Bears WR Anthony Miller feels like he’s reached a new level of his game
There’s no question that Anthony Miller has the talent to be a productive wide receiver for the Chicago Bears. The key for Miller has been the mental aspect of the game.
For Miller, this offseason has been important — and not just given he’s recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. This offseason has been about getting in the best mental shape of his pro football career. And he’s already noticed the differences from his rookie year heading into Year 3.
“When I was drafted, I was just thinking of the game as just going out there and playing,” Miller said Friday during a video call with reporters. “Not really paying attention to the depth of my route or the most small details of this game, and I was really just going out there and running and playing. But when you really understand the game and the concepts of the play and what kind of defense is back there, then it puts you on another level.”
Last season, Miller had a slow start to his second year because of just that. Miller didn’t see a ton of action in the first nine games of the season, catching only 17 passes. It was a wake-up call for Miller, who didn’t appear to be a part of the Bears’ offensive plans.
But once that light did go off, Miller went off. In a five-game stretch from Weeks 11-15, Miller totaled 33 receptions for 431 yards and two touchdowns in Weeks 11-15. He finished the year with 52 receptions for 656 yards and two scores.
Now, receivers coach Mike Furrey sees a different player. Someone that is more mature and wants to be the best player he can be.
“It’s just his continuing growth to understand what it takes off the field and how he’s got to prepare during the week to be able to go out and be successful and allow these things to happen in the game,” Furrey said. “I really believe he’s learned that. He’s still going to develop. We talked about this all offseason: It’s still a learning curve for him. He was allowed to get away with a lot of stuff in college, and his statistics were phenomenal. But that stuff just doesn’t work in the pros, and it’s a hard transition.
“From a maturity standpoint, from a development standpoint of learning how to be a pro, those are the things he’s working on. I think this is the first year that I actually can sense there’s an intent there. He gets it. He just had a son here a couple weeks ago. The maturity level, that helps us all grow up. There’s a lot of things that factor in his life that have allowed him to do that.”
Miller has said that he believes this will be his breakout year, and he attributes that to accepting that he’s going to have more responsibility this season and knowing where he wants to improve.
“When [Furrey] says this isn’t the playground anymore, he’s saying I have more responsibility this year within the offense, and I’m ready to take that role,” Miller said. “I’m ready for any challenge he throws my way. I don’t want to have any [missed assignments]. I want to be perfect out there on the field. I want to do each and every play right and to the best of my ability. I just want to have a smooth year as far as knowing what I’m supposed to do.”
