Super Bowl history is filled with unsung heroes who become household names on the sport’s biggest stage. In the buildup to the big game, attention is paid to the superstars, but when the game kicks off, underrated players fill big roles and change the course of football history.
Earlier this week I highlighted six players who could fill that role, diving into the potential secret superstars of Super Bowl LV. But I wanted to take that a bit deeper. Because of the weapons on both offenses in this game, there is potential for two different receivers to have a huge night, and decide who wins this contest.
Here is how Scotty Miller wins Super Bowl MVP.
The answer to this question is perhaps the obvious one: Speed.
But there is also an underlying current to what we have seen from Miller this season, and that is trust.
By now everyone has probably seen the moment that changed the complexion of the NFC Championship game, a vertical shot play to Miller from Tom Brady prior to halftime:
In the aftermath of this moment many – rightfully so – questioned the defensive coverage. But few questioned the decision by Brady to target Miller on this route. What you might have missed was that this was not the first time the two connected in this situation for a huge touchdown. Back in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a 2nd-and-5 at the Raiders’ 33-yard line, with just 25 seconds left in the firsts half. As we saw against the Packers, Miller aligns on the left side and takes off vertically. Brady takes the deep shot, and Miller settles under the throw for a touchdown:
Great moments are born from great opportunity. I heard a hockey coach say that once. But they are also rooted in trust. The “Tom Brady Circle of Trust” is a real thing friends, and Scotty Miller has earned himself a place inside that circle with moments like this.
But what also helps Miller, beyond his speed, is how effective he is at both changing direction and tracking the football in the vertical passing game. Take this play against the Los Angeles Chargers. Miller is aligned in a tight bunch to the right, condensed to the formation. He releases towards the outside before getting vertical, and his path widens the cornerback off the snap. But he maintains his speed while changing direction, and then does a tremendous job of tracking this ball over his shoulder while the safety barrels down on him:
Those elements were also at play on perhaps the biggest play of the NFC Divisional Round game between the Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints. With the game knotted at 20 in the fourth quarter, Brady dropped to throw and again looked in Miller’s direction. Pay attention to how the receiver changes direction while maintaining speed, and tracks this football while managing to avoid a huge hit from the safety rotating over:
This play came on a 3rd-and-5 with 11:57 left in the contest. A critical situation, and Brady was looking Miller’s way. The Buccaneers would go on and finish the drive with a field goal, and they would lead the rest of the way.
Great moments are born from great opportunity, and from trust. Thanks to his skills in the vertical game, Scotty Miller has earned himself a seat well inside Tom Brady’s Circle of Trust. And on Sunday night, with Steve Spagnuolo and the Kansas City Chiefs having to contend with Mike Evans and Cameron Brate and Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski – all members of that Circle of Trust – Miller could be in position to benefit.
And win an MVP along the way.