Jordan Miller, CB
School: Washington | Conference: PAC 12
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22?
Height / Weight: 6-0 / 186 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th or 5th Round
NFL Comparison: Quinton Dunbar
College Statistics
Player Overview
Jordan Miller was a 3-star prospect from Oceanside, California who didn’t get starting experience until his senior year of high school. He got a few offers from the likes of Nevada, Cal, and Hawaii but got his chance with a bigger program like Washington when the co-defensive coordinator happened to be recruiting in that area of California and stopped by his school to watch him practice. Miller was offered a scholarship on the spot. He came to Washington and contributed immediate on special teams his freshman season. Miller’s athleticism and length have been his calling cards and as he developed his game and got into the starting lineup entering his junior season. That junior year was going really well until Miller suffered a set back that ended his season. Against Arizona State he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle on a freak play. His road rehabbing was long but Miller was always determined to come back stronger and better than ever. He did that and had a career year this past season as a senior. Miller is a bit overlooked this season with his teammate Byron Murphy also breaking out and with his injury the season before last. He has the skills and upside to be a solid CB 3 or 4 with the right team.
Strengths
- Good height, great length, athleticism, and great ball skills for the position. He got to play immediately his freshman season as special teams guy and worked his way into the starting lineup with increase playing time each season.
- Shows good instincts and anticipation in coverage. Athleticism lets him get sticky on WR’s through their routes. When he turns his head he tracks the ball well in the air and can adjust showing good body control to break up passes and disrupt the catch point.
- Aggressive and competitive player who seems like he has a chip on his shoulder. Not afraid to get involved as a tackler and can be very disruptive at the LOS in press coverage. Can bait QBs into bad throws and his his athleticism and ball skills to create turnovers.
- Shows good fluidity and flexibility with his backpedal and turn technique and can squeeze opponents on the sideline.
Weaknesses
- Some think his thin build points to durability concerns. I think his injury in 2017 was a freak one and he’s been healthy the rest of his career but I guess its something to keep an eye on.
- Plays too aggressive at times and can grab on to WRs when he’s trying to squeeze and control them. He gets flagged. Also he needs more consistency playing the ball and not the WR. Sometimes in coverage he doesn’t turn his head around at all.
- Lacks the all important traits of good short area quickness and agility which will likely limit him to playing the boundary despite his size. He’s just to slow to move or recognize when receivers put their foot in the ground can make sharp cuts and fails to make up the space created.
Let’s see his work:
Jordan Miller posted a Good #RAS with Good size, Good speed, Good explosiveness, at the CB position. pic.twitter.com/9ToAVR9fH7
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 5, 2019
The only thing holding me back from giving Jordan Miller a top 100 grade is his ankle. I hope he’s medically cleared because his tape is so fun to watch.
— Jonah Tuls (@JonahTulsNFL) April 2, 2019
Length, ball skills, tremendous feet for his size, can play Off and Press. I’m a big fan. https://t.co/EwH5EtdUpg
WOOF! Jordan Miller interception!
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 24, 2017
Washington ball. #PurpleReign
Watch on FS1. pic.twitter.com/BLwJmpQEDv
Jordan Miller ran dude's route for him. pic.twitter.com/ynsxzkzoNs
— Jared Stanger (@JaredStanger) December 1, 2018
How He Would Fit On The Redskins?
While Miller is much more of a man press corner than he is a zone defender I think he has enough upside to complete his skillset a little more in the pros. The question regarding the Redskins secondary all offseason was how would it be impacted by a new defensive backs coach. The Redskins have been playing so far off the ball in coverage for years, something myself and others suspected was a failed strategy and philosophy by the defensive coordinator(s) here. Now it seems the team may have finally recognized this and they went out and asked a bunch of questions and hired Ray Horton to run the secondary as well as potentially call coverages. If Horton’s philosophy is to mix in more man coverage, especially press man, I think Miller could carve out a nice role in the secondary. The CB position is a bit in flux and could change dramatically after this season with players leaving as well as the anticipation and assumption that the young players will develop. Miller could be a nice depth addition and wouldn’t be pressured to start right away as has been the case his whole career. He could develop his coverage technique and potentially add a little weight and strength and he sits behind the other guys and contributes on special teams. His biggest assets are his straight line speed, ball skills, and length which are usually the building blocks you need to stick around in the NFL at the position. He has some intriguing promise and could be a key part of the Redskins defense beyond 2019.