Gruden is not afraid to start rookie 1st-rounder at left tackle
ALAMEDA » When the Raiders drafted Kolton Miller 15th overall in April, fans were up in arms. The majority seemed to want a defensive playmaker such as Florida State’s Derwin James, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick or Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds. In- stead, they got an offensive tackle from UCLA who’s anything but flashy, a shy 6-foot8, 309-pounder brought in to solidify the offensive line after an uncharacteristically uninspiring 2017.
The pick didn’t reverberate through the NFL like other first-rounders did (see: Lamar Jackson at No. 32, James at No. 17 or Miller’s college quarterback Josh Rosen at No. 10), but Miller may be one of the most important pieces on the Coliseum field Monday night.
If the Raiders have a chance at beating the Super Bowl contending Rams, the game will likely have to be a shootout. Which means Derek Carr will
need to have amonster day. Which means he’ll have to stay on his feet. Which means Miller, on Carr’s blindside, will have to show up under the bright lights against a mammoth defensive front in his first- ever NFL game that counts.
“Excited, very excited and a little nervous,” Miller said Thursday. “First in-season game, but I feel good, feel ready, feel prepared, ready to attack it.”
Maybe Donald Penn’s switch to right tackle had more to do with his gradual recovery from foot surgery and his overall fitness than Miller, but coaches remain confident Miller can hold down the fort at left tackle. He’s served as the first-team option there since the start of training camp. Even when Penn rejoined the team in Napa on the right side, Jon Gruden said nothing was set in stone, that Penn could slide back to left tackle if Miller didn’t suffice.
Asked recently if he’s confident enough in Miller to start the rookie against the Rams, Gruden didn’t hesitate.
“I am. Yeah, I am,” the head coach said. “I think he’s improving every week. He’s going to have his hands full all year, just like every left tackle does. Especially every rookie left tackle. We are really, really excited about the man from UCLA. Hehas a great future in this league.”
The beginning ofMiller’s NFL career will be a baptismby fire of sorts, facing the vaunted Rams defensive line before opposing a Von Miller- led Broncos passrush, Cameron Wake and the Dolphins, Myles Garrett and the Browns and Joey Bosa/ Melvin Ingram and the Chargers. We’ll know for certain in due time whether the rookie is up to snuff on Carr’s blindside or if the Raiders need to move Penn back to his natural position.
Miller has been fine-tuning his set position so he stands more vertical. He’s faced Bruce Irvin, Arden Key and others in practice, and he said those defensive ends have prepared him well, even without Khalil Mack to practice against. Penn has imparted wisdom since April, on hand placements, feet movements and anything else he’s learned in 11 professional seasons. Safe to sayMiller feels equipped, even facing defensive end Michael Brockers and the other beasts composing the Rams’ pass-rush unit.
“They got their tools, we got ours,” Miller said. “I got confidence in the guys playing next tome. It feels good, feel confident ... Working next to (left guard) KO (Kelechi Osemele), listening to (center) Rodney (Hudson), we got (right guard) Gabe (Jackson), taking tips from Donald Penn, I think we got a really good group. They really welcomed me and I try to absorb as much as I can from them.”
In the Raiders’ first preseason game, Miller’s opening- drive holding penalty negated a 60-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch. Gruden disagreed wholeheartedly with the call. Later in the game, after Miller completed his two series before giving way to the backups, Penn demonstrated stance, hand placements and proper steps in front of the Raiders’ bench for the 22-year- old taking his spot.
There’s no doubt Miller’s first NFL season will encounter its potholes. Whether he’s ready or not— he said he is— the fun starts Monday against one of the league’s best teams on paper. He’s from the Sacramento area, so friends, family and others he hasn’t talked to in months have reached out for tickets for his grand debut in prime time.
Now it’s Miller’s chance to shine, and really show why he was worth a firstround pick.
“He’s everything that everyone had penned on paper as to who they thought he was,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. “I wouldn’t say he’s exceeded our expectations because we had high expectations of him when we brought him in here. He’s done a great job thus far.”