever seen at Michigan. He laid the wood. Miller really has far to go to get to that level
April 24th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
April 24th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
Anyone know what his current/projected for next year weight is? I see 215 online, but was wondering how accurate that is.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:24 PM ^
Nothing official has been updated, but I bet he's somewhere around 225-230 by fall. That 215 was from the beginning of fall camp, and before he was moved to TE. Once they decided to move him, I assume he started to work more on bulking up, and 10-15 lbs isn't out of the question on a guy looking to put on a good amount of bulk. 225 is probably the realistic number with 230 being the optimistic yet plausible figure.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
Miller would be perfect for the H-back position. You don't have to be a great blocker, many times you are put in motion putting you in great position for a crack back block. If he can become serviceable as a blocker, this position could be his for the taking the next couple of years.
April 24th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
April 24th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
I'll take that!
April 24th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
and Yale Van Dyne, too. For more check this out: http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?showtopic=97586 and this too http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2006/08/03/white-wide-recievers-fight-discrimination/
April 24th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
I would love Ricardo to have a pro career as a pass catching TE that provides a matchup problem. He'll have to fill out over the coming years but that seems like the best case scenario right now.
I think the guy he maybe most resembles (at least from an optimistic perspective) is Fred Davis who won the Mackey Award at USC. He was a very highly rated WR prospect who came in at about 6'4" and 210 lbs. It took him a while to bulk up and see the field, but by his senior year he was up around 240-250 and was an absolute nightmare for defenses.
Not sure if Miller's frame will support it, but if he can put on that kind of weight over the next couple of years he could be a beast by the time he graduates.
Sounds like Miller is too small for TE, but too slow for WR. Both are listed at 6'4" with Miller being 10 pounds lighter right now.
Used right, he'll create mismatches like Colston did his first year in the NFL.
Did Devin Gardner ever get a rs? I see he's listed as a soph and that would suck balls if he lost a year over a few series.
Odds are he will but we won't know for sure until his senior season.
We don't know yet.
This has been discussed for the past 6 months. Try the search box next time.
The young man/woman just got back from nearly 3 months at boot camp. I'd say he deserves a break or two.
Easy there champ.
Yes, he was. I think Rich Rodriguez (or one of the other coaches) said in an interview one time that Ricardo Miller might have been the team's best recruiter.
Though he seems to be lacking the elite speed to be a WR, perhaps his great attitude and personality will lead him to becoming a humble, or even gallant captain by his senior season.
i have him written down in my wallet at 5'11, 238 with a 5.03 40. Hopefully that helps!
Wow. Talk about over-hyping a kid. I remember when Miller was a hot shot WR still playing high school football in Florida. At the time he was billed as a beast. A super athlete w/ great size and speed. Turns out now he doesn't have speed? This is exactly why I don't trust the recruiting services and allot of the stuff you read on rivals and scout.com
anyone ever saying he had speed. He definitely is missing that 5th gear, but that's not really a knock on a guy that size. If he's a great route runner with some heft and some leap, he can be unstopable 15 yards downfield in the middle.
People on these here message boards are just as guilty of overhyping recruits as the scouting services. I remember a certain Facebook group that was talking about Marvin Robinson as a sophomore, saying he was 6'3", 220 lbs. with lightning fast speed. I'm not even exaggerating.
Then he's listed at 6'1", 190 by the scouting services and now is officially listed at 6'1", 200 lbs.
It's kind of like the game of telephone. You need to wade through the bulls*** and find the information you can trust.
April 25th, 2011 at 12:24 AM ^
April 24th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
Actually it seems like he has grown. According to the roster he is now 6-4 215.
For the record Ricardo Miller is not by any means slow. I do not know where you all have recieved his official times in the the 40 but i can tell you with certainty he has ran 4.47 times and nothing greater than 4.5. Ricardo has ran track ever since he was in middle school and came in 2nd in County meet with a time of 52 seconds in the 400 meter. In freshman year he was the only freshman on the 400 x 400 relay to compete in the state finals in Florida in which they came in third. When Ricardo takes the field everyone will see he is not too small or to slow for any safety. Scout and Espn was not lying when they said he he has good speed for his size. He has the ability to play WR or Tight End.